If you’ve wondered how meditation can increase your productivity and elevate your career, look no further than the meditation testimonies of these seven world-renowned CEOs who meditate. Regardless of the type of organization that they run and their journey to that role, the CEOs who use meditation are among the most respected and valued by their employees.
In this entry you will learn . .
CEOs who meditate know that their practice is more than a relaxation technique, that it’s also the best way to establish a lasting productive mindset. Siddha Meditate is the only app built with a mission to help you use meditation for mental fitness. Our Productivity meditation and Personal growth meditation classes teach you how to incorporate meditation into your daily work routine, so that you can practice on even your busiest days, so that you can excel in your career wherever it takes you.
How Do Top CEOs Incorporate Meditation into Their Daily Routines?
Although executives have schedules packed with meetings, decision making and risk analysis, external obligations and industry leading research, many CEOs who use meditation make it a priority first thing in the morning. Arianna Huffington meditates for 20 or 30 minutes each morning before her workout routine.[1] But regardless of if you meditate before or after your morning workout, or even on those days when you don’t exercise first thing, meditating in the morning sets an intention for your day, ensuring that your mind is ready to concentrate and take on whatever the day holds.
The CEOs Who Use Meditation and Their Meditation Stories
The business leaders who meditate all have their own connection to meditation, their own answer to “why meditation?” So regardless of if your experienced meditator or meditation newbie, learning the stories of these seven highly successful people meditate can help inspire you to keep or start meditating daily, helping you to reach your short and long term goals by staying mentally fit. With a little foresight and a lot of hard work, today or someday soon you could join this group of CEOs who meditate!
Oprah Winfrey – Media Mogul, CEO of OWN
Oprah Winfrey gained a deep appreciation for meditation in Fairfield, Iowa, a town of just under 10,000 deep in Midwestern farmland, but most importantly a town with an unparalleled love of meditation, especially meditation in business spaces. In Fairfield people of all ages and experiences practice meditation together every day, a habit which Winfrey and her entire staff have adopted in their daily work schedule. The entire OWN staff now practices meditation twice a day. Winfrey believes that these meditations for business have lead to incredible outcomes in her team,
“You can’t imagine what’s happened in the company. People who used to have migraines, don’t. People are sleeping better. People have better relationships. People react with other people better. It’s fantastic.”[2]
Jeff Weiner – Former LinkedIn CEO
Weiner has a streamlined daily routine, with meditation acting as a central pillar in his life centered around mindfulness for executives. Each day, he wakes up at 5:30am, exercises and then practices his daily meditation, before getting his kids ready for their school day. As CEOs who meditate, like Weiner, know the consistency and discipline in this routine makes all the difference, which is why Siddha Meditate empathizes establishing a habit of meditation for the best results.[3] Our Developing New Habits and Thought Patterns class can help you to create the habits you need to get ahead, and more importantly to get back at it if you stumble.
Arianna Huffington – Founder of The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global
Huffington believes that meditation in business evokes your greatest ideas, that it brings your mind to a contemplative state perfect for invention. She understands meditation as a “time to reconnect with ourselves,” especially in an era where we use social media and other technology so often. She, “[recommends], for example, starting with five minutes of meditation. Everyone has five minutes.”
Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce
Benioff discovered his passion for meditation in business on a trip to Nepal that he took in a moment of crisis. There he met the hugging saint, Sri Mātā Amritānandamayī Devi (also known as “Amma”), who told him, “In your quest to succeed and make money, don’t forget to do something for others.” That seed of wisdom inspired Benioff to begin meditating for 30 to 60 minutes a day, and ever since 1999 he’s been a CEO who meditates. For him,
[meditation] really does help you to reprioritize what does matter, to focus on what’s really important. If everything is important, nothing is important. You have to choose, and meditation helps you to get much clearer about what really is important.[4]
Steve Jobs – Former CEO of Apple
Jobs, among the most famous CEOs who meditated, believed that meditation boosted his creativity, helping him stay in the present and maintain a clear and focused mind. He claimed that in meditation, “there’s room to hear the subtle things—that’s when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly.”[5]
Melanie Perkins – CEO of Canva
Perkins said that meditation, “Meditation didn’t come easily to me… but over time I’ve found it incredibly helpful.” Unlike many of these other CEOs who use meditation, Perkins practices meditation at night, a habit which she claims, “clears my mind and improves my sleep. It’s also helped transform my inner self-talk, making me kinder to myself.”[6]
If you, like Perkins are someone who has struggled with meditating in the past, or even today, meditating at night can mix it up and help improve your sleep routine which is a foundational part of mindfulness for executives. Our Why Sleep Enhances Performance helps you to ease into sleep while teaching you how to remedy any aspects of your sleep routine that may not serve you.
