ServiceNow, a global leader in digital workflow solutions, has always been dedicated to nurturing a culture of innovation, collaboration and belonging among its employees. It’s no surprise that the company has been recognized as one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Technology 2023 and certified as a Great Place to Work in 11 countries.
This commitment is epitomized by its annual Unified Technology Group Connect event, where engineering employees from all corners of the world come together to celebrate their achievements, share ideas and strengthen their bonds as a unified team. This year, the event took place in the United States, Ireland and India, with employees attending the event in the region closest to them.
This year’s UTG Connect just wrapped up, so Built In reached out to three ServiceNow employees who attended the event to learn about how it empowers growth and opportunity, supports a globally distributed yet vibrant culture, and advances innovation at ServiceNow.
Supporting Emerging Leaders
Ekta Akadkar’s journey with ServiceNow began in May 2021 when she joined the company as a summer intern. Her initial experience left an indelible mark and drew her back to the company as a full-time employee after graduation.
“You want to work at a company whose work is impactful and done in a motivating environment,” she said. “It’s always exciting when other people tell me how using the ServiceNow platform at their companies has made their work more efficient.”
ServiceNow’s culture, rooted in teamwork and continuous improvement, played a pivotal role in Ekta’s growth as a software engineer. She found herself surrounded by experienced colleagues who welcomed questions and encouraged her to explore various technical skills.
For Ekta, UTG Connect serves as a symbol of the company’s commitment to supporting individual growth within a collaborative environment.
The event is organized to ensure employees are engaged throughout, with time to rest, refuel, connect and get updates on the latest technology implemented in the ServiceNow platform.
Outside the sessions, Ekta had the opportunity to visit technical booths hosted and facilitated by different teams. She was also able to network with colleagues and learn from their experiences in a more informal setting.
“Bringing the team together creates a common place for employees to connect in person. In the new world of work where many employees work remotely, face-to-face conversation and getting to know people on a deeper level in person was meaningful,” she said.
“Bringing the team together creates a common place for employees to connect in person. In the new world of work, face-to-face conversation and getting to know people on a deeper level in person was meaningful.”
For Ekta, having the chance to connect with her colleagues reinforced the power of ServiceNow’s culture and sparked her ambitions to continue to grow with the company.
“Everyone here works on the principle of winning as a team and constantly seeks ways to be helpful. My team members’ humble nature brings confidence in a newcomer like me to ask them any questions,” she said. “I am continuously evolving as a software engineer, and I am learning many technical skills by being on a team with many experienced people.”
Building a Vibrant, International Culture
Roja Puppala’s journey with ServiceNow began in March 2022, after having been drawn to the company by its stellar reputation and innovative products. She soon fell in love with the flourishing culture, where creativity was celebrated and new ideas were welcomed with open arms.
“The work environment here is simply incredible — a perfect blend of vibrancy and dynamism,” she said. “It motivates me to give my best every day and be a part of the positive impact ServiceNow makes.”
“Our vibrant and dynamic culture motivates me to give my best every day and be a part of the positive impact ServiceNow makes.”
Roja’s growth at ServiceNow was powered by her involvement with UTG Connect. She became a key player in organizing UTG Connect — India, collaborating with multiple leaders and stakeholders across the company and expanding her horizons.
“The event planning team goes above and beyond their regular work roles to ensure its success,” she said. “Whether it’s learning sessions, experience demos, tech activations or culture showcases, they do their best to enhance the experience for all attendees. They willingly offer support to their colleagues and take on additional responsibilities to win as a team.”
Working on the event allowed her to gain insights into the company’s developments and innovations while flexing her own skills to support her team. The event served as a platform for showcasing innovations, strengthening bonds within the organization and fostering connections that transcend geographical boundaries.
“As an operations professional, enabling teams brings me immense joy, and UTG Connect presented a tremendous opportunity to do just that,” she said. “Being empowered and encouraged to bring out our creative best is something I value greatly, and here, it’s an integral part of the work ethos. What’s even more inspiring is how receptive everyone is to new ideas, and we’re given the freedom to operate and excel.”
Accelerating Possibilities
Sangita Pathak joined ServiceNow in July 2018, attracted by the exceptional people who make up its workforce. Ever since, she has been captivated by ServiceNow’s unique blend of executing with heart and a focus on innovation.
As someone who has attended UTG Connect events in different regions around the world, Sangita’s favorite aspect is the energy and excitement brought by ServiceNow’s teams. The events provide a platform for engineering teams to meet in person, fostering connections and boosting innovation.
“UTG connect events enable engineering teams across the world to actually meet each other and see what their teammates are building,” she said. “They serve as a real connection builder and innovation booster. I have heard so many stories about how people met their team members for the first time or attended a talk in person from someone they had only heard of. But simply walking the hallways, attending the sessions and learning about our teammates is my favorite thing about the event. It’s a gift and privilege that we should cherish.”
According to Sangita, UTG Connect contributes significantly to professional growth and development within ServiceNow.
“Connect helps break siloes, create visibility, create belonging and allow teams to refresh and recharge while inspiring their continued innovation,” she said.
“Connect helps break siloes, create visibility, create belonging and allow teams to refresh and recharge while inspiring their continued innovation.”
Sangita is excited about ServiceNow’s future and her career within the company. She feels privileged to work for an organization that navigates the technology landscape boldly and invests in future technology.
“We love what we do and it shows,” Sangita said.
And across ServiceNow’s tech teams, no event reveals that more than UTG Connect.
