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Salesforce is retracting its DEI goals. Business Insider reports that the major software company removed references to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals in its annual financial report. Regarding hiring, the company says it will now uphold equality as its core value. “While we are not specifying representation goals, we remain committed to our core value of equality,” a Salesforce spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg. This sentiment was also echoed in the filing, which read, “We value the equality of every individual at our company and in our communities and are dedicated to fostering a workplace that complies with these protections, creating an inclusive culture where every individual feels seen, heard and valued.” Salesforce joins a growing list of companies that have all followed a common pattern in recent months. Google, Amazon, and Meta are other technology-driven companies that are shifting their focus away from DEI. In retail, Walmart, Aldi, and Target have done...
If you tend to spend any time analyzing stock market data , you may have been struck by the sudden surge in Salesforce shares on Tuesday morning. Per reports, the shares saw a more than 12 percent single-day rise as Salesforce’s third-quarter earnings were reported in full. Not only did the corporation, listed as CRM on the New York Stock Exchange , manage to out-earn their Q3 projections in 2024, their recent pivot to artificial intelligence has led analysts to project significant additional growth in quarter 4 and beyond. Expectations for fourth-quarter sales have now been reported at highs of over $10 billion. Though these figures seem massive in scope, some analysts have successfully predicted this rise, as Salesforce has been on a financial uptick throughout all of 2024. To understand why these figures are significant, and what this means for the Salesforce market moving forward, we’ll have to take a brief look at the company’s existing business model, financial structure, and...
Highlighting bias in artificial intelligence (AI) is essential, but equally important is educating people on ways to prevent it. In 2019, Salesforce established its Trusted AI Principles to address the ethical implications of predictive AI and machine learning. By 2023, with the rapid evolution of generative AI, Salesforce deepened its commitment to responsible AI by participating in the AFROTECH™ Conference, where it discussed strategies for prioritizing ethical and inclusive practices in generative AI. During the session, “ Closing The AI Trust Gap: Battling Bias | Presented by Salesforce,” Jackie Chambers de Freitas, Vice President of Agile Delivery and Coaching at Salesforce, shared how Salesforce’s focus on AI began in 2014, when CEO Marc Benioff declared that the company would become an AI-first company. Watch the session here via AFROTECH™ Labs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) “The goal was to transform Salesforce into an intelligent...
As a driver of culture, Hip-Hop has the power to shift the conversation and bring attention to important causes. Ahead of the curve, Rock The Bells, founded by LL COOL J, has teamed up with Salesforce.org to champion voices within the Hip-Hop space and disrupt stigmas surrounding mental health.
Black designers have mastered code-switching while working in predominantly white spaces, but how can they embrace their authenticity more in professional settings? We’re covering this topic during the AfroTech Conference from the lens of Terrence Williams, a Black designer and visual artist who consistently advocates for more inclusive design spaces. He has been working as a senior design lead at Salesforce for the past four years. In the “Designing Blackness: How Black Designers Can Embrace Their Authenticity” session on the engineering and design stage, Williams plans to talk about why it’s crucial for Black designers to embrace being their most authentic selves in workspaces. “As a designer of color, I’ve had to navigate a number of spaces where I may be the only one or may not always feel as connected,” Williams told AfroTech. “I’ve had to learn to build my community as time has gone on.” Williams also told AfroTech that he struggled early on in his career without mentors that...
Buying Black just got a whole lot easier! Salesforce and Combs Enterprises have joined forces to create SHOP CIRCULATE, a curated digital marketplace that will allow customers to discover and buy products exclusively created and sold by Black entrepreneurs. On the heels of the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre this past weekend, SHOP CIRCULATE was created to equip Black businesses with a platform that would allow them to reach global audiences and will empower consumers to shop the world’s best Black-owned brands. “Building Black wealth starts with investing in Black-owned businesses and giving entrepreneurs access to the consumers needed to build sustainable companies that can thrive,” said Sean Combs , Chairman of Combs Enterprises in an official press release. “I’m excited to partner with Salesforce to create a platform that will advance our collective pursuit of economic justice.” The announcement reiterates the value that comes with both supporting and...
Creating access to careers in technology is key for advancing equity and creating a more equal world for all. For leaders like Kimberly Lowe-Williams, creating opportunities for others through technology is a passion that drives her work. “I am a technologist with a passion to bring the gift of coding and technology to underrepresented communities. I truly believe technology will serve as the catalyst for people in poverty to change their lifestyles, both individually and as a community. If I could contribute to that progress in any way, I know I will have made a difference in the world,” Lowe-Williams explains. As the first Black woman to lead as a senior engineering manager at Salesforce’s Heroku division, Lowe-Williams has emerged as a force within the company. Drawing on her own experience as a nonprofit founder, since joining the team she’s worked hard to cultivate new relationships and build bridges at Salesforce; as a result, Lowe-Williams has broken down walls while opening...
