Early Life and Education
Thomas M. Siebel was born on November 20, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in an upper-middle-class family and attended Shattuck Military Academy. Siebel later graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.A. in History, an M.B.A., and an M.S. in Computer Science. He also earned an honorary doctorate in engineering from the same university.
Rise to Success
Siebel began his career at Oracle Corporation, where he held various management positions between 1984 and 1990. He then served as CEO of Gain Technology before co-founding Siebel Systems in 1993. Under his leadership, Siebel Systems became a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) software, employing over 8,000 people in 29 countries. Siebel Systems was acquired by Oracle in January 2006 for $5.8 billion. In 2009, Siebel founded C3.ai, an enterprise AI software company, where he served as CEO until September 2025, and is now the Executive Chairman.
Key Business Strategies
Siebel is known for his pioneering work in customer relationship management (CRM) software and his ability to identify and capitalize on emerging technology trends. His focus on enterprise AI at C3.ai reflects a strategy to leverage the power of big data, cloud computing, and predictive analytics to provide solutions for various industries. C3.ai's approach involves developing a platform and applications for rapidly developing and operating enterprise-scale AI solutions.
Philanthropy
Siebel established the Siebel Foundation in 1996, which supports initiatives in education, public health, and energy solutions. He has donated millions to his alma mater, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, including the Siebel Center for Computer Science and the Siebel Center for Design. The Siebel Foundation is also involved in combating methamphetamine abuse.