About Us

Dave Duffield, an accomplished software industry executive and visionary, has offered significant technical and functional contributions to the development of enterprise business software. As Chairman and Founder of PeopleSoft, Dave was the driving force behind the company’s vision, strategic direction, and commitment to customer service. Dave inspired the company’s unique culture by promoting core values that focus on people, customers, innovation, quality, integrity, fun, and profitability. Dave is back in business with his newest software company, Workday.

Prior to founding PeopleSoft in 1987, Dave Duffield established two mainframe application software companies. Most recently, he was president, chairman, and chief product architect at Integral Systems, a California-based vendor of the first DB2-based human resource and accounting systems. Previously, Dave co-founded Information Associates where he was instrumental in the development of systems for the higher education market.

Dave Duffield began his career at IBM as a Marketing Representative and Systems Engineer. He holds both a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from Cornell University.

As far back as he can remember, Dave was fond of dogs, but his love for them grew when a little Miniature Schnauzer named Maddie came into his life. Dave’s early years with Maddie were a time of great stress as he struggled to break away from Integral Systems and start PeopleSoft. Always at his side offering unconditional love and devotion, Maddie helped get Dave and his wife Cheryl through the down times. Dave has said, "Maddie was the lighthouse during the stormy period."

It was then that Dave and Cheryl made a promise: should they ever be well off, their top priority would be to give back to Maddie and her kind in dollars that which Maddie gave to them in life and love. Maddie passed away in 1997, but Dave and Cheryl made good on their promise with the creation of Maddie’s Fund. And today, their lives continue to be filled with the love of a Miniature Schnauzer named Maggie.