--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high…" description: "\"It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at big companies who are social activists. They tend not to be drawn to those areas of life.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/jerry-greenfield-20556_activist_it-s-pretty-rare-to-have-ceos-or-high-le_2415165.jpg" --- # It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at… ![“It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at big companies who are social activists. They tend not to be drawn to those areas of life.” quote by Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/jerry-greenfield-20556_activist_it-s-pretty-rare-to-have-ceos-or-high-le_2415165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/jerry-greenfield-20556_activist_it-s-pretty-rare-to-have-ceos-or-high-le_2415165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/jerry-greenfield-20556_activist_it-s-pretty-rare-to-have-ceos-or-high-le_2415165.jpg) > “It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at big companies who are social activists. They tend not to be drawn to those areas of life.” [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. CEOs rarely engage in social activism because such causes feel outside their corporate focus. **In simple terms:** Executives often avoid activism. Key Takeaway Encourage activist leadership. Themes leadership activism corporate culture Mood critical hopeful Type analysis advice When to use this quote - board meetings - CSR initiatives - public statements Key Concepts social responsibility business ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why might a CEO shy away from activism? - How can companies support activist employees? A Different Perspective Activism may conflict with shareholder expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Big companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-companies/) [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceos/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [“Apple’s founder reportedly fired employees in the elevator and screamed at underperforming executives. Perhaps there is something endemic in the fast-paced technology business that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/apple-s-founder-reportedly-fired-employees-in-the-elevator-and/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [The shining star in the world is Shanghai. That's what CEOs from big companies say - 'if I want mathematical analytical work done, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-rosling/the-shining-star-in-the-world-is-shanghai-that-s-what-ceos-from-big/) [Hans Rosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-rosling/) > [“... Bezos personifies a new breed of executive that arose with the emergence of the game-changing technologies in the 1980s and 1990s ... a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brandt/bezos-personifies-a-new-breed-of-executive-that-arose-with-the/) [Richard Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brandt/) > [We have jobs that are in the pipeline, and I deal with all the executives, the big ones and the small ones. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-jobs-that-are-in-the-pipeline-and-i-deal-with-all-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The pay of many of our top executives in big hundred companies in the U.K. is outrageous and even obscene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/the-pay-of-many-of-our-top-executives-in-big-hundred-companies-in-the/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [It's funny how social activists usually protest against the only things that have a credible chance of achieving the activists' goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-social-activists-usually-protest-against-the-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yes, there's something dangerous about turning people into token social activists. I was thinking about this recently with our pop-culture feminism, when feminism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/yes-there-s-something-dangerous-about-turning-people-into-token/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I don't want to offend people and I don't want to be mean, but social commentary and comedy for me are part and parcel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-don-t-want-to-offend-people-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-mean-but-social/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [“Thomas Merton once said that some of the most violent people he met were social activists, in what they did to themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/thomas-merton-once-said-that-some-of-the-most-violent-people-he-met/) [Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-knitter/) > [There was a time when women social activists asked men to stand up for their rights, but this time we will do it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/there-was-a-time-when-women-social-activists-asked-men-to-stand-up/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The most potentially transformative impact of social media is its ability to encourage brands to marry profit and purpose. The reason brands participate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-most-potentially-transformative-impact-of-social-media-is-its/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The notion that employees and companies have a social contract with each other that goes beyond a paycheck has largely vanished in United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/the-notion-that-employees-and-companies-have-a-social-contract-with/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [In 2012, 40 of the top companies to work for were also among the top companies in social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baer/in-2012-40-of-the-top-companies-to-work-for-were-also-among-the-top/) [Jay Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baer/) > [I have to say there are a lot of me-too products and companies. Yet another social network, of the 15th flavor - that's common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/i-have-to-say-there-are-a-lot-of-me-too-products-and-companies-yet/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [Successful companies in social media function more like entertainment companies, publishers, or party planners than as traditional advertisers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-qualman/successful-companies-in-social-media-function-more-like-entertainment/) [Erik Qualman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-qualman/) ## More by Jerry Greenfield > [So much business is based on the belief that we should do whatever we can within legal limits to make as much money as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/so-much-business-is-based-on-the-belief-that-we-should-do-whatever-we/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [You know, I get frustrated with our country's administration, which is really the people who are not acknowledging global warming. I mean, it's accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/you-know-i-get-frustrated-with-our-country-s-administration-which-is/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Ice cream is the perfect buffer, because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. Plus, people have an emotional response to ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/ice-cream-is-the-perfect-buffer-because-you-can-do-things-in-a/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Recycling, packaging, businesses are changing all of those things because that's what consumers want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/recycling-packaging-businesses-are-changing-all-of-those-things/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [If you support the community, they will support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/if-you-support-the-community-they-will-support-you/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [I like that Ben & Jerry's is willing to speak out about social and political issues that aren't always safe - but are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/i-like-that-ben-jerry-s-is-willing-to-speak-out-about-social-and/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [It's to be expected that you make mistakes when you're breaking new ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/it-s-to-be-expected-that-you-make-mistakes-when-you-re-breaking-new/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [It's good to stand for something, to believe in something and base your business on values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/it-s-good-to-stand-for-something-to-believe-in-something-and-base/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [If you happen to believe what Ben & Jerry's is supporting and involved in, then you should support the company. If you don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/if-you-happen-to-believe-what-ben-jerry-s-is-supporting-and-involved/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Don't just do something because it's a trendy idea and will make you a lot of money. The reason I say that is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/don-t-just-do-something-because-it-s-a-trendy-idea-and-will-make-you/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [One of the great things about Ben & Jerry's for me is that not only is it delicious, but I get it for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/one-of-the-great-things-about-ben-jerry-s-for-me-is-that-not-only-is/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Startups are often very undercapitalised, but I found that to be very beneficial because it forces you not to throw money at problems. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/startups-are-often-very-undercapitalised-but-i-found-that-to-be-very/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Look at your business and the activities that you undertake. Then, start to think about not just your economic concerns, but about social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/look-at-your-business-and-the-activities-that-you-undertake-then/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [If you open up the mind, the opportunity to address both profits and social conditions are limitless. It's a process of innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/if-you-open-up-the-mind-the-opportunity-to-address-both-profits-and/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Business can be a source of progressive change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/business-can-be-a-source-of-progressive-change/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) [Explore all 30 Jerry Greenfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) ## More Activist quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I have never been an activist for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-have-never-been-an-activist-for-anything/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [I've been an activist in the LGBT community for a long time. I think nothing's changed, I'm just a little bit more focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-been-an-activist-in-the-lgbt-community-for-a-long-time-i-think/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [“If you teach your children how to bully, or do nothing to stop them, teach them also how to die for their cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-you-teach-your-children-how-to-bully-or-do-nothing-to-stop-them/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) [Browse all 773 Activist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's pretty rare to have CEOs or high level executives at big companies who are social activists. 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