In a recent survey conducted by the hiring platform Hired, titled the 2019 Global Brand Health Report, more than 3,600 high-tech professionals, including software developers, data scientists, and project managers, were asked to identify the most inspiring leaders in the global tech industry. The results revealed that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk topped the list, followed by Alibaba’s Jack Ma, who was the only non-American CEO to make it into the top five.
Image: Global tech industry’s most inspiring leaders (Source: Hired)
The Ranking Behind the CEO Titles
Elon Musk, a legendary figure in the electric vehicle industry and the boss of SpaceX, is a South African-born American entrepreneur who has made it a habit to post on Twitter daily. His interactions with netizens have made him approachable, and his charisma has been evident in interviews. A Tesla owner from Seattle once described meeting Musk as a pilgrimage, indicating the level of admiration he commands.
Despite his past mistakes and flaws, Musk’s passion and ambition for the future of technology have been highly motivational for tech professionals. His role as a co-founder of the Boring Company and Neuralink further cements his position as a visionary leader.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos ranked second due to his reputation for being tough on employees, while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella came in third. Notably, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, ranked fourth, and Jack Ma, the former chairman of Alibaba Group, secured the fifth position, surprising many with his strong judgment and innovative ideas. Ma’s love for Tai Chi and his admiration for金庸, earning him the nickname Feng Qingyang, have also contributed to his popularity among tech talents.
The list also includes four female leaders: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, and 23andMe CEO Ann Wojcicki. Interestingly, neither Apple CEO Tim Cook nor Google CEO Sundar Pichai made it into the top ten, reflecting the relatively lower appeal of these leaders among American tech talents.
The Importance of a Strong Employer Brand
The report highlights that, apart from the personal charm of tech leaders, innovative companies must build a strong employer brand to attract the best and brightest. Understanding the preferences and motivators of tech talents is crucial.
One key factor in the survey is the location of the employer and commuting time. Over a quarter (29%) of candidates would not consider a job that requires more than a 30-minute commute, and 65% are interested in fully remote work. Additionally, despite the rise of AI and fears of job displacement, only 4% of respondents mentioned this as a motivator in their job choices.
For tech talents, the primary motivator for choosing one company over another is not just salary but also company culture. While salary remains the top driver for accepting an offer, company culture is a close second, with over 40% of tech talents considering it the most important factor when evaluating new job opportunities along with pay, benefits, and career growth.
The report also identifies two significant factors that deter candidates from joining a company: lack of interest in the product and a poor reputation (43%). Nearly half of the respondents (49%) would not join a company if they don’t identify with its products.
Transparency in the hiring process is also crucial, as candidates desire a less painful experience. Seventy-one percent of respondents said that seeing the salary range upfront is the top motivator for engaging with recruiters.
Retaining Top Talent
Retaining top talent is as important as attracting them. The survey found that the top reasons for tech talents leaving a company are salary and the opportunity to tackle new challenges. A stagnant salary for three consecutive years is the primary reason for employees leaving, followed by the lack of opportunities to solve new challenges and problems (56%).
Additionally, 39% of tech talents cite not being valued by their superiors as a significant reason for leaving.
As tech talents consider their career choices, this survey provides valuable insights into what drives their decisions and what factors are most important to them.
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