Salesforce Boosts Presence in India - Surpasses $10 Million in Charitable Contributions, Logs 664,000 Volunteer Hours, and Expands Technical Aid
Salesforce, a leading technology company, is making significant strides in India by focusing on expanding STEM access, career readiness, educator support, and green skills development. The company's initiatives are designed to empower the youth, promote sustainable practices, and foster a greener and more technologically advanced future.
Expanding STEM Access and Career Readiness
Salesforce has partnered with Sister Nivedita University (SNU) in Kolkata to establish a dedicated Salesforce Lab. This lab offers CRM and AI skills training to about 1,000 students annually, integrating Salesforce products like Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud across various disciplines. The program equips students with hands-on labs, Trailhead-powered learning, and pathways to Salesforce certifications, preparing them for direct job opportunities in the industry [1][2][3].
In addition, Salesforce launched the Virtual Internship Programme (VIP) in collaboration with AICTE, SmartBridge, and other ecosystem partners. This program has helped over 5,000 Indian learners gain real-world technology work experience, bridging the gap from education to employment [4].
Educator Support
As part of the SNU partnership, Salesforce employs a Train-the-Trainer model to upskill university faculty. This initiative equips educators with the knowledge and tools needed to mentor students effectively in emerging CRM and AI technologies, ensuring sustainable skill development within academic institutions [1].
Green Skills and Sustainability Initiatives
Salesforce is committed to advancing education with a focus on sustainability, ecosystems, and empowering youth. Through its corporate philanthropy model in India, Salesforce has pledged over $10 million in grants, alongside hundreds of thousands of employee volunteer hours, to advance education and green skills. Salesforce's broader sustainability efforts include programs aimed at green skills development and ecosystem restoration [5].
Although specific green skills development programs in India were not detailed, Salesforce emphasizes advancing education with a focus on sustainability, ecosystems, and empowering youth as part of its corporate responsibility in the region [5].
A Commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact
Salesforce has established sustainability as a core value alongside trust, customer success, innovation, and equality. The company is partnering with the 1M1B (One Million for One Billion) Foundation to establish the 1M1B Green Skills Academy in Hyderabad, Telangana, aiming to train 1 million young people in essential green and AI skills by 2030 [6].
Salesforce has also committed to corporate philanthropy in India through its 1-1-1 philanthropy model, empowering over 800 nonprofit and higher education institutions with free access to its technology in India [7].
In addition to its education initiatives, Salesforce is making significant strides in sustainability. The company has completed a 15-acre lake restoration project in Bangalore to conserve a polluted water body, providing surplus drinking water to the community [8]. Salesforce has also rejuvenated an 11.5-acre polluted water body in Hyderabad, supporting the livelihoods of the Dhobi community and enhancing biodiversity with thousands of new saplings [9].
Salesforce has fostered a women-led ecosystem through skill-development and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the same project [9]. The company is also supporting ecopreneurs and initiatives like 1t.org, contributing to the global movement toward a net zero, nature-positive world [10].
Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce - South Asia, commented on the company's commitment to ensuring the promise of technology reaches everyone in India. Sanket Atal, Managing Director - Operations & Technology at Salesforce India, emphasized the company's belief that business is a platform for change [11].
Salesforce has contributed over $10 million in all-time giving to nonprofits in India and has enabled more than 6,64,000 hours of employee volunteerism in the country [12]. The company is helping to advance access to education and expand career opportunities for youth in India.
[1] Salesforce India [2] Salesforce India's Partnership with Sister Nivedita University [3] Salesforce India's Trailhead Program [4] Virtual Internship Programme (VIP) [5] Salesforce's Sustainability Efforts in India [6] 1M1B Green Skills Academy [7] Salesforce's 1-1-1 Philanthropy Model [8] Salesforce's Lake Restoration Project in Bangalore [9] Salesforce's Water Body Rejuvenation Project in Hyderabad [10] Salesforce's Support for Ecopreneurs and 1t.org [11] Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce - South Asia [12] Salesforce's Employee Volunteerism in India
- Salesforce, in partnership with Sister Nivedita University, has established a Salesforce Lab that offers CRM and AI skills training to students, preparing them for direct job opportunities, using Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud, and providing pathways to Salesforce certifications.
- In addition to the Salesforce Lab, Salesforce launched the Virtual Internship Programme (VIP) in collaboration with AICTE, SmartBridge, and other ecosystem partners, offering real-world technology work experience to over 5,000 Indian learners.
- As part of the SNU partnership, Salesforce employs a Train-the-Trainer model to upskill university faculty, enabling them to effectively mentor students in emerging CRM and AI technologies.
- Salesforce's broader sustainability efforts include programs aimed at green skills development and ecosystem restoration, such as the lake restoration project in Bangalore and the water body rejuvenation project in Hyderabad.
- Salesforce has pledged over $10 million in grants and employee volunteer hours, focusing on sustainability and green skills development in India, and has partnered with the 1M1B Foundation to establish the 1M1B Green Skills Academy in Hyderabad, aiming to train 1 million young people in essential green and AI skills by 2030.
