In today’s Cloud Wars Minute, I give a preview of my CEO Outlook series interview with Workday’s Carl Eschenbach as he transitions from co-CEO to full CEO.
Highlights
00:09 — We’re delighted today to be able to showcase the thinking and outlook of Workday CEO (technically co-CEO for the next week or so) Carl Eschenbach. He shared a lot of thoughts in the one-on-one video that came through loud and clear that we’ll share with you today and also in an analytical article that will be on Acceleration Economy later today.
01:09 — First, he talked about how Workday’s evolved in the minds of customers from a system of record to a system of engagement to a system of intelligence. Now, he said, at the dawn of artificial intelligence (AI), it’s also got to become a “system of trust.”
02:15 — He said the volume of data accumulated by Workday in its single data model is going to be a big asset as it builds out its AI plans and helps its customers do more with AI. He said that there’s no doubt the pace of change at Workday over the past 12 months has been pretty aggressive.
03:02 — Workday has tried to get closer to customers, do more for them, boosting what it’s doing with the partners ecosystem. He’s proud of how those within the company have responded to these efforts. He said customers are still buying, but deal scrutiny is taking a bit longer.
04:32 — Eschenbach wants to bring more energy, customer focus, and innovation to the customer, not just to Workday development. A deep and profound thinker, he says, “a life driven by significance is so much more important than a life focused on success.” It’s a great interview.
- Read my analysis from discussions with Carl Eschenbach about his 2024 outlook
- Watch the full interview
