Co-founder and CTO Parker Harris wanted to shun consultants 20 years ago. Now he tells them they are essential to Salesforce's growth strategy and delivering successful customer engagements

Soon after founding Salesforce, CTO Parker Harris forcefully argued to CEO Marc Benioff that the new company should avoid building a channel.

"Marc, whatever you do, we do not want consultants," Harris said he told his co-founder twenty years ago.

Harris wanted the innovative cloud-based CRM to be a no-code platform, and systems integrators and consultants would ruin that vision, "because people are going to write code."

Thankfully, Benioff rejected his bad advice, Salesforce's CTO told thousands of ecosystem partners attending a keynote Tuesday at the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco.

[Related: Salesforce Dreamforce Keynote: AI, Integration, Alicia Keys And Protestors]

"We need you," Harris told those consultants he once hoped to shun.

Harris now sees partners who "speak the language of the customer" as vital to the company's strategy of extending into industry verticals. And Salesforce especially needs SIs as it leverages its MuleSoft platform to bring in data from Oracle and SAP ERPs, enabling implementation of a "single source of truth" concept presented through the Customer Truth 360 tooling unveiled earlier that day.

As the CRM leader chases Benioff's ambitious goal to double the business over the next few years, recruiting new partners, enabling existing ones to scale, and encouraging startups to form is a larger priority than ever before. The company has previously said it's aiming to build a channel of 250,000 services partners.

To that end, Salesforce channel leaders outlined specific initiatives Tuesday around enhanced advisory services, a new Architect Certification Program, expanded partner learning, and new resources to help customers identify implementation partners best-suited to their aims.

Tyler Prince, Salesforce's executive vice president of industries, innovation and partners, told representatives of the consultancies, digital agencies and ISVs attending the partner keynote that Salesforce is focused on helping them meet the increasing demands of customers in an era of rapid disruption.

"Salesforce is a different kind of company. I hope we're a different kind of partner to you as well," Prince said.

The opportunity for Salesforce's channel is massive, Prince noted, citing an IDC report that predicts by 2024 the Salesforce ecosystem will generate six times more revenue than Salesforce itself.

"Most of that is represented by solutions and services you provide," Prince told partners.

Kai Hsiung, chief growth officer at Silverline, was one of those in attendance, as he's been for every Dreamforce partner keynote.

To eventually enable the 250,000 partners needed to support Benioff's $28 billion revenue target, "the partner program will have to grow and adjust based on the different partner types out there," Hsiung told CRN.

Salesforce is making a valiant effort to that, Hsiung said.

"The next step is to figure out how to rightsize the enablement based on partner size, industry focus, product focus, geographic focus," Hsiung said. And "they are very much in tune with the feedback partners like Silverline are providing them."

That's why this year Salesforce has introduced so many new partner programs and initiatives, while also ending programs that became less relevant, he added.

Lori Steele, Salesforce's executive vice president for global customer success and professional services, earned a round of applause when telling the keynote's attendees: "our purpose as an organization is not to compete with the partner ecosystem, but to work together, to collaborate and bring the best of Salesforce to our customers."

Currently, half of Salesforce professional services are delivered through partners. "That's good, but it's not good enough," Steele said.

Customers are "really looking for us to come together with shared goals, shared measures," she said.

To deliver more value through its channel, Salesforce is implementing a new engagement model through which Salesforce's advisory services arm looks to collaborate closer with the channel. Salesforce will bring partners into engagements at critical junctures in the customer lifecycle and work closely with them to ensure challenging integration projects are successful, Steele said.

Salesforce wants to leverage the capabilities of partners and complement their skills, while "doing the right thing for customers at the right time," she told Dreamforce attendees.

Enablement is another important component of that vision, she said, and the company is doing "brilliant things with Trailhead."

That Salesforce learning platform isn't just about training, but also bringing best practices to partners and offering them opportunities to shadow Salesforce engineers in the field.

Randy Davis, a partner at Chicago-based Salesforce consultancy Sikich, said Salesforce execs delivered "an inspiring message to the whole partner community" at the keynote.

