Krishna vs Dimon: Dueling Views on Meeting Etiquette

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna weighed in on JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon's long-running frustration with employees checking their phones or emails during meetings. Speaking to CNN in October 2025, Krishna drew a distinction between small and large gatherings, saying 'if it's a very large meeting, I'm sorry. It's not really a meeting. It's a communication vehicle. You're just informing people.'

Krishna suggested that banning technology outright would be counterproductive, especially at a tech company like IBM.

In contrast, Dimon has taken a hardline position on meeting etiquette, saying he expects employees to give their full attention during meetings and has little patience for visible multitasking. In his 2025 annual shareholder letter, he urged employees to limit unnecessary meetings and stay engaged when they do attend, writing 'I see people in meetings all the time who are getting notifications and personal texts or who are reading emails. This has to stop. It's disrespectful. It wastes time.'