Marc Benioff’s Post

Yesterday, I had the honor of being invited to the Colin L. Powell Distinguished Leadership Award dinner, an event that celebrated the impactful legacy of General Powell but also spotlighted the exemplary leadership of Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce. The evening was inspiring and a tribute to General Powell core values- integrity, humor, pragmatism, and common sense.   Marc Benioff shared personal stories about how General Powell had a significant impact on the philanthropic arm of Salesforce, particularly inspiring the 1% Pledge. This initiative reflects the commitment to dedicate 1% of equity, 1% of employee time, and 1% of product to the community, underscoring the profound influence General Powell had on Salesforce’s approach to giving back. In a compelling interview facilitated by Robin Roberts, an anchor on Good Morning America, Benioff shed light on the principles that have guided his path to success.   I had the privilege of meeting Colin L. Powell on several occasions over the years and he has influenced my journey to continue to be a force for good as a Salesforce Ventures Partner. It was an evening that underscored the essence of leadership and its transformative impact on our communities and the world at large!   Thank you to Marco Antonio Achon, Linda Powell, Andrew Rich, and Sabastian V. Niles for making this a great event!   #Leadership #Impact #Salesforce #SalesforcePartner #SalesforceVentures #YPO #ESG #Sustainability #Partnerforce #SalesforcePartnerAdvisoryBoard

It's time to think about a crucial aspect that often goes unnoticed, but still has a significant impact on retaining and attracting corporate sponsors—the role of your board leadership in sponsor relations. We came across a compelling story from one of our association sales execs that really brings this week's focus to life. They shared, “We had a corporate sponsor drop their partnership with my client because the sponsor didn't feel welcomed by the board at events. Board members weren't making an effort to say hi or introduce themselves, creating a cliquey atmosphere. The sponsor mentioned he would rather invest where the board makes him feel important.” This story sheds light on a simple yet profound truth: the warmth and inclusivity extended by board members can directly influence a sponsor's decision to continue their partnership. So, here's this week's question for you to ponder: "How are you working with your Board to make your corporate sponsors feel welcome this week?" #Associations #AssociationChat #WeeklyWins #BigRedM #AssociationStrategy

What do Audeliss and INvolve do? What is our Founder and CEO Suki Sandhu OBE's proudest achievement? Can you ask people where they're from? All the questions you wanted to ask Suki are covered in our 50 Questions with a CEO interview dropping on Monday. Check out the teaser below. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the interview when it lands: https://lnkd.in/eAZYwBsd #DEI #Diversityandinclusion #CEO #CEOInsights #BusinessLeader #BusinessLeadership #Leadership #Allyship #Advocacy

 Welcome to A Cultured Business! At A Cultured Business, our mission is simple: Empower Black women and women of color nonprofit leaders to amplify their impact through tailored legal counsel and strategic consulting. We know that leadership in the nonprofit sector requires both a vision for social change and a strong foundation that ensures sustainability. Our purpose is to make sure Black women and women of color nonprofit leaders have the support they need to thrive, lead confidently, and focus on what matters most—creating transformational change in their communities. Imagine having a partner who truly understands your unique challenges and aspirations. A Cultured Business is here to make your journey smoother, offering clear, culturally informed legal guidance and strategic consulting that helps you navigate obstacles, overcome barriers, and lead with purpose. What's in it for you? Our expertise gives you the peace of mind and clarity to make informed decisions—so you can focus on your mission, uplift your team, and cultivate the kind of impact that changes lives. Together, we build a culture of empowerment, resilience, and meaningful change. We'd love to hear from you! What does empowerment mean to you as a nonprofit leader? Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out to start a conversation! #Blackwomeninleadership #womenofcolorinleadership #SocialJustice #NonprofitLeadership #Blackwomeninnonprofit #womeninleadership 

"As White-founded organizational leadership transitions out of what has more often than not been blatantly unexamined and relatively ungoverned roles in organizations, often on the brink of collapse, incoming Black women leaders are discovering that now there will be not only governance but obstructive, extreme oversight, micromanagement, unreasonable expectations, territorialism, mistrust, little to no support, lack of basic decency and humanity, and the list continues—sometimes from the board, sometimes from the staff, and sometimes from both…and that’s just internally. Externally, there is also misbehavior from funders and from other leaders. There is no place allowed, it seems, to breathe; to rest; to grow; to make mistakes, learn, and recalibrate; to be. The sector, as a number of leaders describe in this edition, is perpetrating death by a thousand cuts."

