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Thinking about going independent in the Workday ecosystem? In this episode of Workday Gold, I talk with Tony Velasquez—better known as “Mr. Energy”—about his journey from partner-side consultant to independent consultant and project leader. Tony shares how independence gave him the flexibility to prioritize family while also creating opportunities to serve clients more holistically.

We cover the ups and downs of independent life: building a pipeline, embracing failure, staying humble, and investing in people. Tony’s people-first approach—“I don’t implement software. I serve people.”—captures the heart of this conversation. Whether you’re considering independence or just want to better understand how independents add value, this episode is full of insights you can apply today.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith and Tony on LinkedIn at: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrenergyvelasquez/

NEW BOOK- Workday Gold, Volume 3, Navigating Your Career

To preorder the book and pick it up at Workday Rising in San Francisco in September

It will officially be released on October 1, 2025. Currently available on most book platforms for pre-order.

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, I speak with Alan Raftery, managing partner of Nimbeely Extend Solutions, about his unexpected transition from a reduction-in-force situation into entrepreneurship. Alan shares his journey from FinTech into Workday, his years helping customers understand Extend, and how Nimbeely became one of the first independent partners focused solely on Extend.

We explore the realities of starting a Workday business — from finding the right mix of sales and technical skills to building trust among partners, balancing short-term delivery with long-term strategy, and knowing when AI truly adds value. Whether you’re a Workday leader, consultant, or executive, you’ll walk away with practical lessons and inspiration for navigating change.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith and Alan on LinkedIn at: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanraftery/

NEW BOOK- Workday Gold, Volume 3, Navigating Your Career

To preorder the book and pick it up at Workday Rising in San Francisco in September

It will officially be released on October 1, 2025. Currently available on most book platforms for pre-order.

Send us a text

In this solo episode, Keith Bitikofer shares the story behind Workday Gold- Navigating Your Career book—why he wrote it and how his own ERP and Workday journey shaped it. From manufacturing and consulting to leading a Workday implementation at a nonprofit, Keith reflects on the questions people kept asking him: How do I start a career in Workday? What paths exist? How do I grow as a leader?

Keith also highlights some of the key themes from the book, including the importance of being intentional, knowing your strengths, and leveraging the Workday ecosystem. You will walk away with practical encouragement and a clearer picture of how to prepare for new opportunities in their own careers.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

NEW BOOK- Workday Gold, Navigating Your Career

To preorder the book and pick it up at Workday Rising in San Francisco in September

It will officially be released on October 1, 2025. Currently available on most book platforms for pre-order.

Send us a text

How do you take a great idea for improving Workday and turn it into an approved project on your company’s roadmap? In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith Bitikofer and co-host Christian Delcid share strategies for influencing stakeholders, making a strong business case, and building the relationships that lead to “yes.”

From understanding the difference between tickets, backlogs, and roadmap projects, to managing competing priorities and protecting your team’s capacity, Keith and Christian deliver practical insights you can apply immediately. Whether you’re leading a Workday team or flying solo as the only admin, this conversation will help you navigate roadmapping and prioritization with confidence.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

NEW BOOK- Workday Gold, Navigating Your Career

To preorder the book and pick it up at Workday Rising in San Francisco in September

It will officially be released on October 1, 2025.

To connect with Christian Delcid, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiandelcid/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Christian and I dive into a classic career question: Is it better to specialize deeply in a Workday module or be a generalist with broader reach? We talk through the pros and cons of both paths, share stories from our own journeys, and look at how company size, stage, and even your personality shape that decision.

We also explore how AI is shifting the landscape. As tools evolve, generalists may gain new superpowers—but specialists still play a critical role. Whether you’re early in your Workday journey or reevaluating your next move, this conversation offers practical insight into navigating your path.

Watch for my new book: Workday Gold, Navigating Your Career. Preorder it next week! Release date October 1, 2025.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

To connect with Christian Delcid, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiandelcid/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith Bitikofer welcomes back Steve Atnip to explore the critical (and often overlooked) topic of Workday governance. They discuss what governance really means, how to build an effective model, and why executive sponsorship is essential. They also tackle the challenges of supporting global users, balancing standardization with flexibility, and navigating complex decisions around security, compliance, and business process design.

