One of my favorite parts of this conversation with Vipul Gaddamedi was a simple observation:
Every company thinks they’re unique. And culturally, they are.
But the core Workday challenges? They’re remarkably consistent.
Data quality.
Manager experience.
Governance.
Scalability.
Ownership.
What separates high-performing organizations isn’t features. It’s decision-making.
Big Teams vs Small Teams
Vipul has worked in companies with 100,000+ employees and others with fewer than 5,000. The contrast is real.
Large organizations are process-heavy. Changes require approvals, CAB reviews, governance checkpoints.
Smaller organizations move fast. A solution can be developed and live within a week.
Neither is “better.” Each has tradeoffs. The key is understanding the pros and cons and choosing intentionally.
AI Strategy: Reduce Friction, Not Headcount
I appreciated how Vipul framed AI:
It’s not about replacing people.
It’s about reducing friction.
At Voya, they’ve built internal agents using Microsoft Copilot integrated with Workday to:
- Schedule interviews automatically
- Collect and consolidate interview feedback
- Reduce manual coordination between recruiters and managers
That’s practical AI. That’s operational value.
They also built a two-year roadmap, but with continuous review. In a world where AI changes monthly, static roadmaps don’t survive.
Centralize Before You Automate
Another major initiative was modernizing HR service delivery using Workday Help and Workday Extend.
They centralized:
- Knowledge base
- Case management
- Service requests
Then layered in Microsoft Teams integration.
Once workflows are structured and centralized, AI becomes far more effective.
AI works best on clean, structured systems.
Career Advice Worth Repeating
Vipul’s advice to early-career professionals:
- Learn the business, not just the tool.
- Invest in relationships.
- Step into stretch roles before you feel ready.
Certifications matter. But reputation and business understanding matter more.
If you’re navigating governance, AI strategy, HR modernization, or your own Workday career growth, this episode is worth your time.
Listen to the full conversation on Workday Gold to go deeper.
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.