The 25 best CEOs of small and midsize companies, ranked by employees of color

Madison HoffJul 13, 2021, 19:04 IST

Alessio Alionco.Courtesy of Comparably

Comparably just published the best CEOs according to employees of color.
The ranking uses ratings from a 12-month period to find the best of the best.
Here's the top 25 CEOs of small and midsize companies according to employees of color.

25. Ray Grainger, Mavenlink

Ray Grainger. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Irvine, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Diverse, inclusive, and fosters the development of deep, long-term relationships."

Location: Irvine, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: Diverse, inclusive, and fosters the development of deep, long-term relationships.

24. Todd Olson, Pendo

Todd Olson. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Industry: SaaS/enterprise software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Transparent, diversity-minded, and modest with employees."

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Industry: SaaS/enterprise software

Employee quote about the CEO: Transparent, diversity-minded, and modest with employees.

23. Ziv Elul, Fyber

Ziv Elul. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Digital marketing platform

Employee quote about the CEO: "Put together a diverse group of people who have Fyber's main interest in hand."

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Digital marketing platform

Employee quote about the CEO: Put together a diverse group of people who have Fyber's main interest in hand.

22. David Grace, Deem

David Grace. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Oakland, California

Industry: Mobile and cloud technology

Employee quote about the CEO: "Transparency and inclusion from both a knowledge as well as a people perspective."

Location: Oakland, California

Industry: Mobile and cloud technology

Employee quote about the CEO: Transparency and inclusion from both a knowledge as well as a people perspective.

21. Eran Gilad, Fuel Cycle

Eran Gilad. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Los Angeles, California

Industry: Market research

Employee quote about the CEO: "CEO is very inclusive in the big picture."

Location: Los Angeles, California

Industry: Market research

Employee quote about the CEO: CEO is very inclusive in the big picture.

20. Joel Hyatt, Globality

Joel Hyatt. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Menlo Park, California

Industry: Software and technology services

Employee quote about the CEO: "Empathetic, loving, intelligent, and charismatic. They see talent like no one else does."

Location: Menlo Park, California

Industry: Software and technology services

Employee quote about the CEO: Empathetic, loving, intelligent, and charismatic. They see talent like no one else does.

19. Brady Brim-DeForest, Theorem

Brady Brim-DeForest. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Encino, California

Industry: Information technology and services

Employee quote about the CEO: "Openness to feedback and awareness that they are not perfect, with a commitment to continuous improvement and radical candor."

Location: Encino, California

Industry: Information technology and services

Employee quote about the CEO: Openness to feedback and awareness that they are not perfect, with a commitment to continuous improvement and radical candor.

18. Gleb Polyakov, Nylas

Gleb Polyakov. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Gleb puts a lot of weight into fostering and maintaining a culture of acceptance and diversity."

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: Gleb puts a lot of weight into fostering and maintaining a culture of acceptance and diversity.

17. Gene Berdichevsky, Sila Nanotechnologies

Gene Berdichevsky. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Alameda, California

Industry: Electrical and electronic manufacturing

Employee quote about the CEO: "Recognizes the value of all Silazens and takes care to ensure an inclusive culture."

Location: Alameda, California

Industry: Electrical and electronic manufacturing

Employee quote about the CEO: Recognizes the value of all Silazens and takes care to ensure an inclusive culture.

16. Wes Schroll, Fetch Rewards

Wes Schroll. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Industry: Mobile rewards app

Employee quote about the CEO: "I like the goal of mindfully diversifying the leadership team. It's important to be in a company that understands the need for representation."

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Industry: Mobile rewards app

Employee quote about the CEO: I like the goal of mindfully diversifying the leadership team. It's important to be in a company that understands the need for representation.

15. Jessica Mah, inDinero

Jessica Mah. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Walnut, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: "Modern and progressive in her thinking."

Location: Walnut, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: Modern and progressive in her thinking.

14. Hunter Madeley, Vena Solutions

Hunter Madeley. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Toronto, Canada

Industry: SaaS/enterprise software

Employee quote about the CEO: "CEO is inclusive and makes sure that every employee feels valued and appreciated. I have not worked for a company before where leadership genuinely cares about everyone!"

Location: Toronto, Canada

Industry: SaaS/enterprise software

Employee quote about the CEO: CEO is inclusive and makes sure that every employee feels valued and appreciated. I have not worked for a company before where leadership genuinely cares about everyone!

13. William J. Tessar, Civic Financial Services

William J. Tessar. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Redondo Beach, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: "The CEO is transparent, honest, and is always looking to improve. We demonstrate diversity successfully and have the right people on the right seats."

Location: Redondo Beach, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: The CEO is transparent, honest, and is always looking to improve. We demonstrate diversity successfully and have the right people on the right seats.

12. Ashvin Kumar, Tophatter

Ashvin Kumar. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: E-commerce

Employee quote about the CEO: "Real passion for building and supporting the global team. Each employee is cared for and treated like a member of the family."

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: E-commerce

Employee quote about the CEO: Real passion for building and supporting the global team. Each employee is cared for and treated like a member of the family.

11. Alex Canter, Ordermark

Alex Canter. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Los Angeles, California

Industry: Food tech

Employee quote about the CEO: "Transparency, authenticity, inclusiveness and accessibility."

Location: Los Angeles, California

Industry: Food tech

Employee quote about the CEO: Transparency, authenticity, inclusiveness and accessibility.

