I'd argue that a CEO's past causes and political background affects their ability to lead towards success.
Not because of innate analytical/communicative capacity difference in the individual, but just public relations angle and the ability to rally teammates of diverse backgrounds under one banner. It's nothing personal in that case. Just business.
So the roadmap to a safe business executive career is to:
1) Don't speak about your political views, keep them to yourself
2) Don't contribute to any political funds, it may be used against you in the future.
3) Don't be controversial in any regard.
Seems like these are actually the opposite of what I would want in a CEO. I would want to know where my CEO stands on certain issues, what their level of political activism is; what do they view as important outside of the company?
This really isn't just about social issues, but any issues including bills like CISPA and PIPA (and reincarnates), since they are very important to my sector today... but if a CEO speaks out against them today, and in 10 years that view is unfavorable... will it be used against him/her?
if you plan to run a business revolving around shooting, better not donate to gun control
if you plan to run a business that is a mission oriented open source company, that therefore hires quite a few people who live their politics, and that draws heavily from a politically liberal city that has a long history of welcoming glbtq people, you need to avoid deliberately offending them and their friends
Which means that the less opinions you express the more likely is for you to be accepted by the community as CEO of a company. How ironic, freedom of speech tampered by those alleging being depraved of basic rights.
"freedom of speech" does not mean people will necessarily want to associate with you after they have heard what you have to say, nor that they have any obligation to do so
If my use of "freedom of speech" were to say "end apartheid" and it so happened that suddenly no one would give me a job, or rent me somewhere to live, is speech still free? What about if I was preaching the Gospel, or the Koran? What about being pro gay marriage?
I'm not saying you're wrong, just that there is a line somewhere, and it matters. If it's illegal (in my country) to refuse to employ someone based on their sexuality, or race, or religion - can you justify the right to refuse the same thing for supporting the right to gay marriage? And if not, why does the opposite not hold?
claiming that "freedom of speech" means "no consequences for my speech" is just stupid. There is no line. The US has near complete freedom of speech and no control over consequences to that speech (outside of obviously illegality like assault, etc). And yes, you obviously can refuse to hire someone who supports gay marriage -- supporting gay marriage is not a protected class.
Yes, that is the only legal meaning of "freedom of speech" in America, but apparently a fair amount of people believe individuals should voluntarily grant the freedom to each other more often. Now, if you want to say "I will not be tolerant of intolerance" or "When they ask for that freedom, it's code for demanding they get what they want", fine, but at least it's now a conversation, instead of just shutting it down with this response every time.
Ok, but I'm talking about freedom in general. For example you can't discriminate doing things like hiring white people only, even if you are not in the government. So there is definitely some limits about what you can do and say between citizens; and those lines are blurry even if you are in the "right side" of the discussion. Is some sort of discrimination, even if it is a "correct" one.
Not because of innate analytical/communicative capacity difference in the individual, but just public relations angle and the ability to rally teammates of diverse backgrounds under one banner. It's nothing personal in that case. Just business.