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> Anyone aware of other companies doing this or something similar? Samsung Austin Semiconductor used to have an "eat lunch with the president" program where gr

> Anyone aware of other companies doing this or something similar? Samsung Austin Semiconductor used to have an "eat lunch with the president" program where groups of four or five from each department would each lunch with the president at least once a year. Obviously nowhere near as immersive as this program, but still having the opportunity to ask several off-the-cuff questions like, "Why did Samsung choose Austin?" definitely added value for me.

georgyo 4y ago
I have been at several lunches with executives type events at different places. The groups are small so it makes more casual back and forth questions much easier, which is useful. From my perspective, the real value of the lunches was strictly building rapport across the company. At some places high level employees (doesn't necessarily have to be management) often feel unapproachable and they feel more abstract concepts than people. Having lunch with them re-enforces they are also people, people you may even get along with. Other companies I've been at only do Q&A sessions with large groups of employees, and this is still useful, but the format doesn't help the culture. The answers you get are often the company line, and you cannot dig deeper. The people answering the questions are still abstract identities that appear to tout that company line, with no real personality.
hackernewds 4y ago
I know of a small-ish company where the exec was seeking to have lunch info sessions. But only with the women's group. It was shady to say the least
- yakshaving_jgt 4y ago
  That does sound shady, but just to play DA here, there is a strong push in some areas for women to be “included” in leadership. It could be for that reason.
  - leaflets2 4y ago
    Makes me wonder, what was the age difference, ... And was it always only with the women's group? (I'd guess Not so big, and Yes?)
spaetzleesser 4y ago
I habe been to several of similar lunches and every time it quickly turned into a long monologue by the executive.
- leaflets2 4y ago
  What did he/she talk about? (For example, his her past life ... Sports? Politics? Work?)
  - spaetzleesser 4y ago
    The same stuff you can read in any company newsletter.

georgyo 4y ago

I have been at several lunches with executives type events at different places. The groups are small so it makes more casual back and forth questions much easier, which is useful. From my perspective, the real value of the lunches was strictly building rapport across the company. At some places high level employees (doesn't necessarily have to be management) often feel unapproachable and they feel more abstract concepts than people. Having lunch with them re-enforces they are also people, people you may even get along with. Other companies I've been at only do Q&A sessions with large groups of employees, and this is still useful, but the format doesn't help the culture. The answers you get are often the company line, and you cannot dig deeper. The people answering the questions are still abstract identities that appear to tout that company line, with no real personality.

hackernewds 4y ago

I know of a small-ish company where the exec was seeking to have lunch info sessions. But only with the women's group. It was shady to say the least

yakshaving_jgt 4y ago
That does sound shady, but just to play DA here, there is a strong push in some areas for women to be “included” in leadership. It could be for that reason.
- leaflets2 4y ago
  Makes me wonder, what was the age difference, ... And was it always only with the women's group? (I'd guess Not so big, and Yes?)

spaetzleesser 4y ago

I habe been to several of similar lunches and every time it quickly turned into a long monologue by the executive.

leaflets2 4y ago
What did he/she talk about? (For example, his her past life ... Sports? Politics? Work?)
- spaetzleesser 4y ago
  The same stuff you can read in any company newsletter.