IBM CEO Arvind Krishna disagrees with Jamie Dimon on this meeting habit

The recent meeting habits of IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon have come under scrutiny, as they hold differing opinions on the use of electronic devices during meetings. Dimon has been vocal about his disdain for employees checking emails and notifications during meetings, deeming it disrespectful. In contrast, Krishna maintains a more flexible stance, depending on the size and purpose of the gathering.

Krishna explained his stance during a CNN interview in October 2025, distinguishing between small meetings (one-to-ten people) and large gatherings. For the former, he believes device use should be avoided to ensure focused attention. However, for larger meetings, he argues that they often function more as a communication vehicle, sharing information rather than facilitating a genuine discussion. In such cases, he accepts the use of devices, stating it's not a true meeting but rather an information dissemination tool.

On the other hand, Dimon has consistently criticized employees for their device use in meetings, emphasizing the importance of full attention. At the Fortune's Most Powerful Women summit in 2025, he stated that he expects people to put away their devices and give their undivided attention. He even went as far as instructing anyone using an iPad with email notifications in his presence to close it immediately, labeling it disrespectful.

Moreover, Dimon emphasized the need for employees to limit unnecessary meetings and make the ones they attend more productive. In his 2025 annual letter to shareholders, he highlighted instances of employees getting notifications and personal texts during meetings, urging them to stop such behavior as it wastes time and disrespects others.