ServiceNow Podcasts

A conversation with Jody Elliott, Head of IT Risk and Sustainability at National Grid, on embedding responsible AI and sustainability at scale. 

In this episode of the ServiceNow Executive Circle Podcast, Jody Elliott, Head of IT Risk and Sustainability at National Grid, explores how sustainability, risk, and AI can work together to create real business value. Operating across critical national infrastructure in the UK and US, Jody shares why “good green operations are just good operations” and why sustainability and responsible AI must be embedded by design, not treated as standalone initiatives. 

The conversation covers: 

• How IT sustainability, e-waste policy, emissions reduction, and regulatory compliance can drive efficiency, trust, and innovation 

• Practical, real-world AI use cases, including how generative AI can improve compliance and risk oversight by analysing large volumes of unstructured data 

• The importance of AI literacy, human-in-the-loop governance, and strong control frameworks 

• How organisations should prepare for emerging regulation, including the EU AI Act and CSRD 

• What’s next—from rising energy demand and supply chain risk to the next wave of responsible technology 

Tune in now for a practical, real-world look at how responsible AI and sustainability can drive efficiency, trust, and innovation at scale. 

If you’ve got an idea for a topic, would like to propose a guest for the show or discuss any of the points raised in this episode with a ServiceNow representative, just send an email to [email protected]  

And if you are not already an EXECUTIVE CIRCLE member and would like to learn more about our exclusive membership and all the benefits it brings, please visit.  

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AI, Skills, and the Future of Work at Aviva 

In this episode of the ServiceNow Executive Circle podcast, Kat Finch is joined by Dan Godfrey, Group People Transformation and Talent Director at Aviva, to explore how people strategy, technology, and AI are coming together to reshape the future of work. Dan shares how Aviva’s scale, legacy, and long history influence its approach to transformation, and why operational readiness, adoption, and change management are just as critical as the technology itself. From learning and recruitment to people technology and data analytics, the conversation highlights how HR and IT must work in lockstep to deliver meaningful outcomes for both colleagues and customers. 

The discussion also dives into the evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience. Some key topics include: 

• The evolving role of AI in skills development, workforce planning, and customer experience 

• Highlighting how Aviva is using AI to surface skills and support “squiggly careers” 

• Showing how AI helps colleagues navigate future career paths and learning opportunities 

• Emphasising the importance of human-in-the-loop governance, trust, and responsible use of AI 

• Looking ahead to how AI could democratise financial services by making financial knowledge more accessible 

• Reinforcing why investing in peoples capability remains the most critical transformation for organisations 

If you’ve got an idea for a topic, would like to propose a guest for the show or discuss any of the points raised in this episode with a ServiceNow representative, just send an email to [email protected]  

And if you are not already an EXECUTIVE CIRCLE member and would like to learn more about our exclusive membership and all the benefits it brings, please visit.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ontologies are suddenly everywhere but they didn’t come out of nowhere.

In this episode, Juan and Tim chat with Professor Oscar Corcho, who has been doing ontology engineering since the early 2000s (check out his book Ontological Engineering from 2003), to demystify what ontologies actually are, where they came from, and why that history still matters today.

If you’re new to ontologies or feeling lost in the current hype, this episode gives you the grounding you didn’t know you needed to understand where the field has been and where it should be going next.

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This is the takeaway episode of our conversation with Professor Oscar Corcho, who has been doing ontology engineering since the early 2000s where we demystify what ontologies actually are, where they came from, and why that history still matters today. 

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Juan and Tim rant about Context Graphs and categorizations of how companies work with data.

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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. 

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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.

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In the opening episode of 2026, Juan and Tim discuss what happened in the data world during 2025 and what they are looking forward to in 2026. We discuss semantics, ontologies, context, tool/vendor consolidation, data teams, platform convergence, governance, and of course... AI!

In the episode we mention the talk we gave at BigDataLDN "Why Data Teams Must Lead the Next AI Revolution" which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfcjlXxyXg

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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 ServiceNow
Guest Host - Apurva Korde

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:24 Discussing UX Research and AI
01:18 Leadership Journey and Insights
03:45 The Role of Mentors and Managers
09:59 Design Leadership vs. Conventional Leadership
13:56 Balancing Product and People-Centric Leadership
17:55 Adapting to Rapid Technological Changes
18:56 Navigating the AI Revolution
19:14 Staying Calm and Curious in the AI Era
20:45 Insights from a Tech Leader on AI
21:42 Designing Human-Centric AI Experiences
26:32 The Importance of Human in the Loop
31:24 Frameworks for AI Use and Misuse
34:25 Building AI-Powered Products
36:37 Balancing AI and Business Goals
38:45 Concluding Thoughts on AI

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Tim and Juan chat 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. 

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