10. Brad Hoover, Grammarly

Brad Hoover. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Humble, focused, empathetic, high integrity."

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: Humble, focused, empathetic, high integrity.

9. Larry Dunivan, Namely

Larry Dunivan. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: New York, New York

Industry: HR software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Diversity in the workplace is promoted by the CEO! He and the other leaders are always striving to utilize each individual's unique strengths."

Location: New York, New York

Industry: HR software

Employee quote about the CEO: Diversity in the workplace is promoted by the CEO! He and the other leaders are always striving to utilize each individual's unique strengths.

8. David Muse, Elemica

David Muse. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania

Industry: Information technology and services

Employee quote about the CEO: "The CEO is driving needed change."

Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania

Industry: Information technology and services

Employee quote about the CEO: The CEO is driving needed change.

7. Alessio Alionco, Pipefy

Alessio Alionco. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: California City, California

Industry: SaaS

Employee quote about the CEO: "Humanity, transparency, empathy, importance given to diversity."

Location: California City, California

Industry: SaaS

Employee quote about the CEO: Humanity, transparency, empathy, importance given to diversity.

6. Ross Wainwright, Alida

Ross Wainwright. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Toronto, Canada

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: "Leads by example. Encourages diversity, equity and inclusion. Encourages personal well-being and healthy culture."

Location: Toronto, Canada

Industry: Computer software

Employee quote about the CEO: Leads by example. Encourages diversity, equity and inclusion. Encourages personal well-being and healthy culture.

5. Amir Movafaghi, Mixpanel

Amir Movafaghi. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Data analytics

Employee quote about the CEO: "I love that he has set goals about diversity and inclusion and have really shown up to support women and other minorities in the workplace with career progressions."

Location: San Francisco, California

Industry: Data analytics

Employee quote about the CEO: I love that he has set goals about diversity and inclusion and have really shown up to support women and other minorities in the workplace with career progressions.

4. Steven Sugarman, The Change Company

Steven Sugarman. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Irvine, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: "Accessible, hands on, consistent, and fair."

Location: Irvine, California

Industry: Financial services

Employee quote about the CEO: Accessible, hands on, consistent, and fair.

3. Martijn Atell, VoteBash

Martijn Atell. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Industry: Market research

Employee quote about the CEO: "What I like a lot about our CEO is that he is cooperative and open to questions and focused on diversity and respect."

Location: Wilmington, Delaware

Industry: Market research

Employee quote about the CEO: What I like a lot about our CEO is that he is cooperative and open to questions and focused on diversity and respect.

2. Doug Hirsch and Trevor Bezdek, GoodRx

Doug Hirsch and Trevor Bezdek. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Santa Monica, California

Industry: Pharmaceutical healthcare

Employee quote about the CEO: "They are inclusive and aimed at creating the best work environment possible while bringing out the best in each of us."

Location: Santa Monica, California

Industry: Pharmaceutical healthcare

Employee quote about the CEO: They are inclusive and aimed at creating the best work environment possible while bringing out the best in each of us.

1. John Berger, Sunnova Energy

William J. (John) Berger. Courtesy of Comparably

Location: Houston, Texas

Industry: Renewables and environment

Employee quote about the CEO: "I love the diversity and open mindedness John instills in the company."

Location: Houston, Texas

Industry: Renewables and environment

Employee quote about the CEO: I love the diversity and open mindedness John instills in the company.

Here's the full list for small and midsize companies:

Courtesy of Comparably

Method and data source

Comparably collects workplace ratings from employees at companies belonging to different industries and creates multiple rankings a year based on these anonymous ratings.

The annual ranking of the top-rated CEOs for diversity uses anonymous ratings from non-white employees over a 12-month period. Ratings were collected from June 23, 2020 to June 23, 2021.

In the small and midsize company list, or companies with less than 500 employees, there were only a few non-white male CEOs who made the top 25. Only two non-white CEOs made the top 10.

The full ranking of the best CEOs according to employees of color is available on Comparably. Employee quotes and industries were shared with Insider by Comparably. Some quotes have been edited for grammar.

The 25 best CEOs of large companies, ranked by employees of color

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The 25 best CEOs of small and midsize companies, ranked by employees of color

25. Ray Grainger, Mavenlink

24. Todd Olson, Pendo

23. Ziv Elul, Fyber

22. David Grace, Deem

21. Eran Gilad, Fuel Cycle

20. Joel Hyatt, Globality

19. Brady Brim-DeForest, Theorem

18. Gleb Polyakov, Nylas

17. Gene Berdichevsky, Sila Nanotechnologies

16. Wes Schroll, Fetch Rewards

15. Jessica Mah, inDinero

14. Hunter Madeley, Vena Solutions

13. William J. Tessar, Civic Financial Services

12. Ashvin Kumar, Tophatter

11. Alex Canter, Ordermark

10. Brad Hoover, Grammarly

9. Larry Dunivan, Namely

8. David Muse, Elemica

7. Alessio Alionco, Pipefy

6. Ross Wainwright, Alida

5. Amir Movafaghi, Mixpanel

4. Steven Sugarman, The Change Company

3. Martijn Atell, VoteBash

2. Doug Hirsch and Trevor Bezdek, GoodRx

1. John Berger, Sunnova Energy

Here's the full list for small and midsize companies:

Method and data source