In the second half, the conversation shifts to AI—what it’s doing today and what it might do tomorrow. From copilots that adapt to your workflow to agents that span across platforms, Keith and Steve explore how AI may transform consulting, support, and how we even think about interacting with Workday data. If you’re in the Workday ecosystem, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

AI example mentioned (but not as a recommendation): Realistic AI Phone Calls

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

NEW BOOK- Workday Gold, Navigating Your Career

To preorder the book and pick it up at Workday Rising in San Francisco in September

It will officially be released on October 1, 2025.

To connect with Steve Atnip, you can find him on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveatnip/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith sits down with Workday veteran Steve Atnip to talk about his winding career path, from accounting to HRIS manager to Workday consultant. Steve shares a pivotal elevator pitch moment that led to his first Workday implementation and how that decision shaped his career. They discuss key differences between supporting small vs. large (200,000 employees) Workday tenants, including performance issues, report optimization, and managing large volume events.

The second half of the episode takes a deep dive into performance reviews. Steve challenges the typical compensation-driven approach and makes the case for real performance management rooted in business strategy. Keith and Steve discuss what makes a great performance process, why middle managers need more support, and how managerial courage and emotional intelligence are critical in creating meaningful employee conversations.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com at 

https://keithbitikofer.com/

https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

To connect with Steve Atnip, you can find him on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveatnip/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith Bitikofer is joined by Eric Olson, VP of Customer Operations at OneSource Virtual. Eric shares the winding path of his Workday career, from raising his hand for payroll at CPSG to navigating mergers, acquisitions, and a return to OSV. He highlights the critical role that saying "yes" plays in shaping long-term career growth and offers candid insight into how company culture, leadership mindset, and team trust evolve.

They also explore OSV's strategic transformation after divesting its professional services division. Now, OSV focuses entirely on in-tenant business process services for Workday customers. Eric discusses how that shift has opened new doors for collaboration and alignment. The episode wraps with powerful leadership lessons on transitioning from contributor to manager to executive, especially the unseen challenges and responsibilities that come with each level.

For information on all of Keith's books, newsletter and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com and https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

To connect with Eric Olson, you can find him on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericolson1/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith Bitikofer and Christian Delcid unpack the intersection of AI and Workday. From slow adoption in enterprise settings to the rising importance of AI literacy—even for non-technical roles—they explore why now is the time to get hands-on with tools like ChatGPT and Claude. Keith shares practical tips like replacing your Google searches with AI prompts to start building confidence.

They also reflect on their Workday journeys—what they wish they knew at the start, why Workday always keeps you learning, and how people and psychology play an outsized role in success. Whether you're deep into Workday or just getting started, this episode is filled with relatable stories, helpful mindset shifts, and encouragement to take ownership of your career in this fast-changing ecosystem.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com.

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

To connect with Christian Delcid, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiandelcid/

Send us a text

In this episode of Workday Gold, Keith Bitikofer sits down with George Whitaker, head of innovation at Maxi Group, to explore his fascinating journey from Workday customer to Built on Workday partner. George shares the story of transforming PGA of America's decades-old systems and building one of the early Workday Extend success stories—the Purse Payout Tool that manages winnings from 6,000 annual golf events. The conversation reveals how Workday has evolved from a software company to a true platform, enabling rapid application development that once took months of integration work.

The discussion dives deep into the Built on Workday marketplace, where George's team has released multiple applications on Workday’s Marketplace solving real customer problems, from customer portal payments to IBAN (international bank account number) validation. They explore the differences between building apps for individual customers versus the marketplace, the role of AI beyond simple text generation, and how Workday's agent model could revolutionize business process management. George offers practical career advice drawn from his experience on both sides of the Workday ecosystem, emphasizing the power of networking, continuous learning, and approaching problems with creativity rather than predetermined solutions.

For information on all of Keith's books and his coaching services, visit KeithBitikofer.com at 

https://keithbitikofer.com/

https://books2read.com/keith-bitikofer

Connect with Keith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-bitikofer/

To connect with George Whitaker, you can find him on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgewhitaker/

Or at: [email protected]