Zuckerberg, Musk throw verbal jabs over proposed charity cage match

WASHINGTON, United States—

Billionaires and social media business rivals Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk threw new online jabs at each other Sunday, with the Meta founder declaring the owner of X -- formerly known as Twitter -- was not treating a proposed charity cage match seriously.

“I think we can all agree Elon isn’t serious and it’s time to move on,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Threads social platform.

“I offered a real date... Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.”

A RECENT CEO Series session was very near and dear to my heart. Being in the HR profession, I was in awe of how Ms. Anj Vera, the founder and CEO of TalentView, eloquently summarized the importance of Employer Branding in elevating Human Capital.

Musk quickly responded on X, the platform he bought last year that was previously called Twitter.

“Zuck is a chicken,” Musk posted.

The Tesla boss said he would head to Silicon Valley Monday: “Can’t wait to bang on his door tomorrow.”

When an X user suggested Zuckerberg was getting cold feet about the match, Musk referred to a popular US fast food chain known for its chicken offerings.

“He can’t eat at Chick-fil-A because that would be cannibalism,” Musk posted.

The two tech titans have gone back and forth on social media about fighting each other in a much-hyped charity match.

Musk said Friday the fight would take place in Italy, as authorities there confirmed talks about hosting a “great charity event.”

“I spoke to the PM of Italy and

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Minister of Culture,” Musk wrote, referring to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “They have agreed on an epic location.” In response, Zuckerberg posted a photo of himself shirtless and pinning down an opponent in his “backyard octagon.”

A martial arts enthusiast who has taken part in jiujitsu competitions, Zuckerberg said, “I love this sport and I’ve been ready to fight since the day Elon challenged me.” AFP

She is a young female CEO that inspires professionals like me. TalentView helps ASEAN companies get noticed and loved through their talent brand. Consumer branding strongly affects employer branding, and TalentView helps shape that connection through strategy, design, and technology. Ms. Anj shared five principles that make them a competitive player in the market.

Vision is everything

Having a clear vision results in cohesive strategies and goals. Ms. Anj said, “HR leaders can do a better job by shaping the candidate and employee experience.” I agree that HR plays a key part in driving the culture. However, that role is not solely ours. Leadership should also champion the company’s values and ensure their teams align with the vision. In my experience, many talented employees leave because their roles and goals are unclear. It’s important to remember the leaders shape that experience in partnership with HR. With the right people, we can actualize the vision.

Aim for excellence

TalentView leverages data analytics to achieve impactful results for its customers. I admire that they are a small company that continuously improves their ways of working to produce the best for their clients. I believe that opportunities are endless for them since they constantly elevate themselves despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Ms. Anj shared a wonderful example of how they created a virtual Career Campus for Coca-Cola. It was inventive, creative, and collaborative, even in a virtual setup – beautifully done from my perspective.

Commit to growth

Many businesses halted their operations during the pandemic and lost customers. Ms. Anj shared that TalentView kept their customers top of mind, saying, “Stay close to your customers. Add value to them.” When one of my projects was put on hold, my coach told me, “Keep them warm. Maintain the momentum.” Continuing to find ways to engage my stakeholders, such as check-ins or progress updates, helped keep them informed and valued. Relationship building was TalentView’s attempt to grow despite trying times. “We didn’t know if we were going to meet our targets,” said Ms. Anj, but with their conscious efforts, they hit it and even strengthened their customer portfolio.

“Better Breakfast,” where employees are randomly grouped to talk about their lives and work. In my previous organization, we used to have a group breakfast where one HR function was spotlighted to share their initiatives and achievements. I can attest that this is an enjoyable time in the workplace to connect with others and appreciate what they do for the company.

Besides the “Better Breakfast,” Ms. Anj also shared that they have internal mobility and well-being initiatives. I strongly agree that looking after well-being is a must, especially with the burnout of working alternatively from home and work. In my experience, this is a strong employee benefit as many leave the company to care for their health.

Think differently

When we want to differentiate ourselves, we always return to our vision. Ms. Anj said, “Ideas should impact the goals you want to achieve.” With the Internet and emerging AI technology, there will always be a lot of ideas available to us. Yet again, it must be cohesive and true to the company’s goals. Ms. Anj shared a great example of how they helped Del Monte increase employer awareness and attract more candidates. Through TalentView’s data analytic strengths, they found the need to establish an online presence. Their success came when Del Monte attracted 900+ LinkedIn followers and filled out new roles.

Reflecting on the above principles, I commend Ms. Anj’s fearlessness in making her mark in the HR and Employer Branding industry. She further shared that HR would continue to thrive through competencies in being numbers-driven, telling stories through data, and balancing human and technology needs. She said, “Be curious.” The talent attraction shift dynamically. Today, human capital values employee engagement, growth, and development over the once sought-out compensation and benefits. When asked about her learnings as a leader, she shared, “It’s challenging because they think leaders control their own time. Be mentally strong and take care of yourself.” I value Ms. Anj’s honesty that you must help yourself first. For her, only then can you truly inspire and develop others.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at pia_marie_tupas@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.