ServiceNow Podcasts

Tim and Juan chat with Tony Baer and Matt Housley, hosts of the “It’s About Data” podcast about what are the trends they are seeing with the start of 2026. We talked about AI magical thinking, Agentic architectures, Graphs, careers and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the takeaway episode about the chat that Tim and Juan have with Tony Baer and Matt Housley, hosts of the “It’s About Data” podcast about what are the trends they are seeing with the start of 2026. We talked about AI magical thinking, Agentic architectures, Graphs, careers and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover the pivotal shifts in the data landscape as experts examine the leap from AI proofs of concept to real-world applications in 2025. Explore the critical role of semantics and ontologies in driving advanced AI capabilities, and hear about the consolidation trends among tech vendors. Governance emerges as a vital element, balancing trust and productivity during transitions. The discussion dives into the future challenges of automation and unstructured data, while emphasizing the importance of data teams owning outcomes and driving business value.

Exploring Leadership and AI with Anand Tharanathan In this engaging episode of our podcast, we delve into the world of leadership and Artificial Intelligence with Anand Tharanathan, GVP of Product Research and Insights at ServiceNow. Anand shares his journey from an individual contributor to a leadership role, emphasizing the importance of empathy, mentorship, and learning from failure. He discusses his unique perspective on leadership drawn from his experiences in sports and how this has influenced his professional growth. Anand also provides insights into the rapidly evolving field of AI, comparing it with human automation and highlighting the importance of keeping the human element in the loop. He addresses the challenges and nuances of designing AI systems that enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Additionally, Anand discusses how to strike a balance between being product-centric and people-centric, and the crucial role of adaptability in navigating technological advancements. Towards the end of the conversation, Anand outlines a framework for effectively using AI and advises on avoiding common pitfalls when integrating AI into new products. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in leadership, AI, and the future of technology. Join us and gain valuable insights from industry experts! Guest - Anand Tharanathan, GVP of Product Research and Insights at ServiceNowGuest Host - Apurva Korde 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:24 Discussing UX Research and AI01:18 Leadership Journey and Insights03:45 The Role of Mentors and Managers09:59 Design Leadership vs. Conventional Leadership13:56 Balancing Product and People-Centric Leadership17:55 Adapting to Rapid Technological Changes18:56 Navigating the AI Revolution19:14 Staying Calm and Curious in the AI Era20:45 Insights from a Tech Leader on AI21:42 Designing Human-Centric AI Experiences26:32 The Importance of Human in the Loop31:24 Frameworks for AI Use and Misuse34:25 Building AI-Powered Products36:37 Balancing AI and Business Goals38:45 Concluding Thoughts on AISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lena Hall, Senior Director of Developer Relations at Akamai, dives into the world of AI agents and their reliability. She defines how agents act as connections between reasoning loops and code. Lena discusses current trends in agent adoption, emphasizing iterative development. She warns about context challenges and the importance of clear specifications. The conversation touches on the rise of specialization in engineering roles, exploring the distinctions between generative models and rule-based systems. Lena's insights offer a fresh perspective on building effective AI agents.

This is the takeaway episode with Lena Hall, the Senior Director of Developer Relations at Akamai, and an AI practitioner where we dive into what it means to build AI agents. If you like what you heard, you should check out the full episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim and Juan chat with Arielle Rolland, a Data & AI Strategy Manager and Data Product Enthusiast and dive into how many teams are overcomplicating data products. We discuss what makes a good data product initiative and a good data product. Is a waterfall approach actually that bad? And how to balance between strategy and delivery. If you are scratching your head about data products and feel lost, this episode is for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arielle Rolland, a data & AI strategy manager and data product enthusiast, shares insights on simplifying data products. She highlights how large projects can complicate initiatives and emphasizes the need for a balance between strategy and delivery. Arielle discusses the pitfalls of overly agile methods that ignore essential groundwork like governance. She also contrasts technical and analytical data products, and advocates for using AI to streamline product management tasks. Her focus on maturing and retiring data products ensures they deliver real business value.

Tim and Juan chat with Danielle Crop is the EVP Digital Strategy & Alliances at WNS, former Chief Data Officer of Albertson and also the former Chief Data Officer of American Express about how data leaders and practitioners need to be thinking about AI and how to focus on what truly provides business value. We get into who will be building models, and how roles will be evolving in organizations. If you want to learn what is going through the mind of an executive data leader, this episode is for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the takeaway episode with Danielle Crop is the EVP Digital Strategy & Alliances at WNS, former Chief Data Officer of Albertson and also the former Chief Data Officer of American Express where we chat about how data leaders and practitioners need to be thinking about AI and how to focus on what truly provides business value, who will be building models, and how roles will be evolving in organizations. If you want to learn what is going through the mind of an executive data leader, this episode is for you. If you like what you heard, you should check out the full episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.