That message is reflected in an increased investment in partner programs, Davis told CRN.

"As they grow, they need to rely on partners more," Davis said. "It's extremely important partners are enabled with the right training and resources to make customers successful."

Earlier this year, Salesforce launched Trailhead for Partners, a learning system aiming to help consultants develop the talent they need to fuel their growth. Building upon that, a Partner Learning Camp was introduced at this year's Dreamforce, powered by the customized myTrailhead platform.

Prince also suggested to partners they familiarize themselves with innovations on the AppExchange marketplace.

"At a rapid rate, customers are going on the AppExchange not only to find cool apps, but to find a consultant," Prince said. "Use this to your advantage."

The RIBA Foundation in Architecture course targets those interested in a career in architecture, who want to build a portfolio and gain paid work experience before applying for a Part 1 course. The course is part of the RIBA Studio programme and is delivered under a unique partnership with the School of Architecture at Oxford Brookes on behalf of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

RIBA is working to ensure that the architecture sector and the wider construction industry is representative of the communities and societies we serve. Could your practice show their support and help break down barriers to entry to the profession by offering a salaried, local placement to a RIBA Foundation course student?

Simon Wills, Director at Pinnegar Hayward Design, says:

“We have always looked to support the next generation who are looking to enter the world of architecture. Our two current RIBA Foundation students are both mature entrants who we might otherwise have missed out on, and we believe having a range of routes into the architectural profession is critical. The RIBA Foundation course provides a vital role in encouraging new talent in the industry.”

If you want to make a positive impact and find out more about adding a new skill set to your team by creating a role for a RIBA Foundation student, please contact us for more information.

Read about two accurate RIBA Foundation in Architecture graduates, Bradley Agyei and Omer Ajaj, who give an insight into their experiences and skills gained on the course and during a 6-week practical placement at Scott Brownrigg.

Course information for students

The RIBA Foundation course will help you to:

• gain skills in conceptual and creative thinking, building confidence and knowledge in the field
• build a portfolio of work to prepare for further study or work
• gain salaried work experience in architectural practice or creative industry for a minimum of 200 hours
• connect in a professional network and learn in peer-to-peer sessions with RIBA Studio Part 1 and Part 2 students in the industry
• prepare you for a career in the creative industry or studies in architecture through professional experience

The RIBA Foundation course is open to students of any nationality and you can be based in any country. While on this part time online course, you will regularly meet with the course team and a personal tutor. Alongside the six course modules, the salaried work placement in practice or wider creative field could include experience in settings such as an urban design practice, theatre production company, or furniture design firm. A professional within the practice should act as your mentor to help support your studies and training. The course team will assist with finding a placement wherever you are based.

Our accurate graduates have gone on to work in practice or study RIBA Studio Part 1 course, an architecture apprenticeship, a planning course, and a PhD to pursue a career in modelmaking.

The RIBA Foundation is certified at a Level 3 qualification by the national awarding body NCFE.

For information on student eligibility, requirements, key dates, and more, visit the Oxford Brookes University website.

Information for practices

To fulfil the salaried experience element of the RIBA Foundation course, students are encouraged to find work in architecture practices as well as landscape, urban design, planning, and other creative fields.  We are looking for offers of placements for the current cohort of a minimum of 200 hours, which can take place at any time during the course. You would need to pay students at least the level of the wage set by the Living Wage Foundation, and appoint a mentor to guide the student - placements supplement their coursework with the aim of exposure to projects of varying types and stages.

If you are committed to supporting the next generation of talent, please download our information for practices (PDF) and register your interest via email to ribafoundation@brookes.ac.uk.

Information for schools and colleges

The RIBA Foundation team is available to run architecture workshop sessions in schools or online, with a focus on subjects used in architecture at A Level, GCSE, or an earlier stage. This could include classes in:

• Maths
• History
• Technology
• Geography

We would also be happy to attend an assembly or career days to discuss routes into the profession.

