Jim Van Over

Happy President’s Day to my friends and colleagues in the United States, and greetings to my broader global community.

Today, as many of us in the US observe President’s Day, I am taking a moment for reflection on leadership and service(now); how leadership is about two things: protecting those in your charge and supporting those in your charge.

I’m thinking about the importance of good leadership, specifically my chain of leadership within ServiceNow. Under the support and protection of Bill McDermott, Chirantan "CJ" Desai, Nick Tzitzon, and Dave Wright, I have thrived as a professional, mentor, mentee, and leader, doing the best work of my life in supporting ServiceNow to define what it means to deliver exceptional service and innovation not only in the digital age but into the AI age and beyond.

The leadership qualities exhibited by my executives - foresight, dedication, and commitment to people first - mirror the qualities I’ve celebrated on President’s Day since I was a kid. Of course when I was a kid, I was too busy celebrating a day off school to celebrate the real heroes, my teachers, but now I have a better perspective. Our C-suite’s ability to lead with integrity, inspire my innovation, and empower every one of us at ServiceNow to achieve our very best reflects the essence of what today represents.

In the spirit of President’s Day, I choose to also reflect on the importance of leadership across all levels and regions. Leadership is not confined to geography or title; it is a universal principle that drives me, inspires me to change, and unites us in our shared goals and visions. You are a leader to someone and that is a gift.

As I observe this day, I draw inspiration from our leaders at ServiceNow and everyone who’s protected me and supported me, recognizing the impact of good leadership in my life. Today, I honor the path they’ve charted for me and the journey we undertake together towards a brighter, more innovative future.

I'm honored to share that I'll be a guest speaker at the upcoming ACGSV Event on August 24. We'll delve into generative AI solutions like OpenAI and ChatGPT, exploring their real-world applications and future expectations. Join us at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View from 5-7pm. It promises to be an insightful and enlightening conversation. Hope to see you there!

Register below.

www.acgsv.org

Collaboration is the heart of success. Reflecting on the recent union strikes, an 80-year-old industry veteran's words resonate more than ever:

“Any industry only succeeds in a context of partnership. We cannot be enemies. We have to be a community. We have to be partners. We have to take care of each other. Those who do not understand this fundamental principle of success are the single biggest problem in Hollywood — or any other industry.” - David Gerold, WGA

In any field, whether Hollywood or elsewhere, understanding the essence of partnership, cooperation, and community is paramount.

In this article, Emily M. Bender eloquently tackles the supposed ‘AI Safety’ vs ‘AI Ethics’ schism, a topic I’ve advocated for 5 years. Bender focuses on actual AI harms, challenging future-driven fears. A for anyone in , tech ethics, or policy-making.

https://shorturl.at/ahKSY

Talking about a ‘schism’ is ahistorical In two recent conversations with very thoughtful journalists, I was asked about the apparent ‘schism’ between those making a lot of noise…