Bill Ford – Chairman of Ford Motor Company
Ford believes that meditation for business is an essential tool in building empathy, a skill that he believes is the foundational reason why there are so many business leaders who meditate. “Meditating brings you back to the fact that at the end of the day, you’re no different than anybody else.”[7]
What Are the Benefits of Meditation for Business Leaders?
According to these CEOs who use meditation, the benefits of meditation depend on the type of practice that suits your needs, lifestyle and aspirations.
- Meditation in business, for Winfrey and Ford served to raise CEOs capacities to serve the needs of others and maintain their interpersonal relationships within their work lives.
- In the cases of Benioff, Huffington and Jobs, successful people meditate because it helps them to clear their minds and develop mindfulness for executives, an essential step of generating new ideas and cultivating mindfulness for executives.
- For Weiner, meditation helps to keep his routines consistent, which he believes improves his concentration and ability to navigate any obstacles that his day puts in front of him.
- Perkins believes that meditation makes it easier to take care of yourself, that it improves your self-talk and confidence and makes it easier to sleep and create a consistent and effective sleep routine.
Siddha Meditate app provides a calendar feature directly in our app, making it possible to use meditation to improve your mental fitness on a consistent basis, which is pivotal to being the most productive you possible. You already have the tools you need to be a talented, reputable and renowned executive, meditation is the boost you need check in with yourself and your goals, build your confidence without losing sight of the strengths of others and stay sharp and focused in even the most stressful environments.
FAQ about CEOs who Meditate
1. How do CEOs incorporate meditation into their busy schedules?
Many CEOs prioritize meditation by integrating it into their daily routines. For instance, Arianna Huffington meditates for 20 to 30 minutes each morning before her workout, setting a focused intention for the day ahead. Similarly, Jeff Weiner, former LinkedIn CEO, begins his day at 5:30 am, exercises, and then practices meditation before attending to family and work commitments. These leaders demonstrate that even with demanding schedules, dedicating time to mindfulness is achievable and beneficial.
2. What are the benefits of meditation for business leaders?
Meditation offers numerous advantages for executives, including enhanced mental clarity, improved decision-making, and better stress management. Oprah Winfrey observed that after implementing meditation sessions at her company, employees experienced fewer migraines, better sleep, and improved relationships. Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, finds that meditation helps him prioritize effectively, stating that it aids in focusing on what’s truly important.
3. How does Oprah Winfrey use meditation in her company’s culture?
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most notable CEOs who use meditation to boost productivity within her company. At OWN, she has introduced twice-daily meditation sessions for her staff, inspired by her experience in Fairfield, Iowa, a town deeply connected to meditation practices. She believes that meditation in business has improved her team’s well-being, resulting in fewer migraines, better sleep, and stronger relationships among employees.
4. How did meditation impact Steve Jobs’ creativity as a business leader?
Steve Jobs, one of the most iconic CEOs who meditated, practiced Zen meditation to enhance his creativity and focus. He believed that mindfulness for executives opens the mind to new ideas and sharpens intuition. Jobs often credited meditation with helping him stay present, which allowed him to create innovative products and lead Apple to success.
5. Why does Jeff Weiner prioritize meditation as a CEO?
Jeff Weiner, former LinkedIn CEO, is one of the leading business leaders who meditate. His daily routine includes waking up early, exercising, and meditating. Weiner believes that mindfulness for executives is essential for maintaining focus and navigating a packed schedule. His consistency highlights why successful people meditate—to build a strong foundation for productivity and resilience.
[1] “Arianna Huffington” Arianna Huffington’s Morning Routine on My Morning Routine .
[2] “Oprah’s Next Chapter: Meditation — In ‘America’s Most Unusual Town’” Oprah’s Next Chapter: Meditation — In ‘America’s Most Unusual Town’
[3] “LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner says these 4 simple practices helped him grow as a leader” LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner says these 4 simple practices helped him grow as a leader .
[4] “Marc Benioff’s Secrets to Happiness” Marc Benioff’s Secrets to Happiness
[5] “The Executive’s Secret Weapon: Morning Meditation for Increased Productivity and Focus” The Executive’s Secret Weapon: Morning Meditation for Increased Productivity and Focus
[6] Via LinkedIn post. Melanie Perkins on LinkedIn: As we enter 2025, I’ve been reflecting on my goals for the year and the… | 318 comments
[7] “Here’s Why Every Business Leader Should Consider Meditation” Council Post: Here’s Why Every Business Leader Should Consider Meditation .
