An Ounce More Courage Than Fear

Jayney Howson believes leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating the conditions where people can thrive. As Chief Learning Officer at ServiceNow, she helps millions of learners prepare for the future of work through one of the world’s largest AI-powered learning ecosystems.

In this conversation, Jayney shares how working in restaurants taught her the value of curiosity and human connection, why trust is a leader’s greatest currency, and why AI fluency must be matched by critical thinking, empathy, and communication. As she puts it, “AI without those human skills is just really expensive software.”

Jayney also reflects on her cancer diagnosis and the lesson that changed her outlook: “You don’t lose fear. It’s a fallacy that fear has to go away for you to do something brave. You just have an ounce more bravery.” Her story offers an honest and practical look at leading through change while staying deeply human.