Costs

Applications are now closed for the December 2023 intake. They will reopen in 2024 for the December 2024 intake. The current tuition fee for the course is £1,800 which can be paid in three instalments. We run sessions on how to find and apply for funding from academic charities, with graduates advising on their past experiences and success.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact the team at Oxford Brookes: ribafoundation@brookes.ac.uk

Architecture Undergraduate Programs

Overview of Architecture at Drexel Westphal

The practice of architecture requires a unique skill set—creative thinking and aesthetic sensitivity balanced with technical knowledge, cultural understanding, and social responsibility--all coupled with the ability to communicate effectively. Drexel’s undergraduate architecture curriculum encompasses foundation courses in the applied and social sciences, the humanities, and a wide range of professional architecture courses to prepare students for careers in architecture and related fields. At the heart of the curriculum are the design studios, in which students are challenged to apply knowledge acquired from the above disciplines to consequential design problems.

Drexel Westphal’s Architecture program offers two distinct degree options for students interested in pursuing a career in architecture: 

• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.): NAAB-accredited architecture degree leading to professional licensure that combines full- and part-time study and incorporates extensive early exposure to architectural practice
• Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BS): full-time architecture studies degree with flexible options to combine your studies with related fields; can be a precursor to a dual BS/MS degree at Drexel University or a professional NAAB-accredited M.Arch. degree at another institution; provides the opportunity to take advantage of Drexel’s renowned co-op program

Which undergraduate Architecture degree is right for me?

Bachelor of Architecture

Drexel Westphal’s Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree is designed to help you develop a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of architecture, as well as foundational professional knowledge and a basic understanding of related fields. The NAAB-accredited B.Arch. degree at Drexel University is suitable for students who seek to earn a professional undergraduate degree that leads to professional licensure and affords them early exposure to architectural practice. While our B.Arch. degree does not participate in Drexel's signature co-op program, our students' opportunity to gain professional work experience and complete all or most of their Architectural Experience Program (AXP) requirements prior to graduation far exceeds the practice exposure of co-op. Depending on the degree path (read on to learn more about the 2+4 Option and the Part-Time Evening Option), the B.Arch. can be completed in six to seven years. Students enrolled into the B.Arch. degree have the option to pursue the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) to complete the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) and achieve professional licensure upon graduation. Due to its curriculum structure, the B.Arch. degree cannot accommodate international students on J1 visas.

The B.Arch. degree program may be right for students who:

• Plan to pursue a career as a licensed architect
• Wish to complete professional experience requirements for licensure alongside their education thus pursuing an expedited path to licensure
• Seek a rigorous, studio-based education in architecture
• Are prepared for a part-time architecture program that integrates professional exposure into their plan of study

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies

Drexel University’s Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BS in Arch. Studies) degree is a four-year, pre-professional degree. Students develop a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of architecture, hone design skills, and expand their architectural understanding. If you’re unsure about becoming a licensed architect, this degree provides flexible avenues to combine your studies with related fields. Our BS in Architectural Studies degree can be a precursor to a dual BS/MS degree at Drexel University or a professional NAAB-accredited M.Arch. degree. The BS in Arch. Studies is a full-time degree program, which also welcomes international students. We offer both a co-op and a non-co-op option for this degree.

The BS in Architectural Studies may be right for students who:

• Are interested in the fields of architecture and design, but are not sure if they want to become licensed architects
• Hold J1 visas or are international students seeking a degree in architecture
• Are considering post-graduate education in architecture or a related field, such as an accredited professional M.Arch. degree
• Wish to complete a full-time, four-year pre-professional architecture degree
• Are interested in combining an architectural education with other disciplines, like digital media, construction management, design, or other fields 
• Want to participate in Drexel’s cooperative education (co-op) program in architecture or a related field
• Seek a customizable curriculum that prepares students for innovative professional paths

Need help understanding the differences in undergraduate architecture degrees? Deciding which education option is the best fit for you? Our Admissions team is here to answer your questions and help you choose a path to your career in architecture. Contact us at westphaladm@drexel.edu or 215.895.1738.

What are the pathways to a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree at Drexel?

