In this Cloud Wars Minute, Bob Evans shares highlights from his one-on-one conversation with Workday co-founder and co-CEO Aneel Bhusri, who discussed the artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) uproar, his new role, and customers.
Highlights
00:40 — Last week, Bob had the chance to speak with Aneel Bhusri at Workday’s AI/ML Innovation Summit, and the two discussed a range of topics.
01:10 — Early next year, when Workday begins its new fiscal year, Bhusri will step out of the CEO role and will become full-time executive chairman, allowing current co-CEO Carl Eschenbach to take over as the sole CEO.
01:51 — In their conversation, Bhsri shared insights on how CEOs are feeling. In the long term, Bhusri notes that CEOs are feeling optimistic. In the short term, they are feeling uncertainty, but Bhusri says he thinks that the recession will be short in duration. He added that all of the CEOs he talks to are fully committed to digital transformation.
02:22 — Per Bhusri, two big priorities for CEOs are talent — specifically, moving from being a jobs-based organization to a skills-based organization — and using AI/ML to accelerate business insights and outcomes.
02:46 — In February of 2024, Eschenbach will take over as the sole CEO, and Bhsri will focus on product strategy. In his new role, Bhusri joked that he will be in “Sayan’s kitchen a lot more.” Sayan Chakraborty is Workday’s current co-President of Products and Technology.
03:50 — Bob notes that Bhusri is “extremely comfortable” about the move of Eschenbach to become sole CEO. Workday is on a $6 billion annual run rate and the company’s market cap is $50 billion. Bhusri added that Workday needs someone who has “been through the wars” as Eschenbach has.
04:24 — Workday is #8 on the Cloud Wars Top 10 list and seems as though the company continues to have “very bright days ahead,” says Bob. You can watch the full-length interview between Bob and Aneel Bhusri here.
