The CEO eats in the same cafeteria as the interns — and why it actually matters

Sounds like a small thing. It's not.

I've worked at companies where the C-suite had a separate dining area, separate parking, and separate lifts. I've worked at one where the CEO genuinely lined up for nasi lemak with everyone else twice a week.

The signal isn't about the food. It's about whether leadership sees themselves as separate from the organisation or part of it. Companies where senior people are visibly accessible tend to have faster feedback loops, lower cynicism about leadership decisions, and a more honest internal culture.

The flip side: I've also seen 'accessible CEOs' who ate with the team but made decisions in rooms that were completely opaque. Visibility isn't the same as transparency. But it's a starting point.