"As White-founded organizational leadership transitions out of what has more often than not been blatantly unexamined and relatively ungoverned roles in organizations, often on the brink of collapse, incoming Black women leaders are discovering that now there will be not only governance but obstructive, extreme oversight, micromanagement, unreasonable expectations, territorialism, mistrust, little to no support, lack of basic decency and humanity, and the list continues—sometimes from the board, sometimes from the staff, and sometimes from both…and that’s just internally. Externally, there is also misbehavior from funders and from other leaders. There is no place allowed, it seems, to breathe; to rest; to grow; to make mistakes, learn, and recalibrate; to be. The sector, as a number of leaders describe in this edition, is perpetrating death by a thousand cuts."

🔥 Racial Double Standards in Leadership? Let’s Talk 🔥 My new article dives deep into the unchecked privileges and biases that keep some in power despite their actions. It’s time to rethink what we accept in leadership and who gets a pass. #WhitePrivilege #DoubleStandards #LeadershipBias #racism #AccountabilityForAll #RacialJustice #HoldLeadersAccountable https://lnkd.in/gA9k8qXi

Giving back to society is not just a responsibility; it’s a privilege. As corporate leaders, we have the power to create positive change beyond our business goals. Whether it’s through mentoring, community involvement, or supporting social causes, our impact should extend beyond the boardroom. "Basware Gives Back" #nowitalljusthappens #proudBaswarean #donateblood

Leading Edge released a new report that outlines recent findings on how CEOs of Jewish nonprofits perceive their boards & offers practical actions Jewish nonprofits can take now to improve their board effectiveness. We are grateful for Leading Edge, a SRE Network Member & grantee, for providing insights that empower Jewish organizations to improve culture, leadership, and performance. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_3jNEFf P.S. Explore more reports, tools, guides, & articles to help your organization advance safety, respect, and equity at https://lnkd.in/extaeVws.

This is Kathy. She’s retired, but you wouldn’t know it from the way she spends her days serving, investing, and leading. After a career as an HR leader in tech, she brings so much wisdom to the Allies Against Slavery board of directors. Her kindness is coupled with a no-nonsense honesty, and her people intuition is like a sixth sense. As Allies has grown this year, I’ve found myself calling or texting her regularly with questions. She’s not just a board member, she’s a believer in the mission. Whether rolling up her sleeves with Allies in a number of roles as mentor, board officer, sounding board, HR advisor, or volunteer…or leading her faith community’s partnership with IJM and chairing the board of Red Oak Hope. She’s someone who cares deeply and shows up. And last night she joined me at the Austin Business Journal “Best CEO” event. Spoiler alert: I didn’t win ☺️. (Congrats Michael Torres!) But as I reflected on what it meant to be nominated, it felt like the roles should be reversed. CEOs should host events in which they nominate their teammates and mentors who are responsible for speaking into their lives. The faces of my team at Allies, my board, and the dozens of friends and mentors who have believed in me, corrected me, bailed me out of tough situations, celebrated with me, cried with me, and laughed with me for the last 14 years were flashing through my mind. There are too many to all name here. I guess this is all just to express my gratitude for Kathy and so many people like her in my life. Leaders, remember that your success is never solely your success. In fact, many times it has very little to do with you. This life journey is a team sport, and leadership is a title entrusted to you by the people around you. Our job becomes investing in and caring for our teams and our communities, creating the conditions for us to move to our vision for positive change in the world. #leadership #nonprofits #humantrafficking #business