The 25 best CEOs of small companies, according to employees of color
- Comparably put together a list of the highest-rated CEOs of small and mid-size businesses, according to employees of color.
- Three CEOs have appeared on the list for three years running: David Cancel of Drift, Giuseppe Incitti of Sitetracker, and Alex Austin of Branch.
- Gal Rimon, the CEO of Centrical, was ranked as the best CEO, according to employees of color.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Many companies are committing themselves to diversity and inclusion for their employees, and some small and mid-size business CEOs are taking charge when it comes to promoting a great work environment for employees of color.
Comparably put together a list of CEOs of small and mid-size companies who were highly ranked by employees of color. Employees anonymously ranked their CEOs on Comparably.com over 12 months, from June 2019 to June 2020.
Every company on this list has 550 employees or fewer, and every CEO on the list has a top 5% approval rating by employees of color.
Three of the CEOs ranked have appeared on the list for three years running: David Cancel of Drift, Giuseppe Incitti of Sitetracker, and Alex Austin of Branch.
Here are the 25 best CEOs of small and mid-size companies, according to employees of color.
Location: San Francisco, California
Employee quote: "Great communication, empathy, and overall authenticity. This is a leadership team that cares about the people and the business equally and they strive to have an inclusive environment."
Location: Lehi, Utah
Employee quote: "Leadership truly practices what they preach when it comes to Weave's Core Values. I feel like I am cared about not only as an employee but as an individual as well."
Location: San Francisco, California
Employee quote: "The best part is the investment in making sure NGM employees are taken care of on many levels, including leadership's robust pandemic response and dedication to improvement around #BLM"
Location: New York, New York
Employee quote: "I like leadership's open-mindedness and flexibility. They are understanding and don't treat us like employees below them but rather as equals. They're by our side ready to help, teach, and coach us on bettering our work quality."
Location: San Jose, California
Employee quote: "Our leadership team is diverse, innovative, and always has the company's best interest at heart."
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Employee quote: "Everyone is genuinely kind and interested in learning about each other. A lot of thought and effort has gone into cultivating a culture that is inclusive, even though the company is completely distributed."
Location: San Francisco, California
Employee quote: "There is a concerted effort to create a diverse, inclusive environment. It's not just talk — there is a real organizational understanding and push for the importance of a diverse, inclusive environment across recruiting/HR + the broader company culture."
Location: Mountain View, California
Employee quote: "Karl is an exceptional leader. He is a clear-eyed and practical visionary, with an amazing track record for execution and success. Above all, he is an amazing human being. Very humble despite his achievements and moves everyone up along with him."
Location: Santa Clara, California
Employee quote: "We are open, honest, respectful, and diverse. The teams work side by side and always greet each other with 'How can I help?'"
Location: San Jose, California
Employee quote: "Everyone is knowledgeable and brings unique perspectives on to the table. Look forward to learning and contributing every day."
Location: San Diego, California
Employee quote: "Our team is very inclusive, values diversity and everyone's opinions, and there is a lot of effort to ensure that everyone is heard."
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Employee quote: "The best part of the culture is that it is inclusive, supportive and enabling."
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Employee quote: "We have a diverse team that is 60% women, so we have plenty of viewpoints and great collaborative sessions. Most employees have been with the company for 3 years or more."
Location: Redwood City, California
Employee quote: "Very, very humble, inclusive, and proactive!"
Location: San Francisco, California
Employee quote: "I've been working with our CEO for over a decade and could not recommend a better leader. Neha has built Contentstack into the amazing company it is today and has successfully fostered a leadership team that puts customers first and values the needs of our employees."
Location: San Jose, California
Employee quote: "Everyone is knowledgeable and brings unique perspectives on to the table. Look forward to learning and contributing every day."
Location: Miami, Florida
Employee quote: "Enthusiasm, care, willingness to treat everyone like family!"
Location: Woburn, Massachusetts
Employee quote: "The push for diversity and inclusion has emerged and been felt throughout all decisions. Making sure that everyone feels a sense of belonging is appreciated."
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Employee quote: "Our CEO is so transparent and open with our company, there are no big secrets. She will honestly tell us what is going on. Our founders and leadership are so passionate about HG and making it great."
Location: Los Angeles, California
Employee quote: "I love Zevia's brand and the team morale really waterfalls from the CEO down all the way to the interns. Paddy's contagious energy is a crucial component of our company's success."
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Employee quote: "I like the focus on open communication and collaboration. It fosters an environment that promotes real results and helps the entire organization feel invested in the company's success."
Location: Palo Alto, California
Employee quote: "Our CEO is a wonderful person - he listens to employees and tries to make everyone feel included."
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Employee quote: "The core principles are exemplified by our CEO which trickles down to the organization."
Location: San Francisco, California
Employee quote: "The value of diversity is the most positive item regarding the company culture."
Location: New York, New York
Employee quote: "Highly professional and fully committed to the success of our company. Great vision and leadership."
- Read more:
- Here's exactly how to tell if a company actually cares about diversity without setting foot in the office
- 5 steps every company must take if they truly want to create a more inclusive and diverse team
- Black employees in Silicon Valley are helping to make their companies more diverse — but the job is often unpaid and time consuming
- Here are the exact reasons why diverse companies are more profitable, according to a neuroscience and leadership expert