Inc. Magazine – September 2019

67 ● INC. ● SEPTEMBER 2019 ● ● ● ● ● ●

OF INC. 5000 CEOs were born in the U.S.

The rest immigrated with family, for work

or school, or to flee a war zone or seek

political asylum.

worked at a corporation

before starting their first

full-time business, 10% were

college or grad students, and

9% came from startups.

are ages 35 to 44, but fast-

growth leaders come at every

age: 47% are 45 to 65, with

2% running companies after

traditional retirement age.

40% OF RESPONDENT

CEOS SAID THEY ACTIVELY

HIRE IMMIGRANTS

IF YOU ARE A PARENT, WHO IS YOUR CHILDREN’S

PRIMARY CAREGIVER?

INDIA

68 CEOS

CANADA

16 CEOS

IRAN

7 CEOS

GERMANY

14 CEOS

ENGLAND

13 CEOS

ISRAEL

8 CEOS

PAKISTAN

7 CEOS

FRANCE

60% DO NOT 7 CEOS

THE GOOD NEWS/

BAD NEWS ABOUT

BEING IN CHARGE

DUST OFF THAT GYM PASS

Running a business can be a

boost for your mental health,

according to 60% of our CEO

respondents. But it’s not as great

for your physical condition; 39%

of respondents said starting or

running their business has had

negative effects on their physical

health. Feeling fit but over-

whelmed? Don’t worry, you’re not

alone—many CEO respondents

cited financial and personal

stress, isolation, pressure to keep

growing, and feeling responsible

for their employees as the worst

parts of their jobs.

41% My spouse or partner

38% My spouse or partner and

I share responsibilities equally

13% I am

7% I have full- or part-time

paid help

1% Their grandparents or other

family help (unpaid)

STATE OF THE CEO

The founders of the 2019 Inc. 5000 come from all kinds of backgrounds—and countries—but

they all face many of the same existential questions about leading workers, raising families,

managing stress, and being global citizens. –Reporting by Natasha Ramirez and Natasha Roy

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: 40% of respondents said entrepreneur-

ship had no effect on their family planning, and 30% already had

children before starting their companies. But some CEOs—both

male and female—said they had delayed having kids until their

companies were more stable, while others welcomed the greater

flexibility of running their own business.

“A major reason I became an

entrepreneur was because I was

starting a family and I wanted

to be present for them.”

NO. 2,638BRIAN BALLARD, Avatria

IMMIGRANT NATION Nearly a fifth of Inc. 5000 CEOs are immi-

grants, and hundreds more depend on immigrants to help run

their businesses—which means that changing federal policies are

creating both personal and professional headaches, including

increased visa costs and restricted talent pools. “We’re more cau-

tious hiring employees who require sponsorship,” reported one Inc.

5000 CEO, who’s lost employees who decided to leave the country

“out of fear.” Other impacts of changing immigration policy:

“It makes hiring

the best people

very painful,

expensive,

and time

consuming.”

NO. 2,608ESTHER POULSEN,

Raare Solutions

“Sometimes you feel like you are

all alone. There are very few

people who understand a business

owner’s problems.”

NO. 1,438CURTIS YODER, United Wall Systems

“We employ several

Dreamers who have

done everything our

government has asked

of them, yet they are

still left in limbo.”

NO. 1,423MATTHEW BURTON,

Adonis Auto Group