David Duffield: The Visionary Behind PeopleSoft and Workday

David Duffield is one of the most impactful yet understated figures in the history of enterprise software. Known primarily for founding two major software companies—PeopleSoft and Workday—Duffield has demonstrated that innovation, integrity, and human-centered leadership can drive success in a fiercely competitive industry. Born on September 21, 1940, in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, Duffield’s journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a billionaire entrepreneur is one of inspiration, resilience, and unwavering ethical values.

Duffield’s academic journey began at Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. His strong technical background provided the foundation for what would become a trailblazing career in software development. Early on, he worked at IBM, one of the world’s largest technology companies. It was at IBM that Duffield was exposed to the inner workings of corporate software and management systems, experiences that would later shape his entrepreneurial ventures.

His first significant foray into entrepreneurship came in the early 1980s when he founded Information Associates, a company focused on human resources software for universities. While this venture didn’t reach the heights of his later companies, it served as a critical learning experience. The turning point came in 1987, when Duffield founded PeopleSoft in Walnut Creek, California. He co-founded the company with Ken Morris to address a glaring need in the HR and enterprise software space: user-friendly software that catered to the needs of human resources professionals.

PeopleSoft quickly became a leader in its field. Under Duffield’s leadership, the company emphasized a people-centric culture, both in the design of its software and in its corporate ethos. Unlike many tech CEOs of his era, Duffield was known for his humility and focus on employee well-being. The company developed human resources, financial, and student information systems that were widely adopted by major corporations and universities. It grew rapidly and eventually became one of the world’s leading enterprise application software companies.

In 2005, PeopleSoft was acquired by Oracle Corporation after a protracted and hostile takeover battle. The acquisition marked a significant shift in the software landscape, but Duffield didn’t step away from the industry. Instead, he co-founded Workday in 2005 with former PeopleSoft executive Aneel Bhusri. Workday was built with the vision of providing cloud-based human capital management (HCM) and financial management software. This new company was not only a response to Oracle’s acquisition of PeopleSoft but also a forward-looking embrace of the emerging cloud computing paradigm.

Workday thrived under Duffield’s leadership. The company’s focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, and an employee-first culture resonated with organizations around the world. Workday’s products were designed with a modern architecture that allowed for regular updates, greater flexibility, and better user experiences. The company grew rapidly, eventually going public in 2012. By then, Duffield had already solidified his legacy as a serial entrepreneur who had twice built world-class enterprise software companies from the ground up.

Despite his immense success, Duffield is known for his low-key personality and philanthropic spirit. In 2016, he established the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation with his wife, Cheryl. The foundation supports a wide range of causes, including animal welfare, education, and military veterans. One of their most notable philanthropic efforts has been Maddie’s Fund, an organization dedicated to promoting and enabling the no-kill movement in animal shelters. Named after the Duffields’ beloved miniature schnauzer, Maddie’s Fund has donated millions to animal welfare causes and helped change the way shelters operate across the United States.

Duffield’s philanthropy is characterized by a hands-on, heartfelt approach. He is not a distant benefactor but rather an active participant in the causes he supports. His foundation’s contributions have transformed communities, schools, and shelters, reflecting the same values of empathy and excellence that defined his corporate endeavors.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Duffield’s career is his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. In an industry often criticized for cutthroat competition and impersonal business practices, Duffield stood out as a leader who genuinely cared about people. Whether it was employees, customers, or the animals he seeks to protect through his foundation, Duffield’s leadership has always been grounded in compassion and a desire to make the world a better place.

Now in his eighties, David Duffield remains a towering figure in the world of enterprise software and philanthropy. His legacy is not just in the companies he built but in the lives he touched—employees who found a welcoming workplace, customers who benefited from innovative solutions, and countless animals who found shelter and care through his charitable work.

Duffield’s story is a testament to the power of vision, values, and hard work. He showed that it is possible to succeed in business while holding fast to principles of kindness, transparency, and ethical responsibility. As enterprise software continues to evolve and new technologies reshape how businesses operate, the foundational work laid by Duffield in PeopleSoft and Workday will remain pivotal. His life and legacy offer a powerful reminder that the greatest entrepreneurs are not just builders of companies, but also builders of communities and champions of compassion.