Salesforce Announces Pathfinder Training Program to Empower the Workforce of the Future

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced the Salesforce Pathfinder Training Program, a workforce development program to provide participants from diverse backgrounds with the technical Salesforce skills and business training they need to obtain technology jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem. The program is being launched in collaboration with Deloitte, which will provide training in soft skills, business acumen and effective communication.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes every business, industry and economy, it is also widening the gap between available skilled jobs and employees with those skills—with nearly six million youth unemployed and 22 percent of veterans seeking employment^[1]. The Pathfinder Training Program will address this skills gap by giving the unemployed and untrained the skills required to gain livable wages in this new technology-driven era.

The four-month program will focus on training for software development and data management jobs, specifically Salesforce Developer and Salesforce Administrator—ranked two of the top 10 jobs in America in 2017.^[2]

Participants will receive a combination of classroom training and online learning via Trailhead, Salesforce's free, gamified online learning platform. In addition to traditional online learning, Trailhead engages learners with hands-on challenges that enable them to demonstrate that they can apply what they've learned to meet real-world business requirements.

Salesforce and its Trailblazer community will provide mentorship and access to expert-led, hands-on technical skills training. The program will be open to opportunity youth, veterans and professionals looking to re-enter the workforce. Once participants have graduated from the program, they will be connected to the Trailblazer community for mentorship, inspiration and networking to assist them in obtaining jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem.

"Education is intrinsic to workforce development and addressing the inequality gap," said Cindy Robbins, president and chief people officer, Salesforce. "Our mission is to create better outcomes for our entire global community and the Pathfinder Training Program is a continuation of our commitment to advance equality for all."

Equality is one of Salesforce's core values, driven by CEO Marc Benioff's vision that the company's higher purpose is to drive The Age of Equality. The Pathfinder Program's focus on training workers from diverse backgrounds for the jobs of tomorrow supports Salesforce's commitment to prioritize programs that support equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunity and equal education. The company has been recognized for its culture and work in equality with a regular presence on the best places to work lists from Fortune, LinkedIn and Glassdoor, as well as the number one spot on the Fortune Future 50 of companies best positioned for breakout growth.

Launched in Collaboration with Deloitte
Deloitte will provide participants with soft skills training, including modules in organization, communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Deloitte has also committed to interviewing graduates of the program and plans to provide internships or other employment to 10 percent of qualified Pathfinder Training Program certified graduates.

"Committed to workforce development, Deloitte is also a recognized leader in inclusion and diversity. We believe a diverse, empowered workforce offers a better experience for our employees and a better outcome for our clients," said Jennifer Steinmann, chief transformation officer, Deloitte.

Supporting Salesforce's Commitment to the Local Workforce in Indiana
In May, Salesforce celebrated the opening of Salesforce Tower Indianapolis, and committed to training 500 local workers for careers in tech in the next three years. As part of this commitment, Salesforce is launching the Pathfinder Program pilot in Indianapolis, the company's second largest hub outside of San Francisco. The first cohort of the program will be open to Indiana residents and classroom training will take place in Indianapolis.

Salesforce will partner with local veterans' organizations in Indianapolis, as well as Indiana-based Ivy Tech Community College, the nation's largest accredited statewide community college, to help source participants.

Comments on the News:
"There is a lot of untapped talent and potential all over the U.S. and Indianapolis is a great place to kick-start the Pathfinder Training Program with its booming tech scene," said Bob Stutz, CEO of Marketing Cloud and Chief Analytics Officer, Salesforce. "We are committed to growing in Indiana and becoming a national leader in the creation of tech jobs."

"As Indiana doubles down on efforts to develop a 21st Century skilled and ready workforce, forward-thinking, community-minded companies like Salesforce will be critical partners leading the way," Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. "I commend and congratulate Salesforce on its new training program to help more Hoosiers fill these high-demand, well-paying jobs."

"It is critical to the future of Indianapolis to foster an inclusive ecosystem in which our residents have the tools they need to better compete in a 21st century workforce," said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. "Salesforce has recognized this gap and is investing in our community with education and skills development. Indianapolis is fortunate to have companies like Salesforce who view challenges as opportunities and work tirelessly to address them."

Furthering Workforce Development and Providing Equal Opportunities for All
Salesforce is investing in the workforce of the future by providing equal access to education, technology and opportunities that will set up our global community for success in the new digital economy. The Pathfinder Training Program is one of many of Salesforce's efforts to make reskilling and professional development possible by helping the untrained and unemployed gain livable wages and begin their careers within the Salesforce ecosystem.

These efforts, all of which stress equality for all, are part of Salesforce's larger commitment to workforce development, which include university recruitment, computer science curriculum in K-12 schools, training for thousands of veterans and their spouses, Trailhead, the free gamified online learning platform for the skills of the future and hundreds of training opportunities for urban youth--more than half of whom Salesforce has hired. Salesforce supports organizations, such as YearUp and Genesys Work, that provide students with in-demand job skills.

Deloitte is dedicated to the promotion of equality and inclusion initiatives and is recognized by leading industry organizations for its work in establishing programs both internally, as well as with their clients, around diversity, inclusion and equality, including veterans, women and LGBTQ communities. 

The Salesforce Ecosystem
The Salesforce ecosystem is growing faster than ever. The Salesforce economy will contribute 3.3 million new jobs and $859 billion in new GDP impact worldwide by 2022^[3]. This year, companies across the U.S. will hire more than 300,000 Salesforce Administrators and Salesforce Developers. Salesforce currently has 10,000 job openings posted within the Salesforce ecosystem.

About Salesforce
Salesforce, the global CRM leader, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: http://www.salesforce.com.

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including more than 85 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across more than 20 industry sectors to make an impact that matters — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities  to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Learn more about Deloitte's commitment to inclusion here.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

^[1] https://www.prudential.com/documents/public/VeteransEmploymentChallenges.pdf

^[2] http://blog.indeed.com/2017/03/21/best-jobs-united-states-2017/

^[3] https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2017/10/salesforce-economy-idc-study-2022.html

SOURCE Salesforce

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