From Automation to Agentic AI with Nextdoor CIO Shyam Bhojwani
05/14/25 • 39 min
On the 51st episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) talks with Shyam Bhojwani, Chief Information Officer at Nextdoor. With millions of users across the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, Nextdoor is one of the largest neighborhood-based platforms in the world, connecting communities with real-time information, local recommendations, and public safety alerts. In this conversation, Shyam shares his perspective on how AI is shifting automation from static workflows to dynamic, context-aware agents, why IT and cybersecurity are prime candidates for fast AI wins, and how culture, architecture, and data readiness all shape the long-term success of enterprise transformation.
Quick hits from Shyam:
On unlearning in the age of AI: “Every day with AI is a new learning but also a lot of unlearning. What we thought wasn’t possible yesterday is already possible today.”
On the evolution from automation to agentic orchestration: “Earlier, you would sort of create static processes, step A, step B, step C. Now with AI, it can go from step A to step C based on context. These AI agents aren’t just automating tasks, they’re orchestrating workflows with real-time intelligence.
On how to avoid AI chaos across teams: “There needs to be a centralized AI Ops team to connect the dots. Otherwise, every department ends up buying the same tool twice.”
Recent Book Recommendation: The New Automation Mindset by Vijay Tella
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Like what you hear? Leave us a review and subscribe to the show on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Enterprise AI Innovators is a show where top technology executives share how AI is transforming the enterprise. Each episode covers the real-world applications of AI, from improving products and optimizing operations to redefining the customer experience.
Find more great insights from technology leaders and enterprise software experts at https://www.enterprisesoftware.blog/
Enterprise AI Innovators is produced by Josh Meer.
On the 51st episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) talks with Shyam Bhojwani, Chief Information Officer at Nextdoor. With millions of users across the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, Nextdoor is one of the largest neighborhood-based platforms in the world, connecting communities with real-time information, local recommendations, and public safety alerts. In this conversation, Shyam shares his perspective on how AI is shifting automation from static workflows to dynamic, context-aware agents, why IT and cybersecurity are prime candidates for fast AI wins, and how culture, architecture, and data readiness all shape the long-term success of enterprise transformation.
Quick hits from Shyam:
On unlearning in the age of AI: “Every day with AI is a new learning but also a lot of unlearning. What we thought wasn’t possible yesterday is already possible today.”
On the evolution from automation to agentic orchestration: “Earlier, you would sort of create static processes, step A, step B, step C. Now with AI, it can go from step A to step C based on context. These AI agents aren’t just automating tasks, they’re orchestrating workflows with real-time intelligence.
On how to avoid AI chaos across teams: “There needs to be a centralized AI Ops team to connect the dots. Otherwise, every department ends up buying the same tool twice.”
Recent Book Recommendation: The New Automation Mindset by Vijay Tella
--
Like what you hear? Leave us a review and subscribe to the show on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Enterprise AI Innovators is a show where top technology executives share how AI is transforming the enterprise. Each episode covers the real-world applications of AI, from improving products and optimizing operations to redefining the customer experience.
Find more great insights from technology leaders and enterprise software experts at https://www.enterprisesoftware.blog/
Enterprise AI Innovators is produced by Josh Meer.
Previous Episode
How Western Digital Balances AI, Automation, and 24/7 Operations with SVP and CISO Sesh Tirumala
On the 50th episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Sesh Tirumala, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Western Digital. Western Digital is one of the world's largest data storage manufacturers, with over 51,000 employees, 13,000 patents, and $13 billion in annual revenue. From enterprise data centers to high-performance hard drives for creative professionals, Western Digital has been a storage pioneer for over 50 years. In this conversation, Sesh offers insights into practical applications of AI in enterprise productivity, the critical role of IT in global manufacturing, and the future of IT architecture to enable business transformation.
Quick hits from Sesh:
On AI’s ability to reduce enterprise dependencies on meetings: “We all have this fear of missing out and we try to attend all meetings. What if you told your staff, ‘You don't need to, here's just a snippet that you need to know.’ 90% of the meetings are generally non action driven, so boring and monotonous. You can spare a lot of people from pain, I see value in that.
On the current direction of AI and enterprise data: “If your sales data, procurement data, and contract data are all connected, your system should be able to tell a sales rep, ‘Take this action because your customer is about to churn.’”
On the importance of experimenting with new AI solutions: “You need to jump in and not wait, because if you wait for too long, then you're going to be irrelevant. So, it's important to get your teams to test out of the box solutions. Because I think data is going to be the ultimate differentiator, both from a cost and connective tissue perspective.”
Recent Book Recommendation: Driving Digital Strategy by Sunil Gupta
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Like what you hear? Leave us a review and subscribe to the show on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Enterprise AI Innovators is a show where top technology executives share how AI is transforming the enterprise. Each episode covers the real-world applications of AI, from improving products and optimizing operations to redefining the customer experience.
Find more great insights from technology leaders and enterprise software experts at https://www.enterprisesoftware.blog/
Enterprise AI Innovators is produced by Josh Meer.
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