Careers in the Workday ecosystem rarely follow a straight line. In my recent conversation with Michael Domingo, Senior Manager of HR Technology Engineering at CVS Health, we talked openly about what real growth looks like, and why some of the most valuable career moves don’t come with a bigger title.
Michael started his career deep in the weeds, fixing payroll code at two in the morning and learning how systems actually work under the hood. That foundation shaped how he thinks today, not just about Workday configuration, but about architecture, scale, and sustainability.
One of the strongest themes from our discussion was the shift from “builder” to “architect.” Closing tickets solves today’s problem. Architecture prevents tomorrow’s outage. At scale, volume exposes every weak design choice, inefficient process, and poorly written report. As Michael put it, “Volume breaks bad design.”
We also talked about support models and burnout. Being the hero who fixes everything late at night might feel rewarding in the moment, but it’s usually a sign that something upstream is broken. Sustainable teams balance doers and thinkers, focus on root causes, and build roadmaps that reduce friction instead of just reacting to it.
Another powerful thread was community. Whether it’s a RUG, Workday Rising, or an informal “phone-a-friend,” learning accelerates when people share openly. Nobody grows alone in this ecosystem, and the best careers are built with others.
Finally, we explored how AI is changing the game, and why “privacy debt” matters. Speed without governance creates trust issues that are hard to undo. The smartest teams are putting guardrails in place now so they can safely move faster later.
If you’re navigating your Workday career, building a support model, or thinking about AI inside HR technology, this conversation is packed with real-world insight.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Workday Gold for the complete conversation with Michael Domingo.
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.