Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff was already planning to sign a White House pledge Thursday morning. The company would commit to train 500,000 American workers for credentials and jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem over the next five years.
But Benioff, who was joined Thursday by Ivanka Trump and three Salesforce employees who credit the company's training program for changing their lives, casually said he wasn't a fan of small numbers. So he upped his pledge to 1 million American workers in a surprise move that drew applause from everyone in attendance.
“In today’s thriving economy we must aim for inclusive growth by creating pathways for all Americans to get the tools and skills they need for rewarding careers," said Trump, adviser and daughter to the president. "As jobs evolve it is incumbent on companies to invest in their current and future workers.
The announcement was made at Salesforce Tower in Downtown Indianapolis during the company's inaugural "Trailblazer Day." The event was created to celebrate Salesforce employees who have changed their lives and made an impact in the company.
Salesforce's Trailhead training program was the day's centerpiece. The company describes it as a system that provides guided and hands-on challenges to help learners develop technical skills like artificial intelligence basics and mobile apps basics; business skills like public speaking; and soft skills like career development planning.
To illustrate the potential of Trailhead, the event began with testimonials from Salesforce Developer Zac Otero, PepUp Tech co-founder Shonnah Hughes and Stephanie Herrera, Global VP of Salesforce Practice for Global Futures.
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"As someone who didn't graduate from high school, I never thought I'd have a career in the tech industry," Otero said. "But with the free online learning from Trailhead and the support of the Salesforce community, I went from working in a meat packing plant to being a Salesforce administrator in less than a year. I’m living proof that it’s possible.”
The event then transitioned into a panel discussion that gave Benioff, Trump and the three "Trailblazers" an opportunity to talk in-depth about workforce development issues.
During the panel, Herrera asked Trump how she could directly help improve working conditions for marginalized groups as adviser to the president.
Herrera said that before her time with Salesforce, she felt as if an even playing field was simply out of reach as a Latina.
According to a report from the American Association of University Women, Hispanic or Latina women make just 53% of what white men make on average.
"I think that this American government and society needs to follow Marc Benioff's lead and close that wage gap across the board," Herrera said. "I hope that you take what you've learned here today from the community, and I hope you put it into action."
When Benioff learned of pay equality issues at Salesforce in 2015, he responded by dedicating $3 million in 2016 and another $3 million in 2017 to correct compensation differences by gender, race and ethnicity across the company.
Trump said she has tremendous respect for the work Salesforce is doing to change the wage trajectory, and that she is passionate about creating pathways to success for all people.
"Capitalism should be inclusive capitalism," she said. "How I actually embarked personally on this journey was a real passion around the role of women in the workplace and why women were disproportionately represented, especially women of color, in industries that are so critical to the future.
"And if that trend continues my fear was not only would the wage gap that exists persist, we would start moving in the wrong direction."
According to International Data Corporation, Salesforce and its ecosystem of partners and customers will generate 3.3 million new jobs and $859 billion in new GDP impact worldwide by 2022.
More than 300,000 job postings ask directly for Salesforce skills and offer an average salary of $70,000 per year.
“As we build the economy of the future, we must bring along the workforce of today,” Benioff said. “Salesforce is committed to empowering people from every background with the skills they need to build careers and thrive in the digital economy."
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