Early Life
David Arthur Duffield was born on September 21, 1940, in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. He graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1958 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Cornell University.
Rise to Success
Duffield began his career at IBM as a marketing representative and systems engineer. He then founded Information Associates, which developed university exam scheduling software. His entrepreneurial journey continued with Integral Systems and Business Software Corporation. In 1987, Duffield co-founded PeopleSoft, where he served as CEO and board chairman. PeopleSoft became the world's second-largest application software company before being acquired by Oracle in 2005 for $10.7 billion. In 2005, Duffield co-founded Workday, Inc. with Aneel Bhusri, a cloud-based human capital management and financial management software company, where he served as co-CEO and chairman emeritus.
Key Business Strategies
Duffield's success can be attributed to his vision for enterprise software, his focus on employee well-being, and his ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities. He was an early adopter of cloud computing and a strong advocate for a positive and employee-centric company culture. His companies were known for their innovative software solutions and their commitment to customer service.
Philanthropy
Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, are dedicated philanthropists. In 1994, they established Maddie's Fund, an animal welfare organization, with a substantial initial investment. The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation supports animal welfare agencies, pet shelters, local schools, and community organizations. Duffield has also donated significantly to Cornell University, funding interdisciplinary research and establishing scholarships.
