“If they want top talent” – Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary reveals how CEOs can improve talent acquisition

Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary says CEOs who cling to traditional office culture are losing out on the best workers. In a video posted to his Instagram on April 30, 2025, taken from a conversation on Fox Business, O’Leary stated,

“If they want the top talent, it’s never going to work that way,”

He argued that today’s top performers demand flexibility. He highlighted that younger professionals, especially those in engineering and social media, tend to completely reject office cubicles. saying,

“They said, what is this, prison? I’m not coming here.”

For O’Leary, performance matters more than presence. Companies serious about executional excellence must adapt or risk falling behind in talent acquisition.

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Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary opens up about talent acquisition and new technology

During the same April 30 conversation with Fox Business, O’Leary elaborated on his observations about younger talent and their expectations. “It’s so obvious to me,” he said, referring to their rejection of office culture.

The Shark Tank investor emphasized that the most competitive workers today value flexibility and remote opportunities more than traditional structures. For CEOs seeking to attract top-tier professionals, O’Leary advised reevaluating standard expectations regarding in-office presence and instead focusing on outcomes.

O’Leary also commented on technology, praising Starlink’s internet capabilities. When asked by the anchor if he uses Starlink, O’Leary replied,

“Some airplanes I fly on have it, and it's unbelievable. It is phenomenal. It's better than ground-based Internet when you're in that plane. You can stream anything and have phone conversations with anybody around the world.”

He described Starlink as an impressive service and welcomed the idea of competition in the market. He acknowledged that it is not a cheap industry, but said he was open to others, like Jeff Bezos, stepping in. He added that if Bezos were to launch a competing service, he would be willing to try that as well.

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Kevin O’Leary calls for harsher tariffs on China

He has also become an outspoken advocate for trade policies, particularly concerning China. On Tuesday, April 9, 2025, in an interview with CNN, the Shark Tank investor urged President Donald Trump to dramatically raise tariffs on Chinese imports, saying,

“104% tariffs against China are not enough. I’m advocating 400%.”

He explained that China’s long-standing violations of trade agreements and intellectual property rights necessitate a stronger response.

“They cheat, they steal, they steal IP, I can't litigate in their courts,” O’Leary said. “They’ve been in the WTO for decades. They have never abided by any of the rules they agreed to when they came in.”

O’Leary further stated that massive tariffs would pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate, pointing to China’s reliance on employment to maintain internal stability. “Xi can only stay the supreme leader if people are employed,” he noted, urging economic leverage as a negotiating tactic.

He argued that no previous administration had effectively addressed China’s trade practices and expressed support for Trump’s approach to addressing these issues. While acknowledging that some people might not like Trump’s style or rhetoric, O’Leary emphasized his appreciation for seeing an administration finally stand up and say, “enough.”

In a CNN press briefing, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that the administration would proceed with an additional 104% tariff on Chinese imports. He reiterated his stance, stating,

“This is not about tariffs anymore… I speak for millions of Americans who have IP that has been stolen by the Chinese.”

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Shark Tank airs every Friday on ABC at 8 pm EST.