Clara Shih is the CEO of Salesforce AI, where she spearheads the company’s artificial intelligence initiatives, overseeing the growth, adoption, and ecosystem for Einstein GPT—the world’s leading AI for Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Under her leadership, Einstein GPT delivers over 1 trillion predictions and generative automations weekly across Salesforce’s various platforms, including Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and more. Previously, she led the Salesforce Service Cloud, recognized globally as the top solution for customer service and contact centers.
A digital pioneer, Shih has garnered numerous accolades for her influence in technology and entrepreneurship. She has been named one of Fortune’s “40 Under 40” and “Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs,” as well as Fast Company’s “Most Influential People in Technology.” In 2018, she was recognized as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, highlighting her impact on the industry and society.
Beyond her role at Salesforce, Shih serves on the board of directors for Starbucks and is the Executive Chair of Hearsay Systems, a digital software firm she founded in 2009. Her leadership extends to shaping the future of customer engagement through innovative technology solutions.
Shih graduated first in her computer science class at Stanford University, where she also earned a master’s degree in the same field. Additionally, she holds a master’s in internet studies from Oxford University, having studied as a U.S. Marshall Scholar. Her educational background and professional achievements underscore her commitment to advancing technology in meaningful ways.