Salesforce is being sued by 50 women who alleged the company profited by helping Backpage participate in sex trafficking, as reported by CNBC . The lawsuit — which was filed Monday in Superior Court in San Francisco — claims that Salesforce’s data tools were utilized by Backpage and provided the “backbone” of its exponential growth. “With Salesforce’s guidance, Backpage was able to use Salesforce’s tools to market to new “users” — that is, pimps, johns, and traffickers — on three continents,” the lawsuit claims. A Salesforce spokesperson wouldn’t comment on pending litigation, but told CNBC, “We are deeply committed to the ethical and humane use of our products and take these allegations seriously.” Salesforce is known to have a sort of social justice profile. On the same day that the lawsuit was filed, the Red Cross of the Bay Area named Salesforce 2019 Humanitarian Company of the Year . Backpage was a classified ad site that was seized by U.S. authorities in April 2018 . The site...
If you’ve been following the stock market in recent days you may already be familiar with SoftBank, a multinational internet services and investment firm operating out of Japan. The business has received a ton of press since Monday morning after CEO Masayoshi Son announced a proposed $100 billion in investments over the next four calendar years. This plan, which was developed in collaboration with the incoming Trump administration , is projected to create 100,000 new jobs within the United States, particularly in artificial intelligence and similar internet-based infrastructure. Per the Wall Street Journal , SoftBank’s stock (SFTBY) received a massive bump in the day following the announcement, accounting for a 4.4 percent rise in the Japanese market and a 1.3 percent rise on the New York Stock Exchange . To better understand exactly what this means for our country, infrastructure and the stock market of today, we’ll have to take a moment to examine SoftBank’s business model and...
Kamala Harris is being supported by longtime friend and billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs. Per Forbes, Jobs has a fortune of $15.3 billion, with the vast majority stemming from the Walt Disney and Apple shares she inherited from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away in 2011 after battling pancreatic cancer. Jobs is passionate about education, immigration, health, and environmental justice. She established Emerson Collective in 2004 to support entrepreneurs disrupting these sectors. Later in 2021, the Waverley Street Foundation was launched with a $3 billion pledge focused on climate change. Her pursuits also extend to becoming a co-owner of The Atlantic in 2017, and she holds stake in sports teams including the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL), and Washington Mystics (WNBA) through Monumental Sports. Jobs, who is reportedly “Silicon Valley’s wealthiest woman,” has additionally invested in the candidacy of Kamala Harris, who is seeking to become the next...
Black Girls Code (BGC) is living true to its name. The organization exists to ensure at least 1 million girls of color will establish a presence in the tech industry by 2040 by partnering with schools, individuals who share its mission, and other organizations, a press release mentions. Among its efforts to bolster career paths in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) is providing computer programming education. In October 2023, the organization hired former Salesforce executive Cristina Jones as its CEO. Jones’ experience also includes having worked at Twentieth Century Fox, where she was able to gain further experience within the entertainment sector and technology. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Black Girls Code (@blackgirlscode) Now, in her latest role, the focus is on workforce development and fostering industry partnerships that will help to build the skills of its students and forge career pathways, as previously reported by...
In June 2020, financial institutions nationwide committed a record-breaking $4.2 billion to racial equity. Nonprofits directly received $300 million, representing 51% of total donation volume that month. However just six months later, funding for racial equity fell to 5% of the donation share. Now three years later, while energy has further slowed, racial justice remains a top concern across demographics. We know nonprofits steered by Black leaders and people of color are best positioned to drive racial equity. However, it’s simply not enough for corporate funders looking to affirm their values to financially empower BIPOC leaders. To properly equip nonprofit leaders, financial institutions and other corporate funders must embrace a two-pronged approach of capital and capacity building. One of the most effective interventions in capacity-building for BIPOC-led nonprofits lies in technology. Seventy-four percent of nonprofits say digital transformation is a need-to or must-have, yet...
Editorial Note: Opinions are the writer’s own and not those of AfroTech. The values that a company upholds are an integral part of its very DNA, and reversing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts can greatly impact how companies attract and retain talent. Companies who want to attract and engage Black, Latino, and underrepresented talent and consumers, must build a culture founded on values that permeate every part of the business. Amidst ongoing news of layoffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty, many businesses have made the unfortunate decision to scale back on DEI efforts. These initiatives should not be considered an afterthought, but rather an essential piece of an organization’s culture helping businesses attract and retain talent, boost innovation, and drive growth. Company culture is increasingly important to employees – and can be a deciding factor for those considering quitting or choosing a new job. Whether that means creating inclusive environments, adopting...
It’s no secret that Destiny’s Child is not only one of the biggest girl groups of all time but also at the top of the best-selling. Before officially saying goodbye to their fans in 2006, the legendary group sold over 60 million records, according to Capital Xtra. While the trio of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams were a force together, they each went on to pursue successful careers in their own lanes. However, during Williams’ journey, she briefly hit a turn. In an interview with UBS, the Grammy-award winner shared that a lack of communication and misunderstanding with her financial advisor turned into a “substantial investment loss.” “Knowledge is powerful. Ask questions. It’s your money—you have a right to know what’s being done with it,” Williams told the outlet. But, we already knew that she was a survivor . Bossing up after the initial setback, Williams’ net worth sits at $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Now, here’s a look inside all...