The mission of the Drexel Bachelor of Architecture degree is to pursue architecture as a professional discipline by combining the rigors of the academy with the realities of contemporary architectural practice. The program does this by providing a strong, broadly based curriculum in the arts, design, humanities, social and applied sciences coupled with professional courses taught by faculty who reflect the broad diversity of architectural and design practices today.

Drexel Architecture’s work/study program is an experience-based learning model that complements and provides an alternative to traditional programs. The Drexel model provides a practical, high-quality education to those students who seek early exposure to daily architectural practice as well as an affordable alternative to students who could not otherwise be able to enter the profession.

At Drexel, there are two paths to an accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree, serving two distinct populations:

2+4 Option

The 2+4 Option is an accelerated route designed for a class of well-prepared students entering directly from high school. In this program, two years of full-time coursework address the basic principles of architectural design and satisfy fundamental university core requirements in the arts and sciences as well as those job-related skills that are needed for entry-level professional positions. A comprehensive review of performance will take place after each year to ensure that students are making sufficient progress in all areas.

After successfully completing the minimum requirements of the full-time phase, students find professional employment in the building industry, including architecture firms, while continuing their academic program part-time in the evening for four additional years. By combining work and study, Drexel students may be able to simultaneously satisfy their required internship for licensure (IDP) while completing their professional degree, thus qualifying for the registration exam on graduation in most jurisdictions.

Information on admissions to the 2+4 Option

Part-Time Evening Option

The Part-Time Evening Option is one of only two part-time evening architecture programs in the United States, and it leads to an accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree. Designed for non-traditional and transfer students, this program offers all courses part-time in the evening, enabling students to work full-time. The part-time evening sequence is seven years, but transfer students with university-level design credits can reduce its length by meeting specific program requirements through transcript and portfolio review. All part-time evening courses are offered after 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Information on Transfer Admission Requirements

How Can I Become a Licensed Architect?

Bachelor of Architecture students may be able to receive credit in the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) for work experience obtained before graduation, which is part of most state licensure requirements. The Bachelor of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

For more information on both B.Arch. pathways also visit the Drexel University Undergraduate Architecture Catalog.

Accreditation Information

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a 8-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

At Drexel University, in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

Bachelor of Architecture 227 credits, (equivalent to 150 semester credits)

Next accreditation visit for the Program: 2026

Drexel University Architecture Program Accreditation Reports and Documents

Learn more about Drexel Architecture

Need help deciding which undergraduate Architecture degree is best for you? Want to tour the Architecture facilities at Drexel Westphal, or learn more about how our program prepares students for architecture careers?

The Westphal Admissions team is available to answer questions, organize a tour, or connect you with faculty. Contact us at westphaladm@drexel.edu or 215.895.1738.

The MA Architecture course at Oxford Brookes School of Architecture supports students to deepen their skills in architecture while following their interests.

School: Oxford Brookes School of Architecture
Course: MA Architecture
Location: Oxford, UK
Course dates: continuously enrolling one-year course with a September start
Application deadline: 1 September 2024

The Master's in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University is a challenging 12-month course over three semesters. We set up a playground for students to experiment and speculate on personal ideas and the purpose of architecture.

The course cultivates new ways of thinking about architecture, exploring architecture beyond the commonplace and conventional.

Multiple mediums of experimentation and representation are explored – from collage, drawing and object-making to film, animation and AI.

Learning through experimentation and guided practice facilitates the construction of imaginative and critically reflective projects, which expand on current architectural thinking whilst enabling students to flourish in new fields of interest.

The Master's in Architecture immerses students in a creative learning environment, with its own dedicated studio for the concentrated unfolding of individual projects continually supported by academics, professionals and invited specialists.

Through accumulation and evolution, provocative architectural stances are generated that lead towards a final major project defined by the student's own set of ideas.

An exhibition of student work showcases the year and provides an excellent opportunity to curate and share work with a wider audience.

The course provides a unique environment for professionals who want to expand their current practice creatively and critically as well as for those who wish to build their knowledge and portfolio towards a PhD.

Find out more about the course and apply ›

Top image by Alex Berger.

Dezeen Courses

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