Ancestry CEO Credits Break-Room Lunches With Employees for Unfiltered Insights
Ancestry CEO Howard Hochhauser says a billionaire mentor taught him to eat lunch with employees in the break room. He believes this practice helps CEOs escape the bubble that can isolate them from candid information. Executives at Apple and Duolingo have also used meals with staff to stay connected.
Hochhauser’s practice began at Bear Stearns in the late 1990s, where he worked in equity research and became a vice president and analyst. Longtime chief Ace Greenberg ate on the floor each day, a visible signal of approachability that Hochhauser carried with him.
Before announcing office attendance expectations, Hochhauser tested the idea informally. Staff raised caregiving concerns, including school drop-offs, evening games, and college moves; he later encouraged them to exercise their own judgment. ABN Amro’s Marguerite Bérard, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Duolingo leaders have likewise used shared meals to stay connected.
This story may reinforce expectations that senior leaders remain approachable, potentially affecting how employees share concerns about scheduling, caregiving, and workplace changes. If more executives adopt informal meals, staff could gain a channel to voice problems before policies harden, though such gestures may also be seen as symbolic if not paired with action. Its impact may vary by workplace culture and power dynamics.