In this episode of Workday Gold, I sit down with Kristie Dierig, an HR and technology leader whose story perfectly captures how Workday careers often begin — by accident, but never by chance.
Kristie spent nearly two decades in IT and HR at a global CPG company before her firm signed a contract for Workday. Suddenly, she found herself leading the people analytics and HCM implementation effort — without prior HRIS experience. That “baptism by fire” became a masterclass in transformation. Over 20 months, she helped deliver a global, customized Workday rollout touching talent, compensation, and analytics — while learning firsthand the challenges of integrating multiple systems and cultures.
After more than 20 years in corporate life, Kristie took a leap of faith — literally. With the support of her family, she left her steady role to start an independent consulting practice focused on change leadership. Today, she helps HR executives, mid-market organizations, and leadership teams navigate the human side of digital transformation.
We talked about her framework for guiding organizations through change — starting with the people and the business problem first. Kristie shared how HR leaders can blend structure and empathy to help teams adapt, whether they’re implementing Workday, adopting AI, or just trying to keep pace with constant change.
I loved her reflection on AI in HR. Kristie said, “Let’s use AI to reduce burnout, not headcount.” She believes the future belongs to leaders who use technology to augment humans, not replace them — and who can help their teams focus on creativity, connection, and purpose.
We closed by discussing career advice for people in the Workday ecosystem. Kristie’s message: learn the business, not just the system; understand how work actually gets done; and never stop growing. “HR’s time to shine is now,” she said. “We’re at the center of change — and we get to decide how to lead through it.”
Keith Bitikofer is a Workday coach and consultant who helps professionals navigate their careers in the Workday ecosystem. Listen to the Workday Gold podcast for more insights on career transitions and leadership development here
Want to learn more from the Workday ecosystem? Connect with Keith Bitikofer on LinkedIn for ongoing insights about Workday support and team management.
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