- Tech CEOs like Zuckerberg and Musk send stern emails to enforce company policies.
- Bezos and Cook use subtle cues to express dissatisfaction with employees.
- Iger and Jassy deliver tough news about layoffs and return-to-office mandates via email.
Leaked emails, leaked emotions
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, recently made headlines when his terse emails from 2016 went viral.
In one instance, he wrote, “You should figure out how to do this,” showcasing his direct communication style.
Zuckerberg has also been known to take a hard stance against information leaks, once sending an email entitled “Please resign” to employees after inaccurate product information was disclosed to the press.
Question marks and exclamation points!
Other tech CEOs have also employed stern language in their emails. Elon Musk gave Tesla workers clear return-to-office instructions, stating that remote work required a minimum of 40 hours per week in the office, or employees should “depart Tesla.”
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and executive chair, used a single question mark to express his dissatisfaction with his team when forwarding customer complaints.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, scolded employees over email after the contents of an internal meeting leaked, emphasizing the company’s intolerance for confidential information disclosures.
From inbox to pink box
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, delivered brutal news to employees via email in early 2023, announcing the elimination of 7,000 jobs and additional layoffs in the following months.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy also gave strict instructions about returning to the office, putting employees on notice that their jobs were at stake if they refused to comply with the company’s three-day-a-week office policy.
