Tech CEOs Marc Benioff and Michael Dell Share How They’re Staying Active

Marc Benioff and Michael Dell Celebrity Challenge

We love hearing how Fitbit has helped people get more active, whether it’s someone who’s working their way up to a half-marathon or it’s the CEO of a global technology company. With this week’s #FitbitForAHA Celebrity Challenge underway, we asked Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, and Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell, about how they use Fitbit to get active. Read on to learn about what inspires them, and how they think wearables will change how people view their personal health.

Q: David Sedaris has said seeing his stats pushed him to hit 60,000 steps in a day. How does Fitbit inspire you to be more active or more aware of your health?

Michael Dell: I’m very data driven and goal oriented. I also love to compete, either against my prior records or other people. The combination of all of these within Fitbit inspires me to stay active.

Q: What about the Fitbit experience do you find most compelling, and why?

Marc Benioff: From the moment I put on my Fitbit, I started a journey with the company. I went from receiving the Fitbit in the mail to being connected to my friends and a community of users around the world. And along the way, they sent me emails that led to me getting other connected products and apps. This is what the customer journey is all about—creating amazing, personalized experiences and connecting with your customer in a whole new way.

Q: How has having friends on Fitbit like Marc Benioff / Michael Dell inspired you to be more active?

Michael Dell: I’m pretty active anyway, but I’m also competitive. Funny story. I was in a media interview at Dell World last fall, and we were on the topic of Big Data. I used my Fitbit as an example of the innate power of data to turn information into insights and actions. We scrolled through my leaderboard to see how I was doing relative to my friends. I was way ahead of Marc that day too, so this should be a lot of fun.

Marc Benioff: Michael and I have been friends for many years and he’s actually called to check on me when my Fitbit shows that I’ve missed a few days. He logs an incredible amount of steps, so I know I am in for a challenge. I’ve joked before that I think Michael puts his Fitbit on his dog!

Q: How do you see wearable devices evolving in terms of how they will continue to change consumers’ approach to health and fitness?

Marc Benioff: Fitbit is an amazing example of the power of wearables and data. It can track my location, my physical activity and my vital signs, like my heart rate. I have no doubt that in the future, wearable devices like Fitbit will know my blood pressure, hydration levels and blood sugar levels as well. All of this data has the potential to transform modern medicine and create a whole new era of personalized care.

Q: Why are you participating in the Fitbit Celebrity Challenge benefiting American Heart Association?

Michael Dell: It’s a worthy cause, and a good excuse to have to some fun with Marc.

Q: In fitness, just like in business, a little competition can be a big motivator. During this Fitbit Challenge, what will you do to stay a step ahead of Marc, and what’s your mantra going to be?

Michael Dell: How about #dellbeatsbenioff2015? That has a nice ring to it.

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