Here’s what employees are looking for in their CEOs—and what they avoid

A new analysis by job platform Glassdoor reveals that career development and mentorship are highly sought-after qualities in their company's CEOs. The study, which analyzed over 150,000 reviews from U.S.-based non-intern employees during May 2025 to May 2026, compared the frequency of terms employees used when rating the best CEOs against reviews from executives who didn't win.

The data showed that employees mentioned terms related to career development, such as "mobility", "growth opportunities", and "career growth", significantly more often in reviews of the best CEOs compared to non-winning executives. Additionally, words like "mentorship", "culture", and "work-life balance" were also frequently used in the reviews of top-ranked CEOs.

On the other hand, non-winning CEOs were criticized for communication, culture, strategy, and job security. Communication and transparency were mentioned more often as drawbacks among executives who didn't secure a spot on the Best CEOs 2026 award list, while "strategy," "direction," and "alignment" were listed as weaknesses. Keywords such as "layoffs," "turnover," and "fear" indicated concerns over job stability, which employees may have attributed to the role of CEOs and management in their employment security.

Furthermore, non-winner CEOs were called out more often by name in the reviews, while the best CEOs were not mentioned as frequently. This could suggest that employees are more likely to think negatively about their leaders if they perceive issues within the company. The analysis also found that employees desire better listening, communication, and transparency from their leaders, especially in addressing weaknesses that impact company culture.

Some of the most prominent CEOs in various industries, including tech, insurance, medical devices, and real estate, have been recognized for their leadership skills.