Astrology, Meditation, and Wellbeing: How Silicon Valley CEOs Are Redefining Success

The Calm meditation app has a valuation of $2 billion. Astrology app Co-Star had raised $5.2 million in venture funding. Google has a Chief Mindfulness Officer. Welcome to the new Silicon Valley, where ancient wisdom is getting a high-tech makeover – and some of tech’s biggest players are paying attention.

When Spirituality Meets Smartphones

Do you remember the old days when meditation was done only in an ashram, not through an app? Gone. In 2019, meditation app Calm received a valuation of $1 billion according to Inc. Magazine. A year after, its competitor Headspace secured funding worth $93 million. Something was happening: Silicon Valley wasn’t just embracing mindfulness; it was investing on it.

The $2.2 Billion Question

The numbers tell an interesting story. According to IBISWorld’s 2023 report, the psychic services industry – which includes astrological consulting – has grown to $2.2 billion in the US alone. But here’s where it gets really interesting: these services aren’t just for your everyday horoscope reader anymore.

Businesspeople are, apparently, secretly turning to astrologers more often than people care to admit. No one really speaks the names out loud – mostly out of prudence but enough is going on to cause the Financial Times to comment on the practice in 2022.

The Steve Jobs Effect

It’s hard to discuss alternative practices without touching on Steve Jobs. As Walter Isaacson documented very thoroughly in his biography, Jobs was deeply interested in Eastern spirituality and Zen Buddhism. Jobs didn’t simply practice these principles – they were integrated into the Apple DNA, from the product designs he advocated to the marketing philosophies that guided the firm’s behavior.

As Isaacson writes in his authorized biography: “Jobs’ interest in Eastern spirituality, Zen Buddhism, and the search for enlightenment wasn’t just a passing phase. It was a fundamental part of his approach to business and design.”

From Meditation Rooms to Market Caps

Today’s tech headquarters look very different from the foosball-and-free-snacks startups of the early 2000s. Here’s what we know for sure:

• Google’s “Search Inside Yourself” mindfulness program, originally started as an employee course, has become so successful it’s now taught worldwide
• Twitter implemented meditation spaces in their offices, as reported by CNBC
• Salesforce added mindfulness zones to their buildings, according to Forbes
• Facebook (now Meta) embraced meditation and wellness programs for employees

The Rise of Astro-Tech

In 2019, TechCrunch reported something that would have seemed unthinkable a decade earlier: Co-Star, an AI-powered astrology app, secured $5.2 million in seed funding from Silicon Valley venture capitalists. The app now has millions of users and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

This wasn’t just about astrology – it was about the fusion of ancient practices with modern technology. As Co-Star’s CEO Banu Guler told TechCrunch, “We’re trying to bring astrology into the 21st century.”

What The Research Says

Dr. Gabrielle Temperley, University of Cambridge, 2020, investigated why professionals would turn to alternative practices when times are uncertain. Journal of Organizational Behavior studies found that it is more about finding frameworks for decisions in turbulent times rather than believing in mystic forces.

The Wellness Revolution

McKinsey & Company’s 2021 report “The Wellness Revolution” documented how companies are incorporating various wellness practices into their corporate culture. The report noted that corporate wellness has evolved far beyond gym memberships and health insurance – it now encompasses mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being.

Find out how the CEOs of Silicon Valley bring together astrology, meditation, and wellbeing to change leadership, corporate culture, and innovation in this great podcast episode.

A Day in the Life of Modern Tech

Even though we cannot go to the CEO of each tech giant’s office, we can still witness the steps being taken by prominent companies towards incorporating alternative practices in their daily workings:

• Google’s mindfulness program includes:
  • Meditation sessions
  • Emotional intelligence training
  • Stress management techniques
• Salesforce’s wellness initiatives feature:
  • Dedicated meditation spaces
  • Mindfulness apps for employees
  • Regular wellness workshops

The Bottom Line

The hard numbers speak for themselves: this isn’t a passing fad. A 2021 report on corporate wellness published by Harvard Business Review points out:

• The global corporate wellness market is expected to reach US$ 93.4 billion by 2028.
• 80 percent of large corporations now have some kind of wellness program
• Companies that have excellent wellness programs experience better employee satisfaction and a lower employee turnover rate.

Looking towards the Future

This is starting to look like a pattern: Silicon Valley is embracing the holistic approach to business and technology. From meditation apps raising millions in venture capital to astrology platforms getting substantial funding, and more established companies incorporating wellness programs, ancient wisdom and modern technology seems here to stay.

Your Thoughts

Have you ever experienced that your workplace has adopted any alternative practices? Have you ever seen this change in corporate culture? Let’s share your experiences with each other.

Sources:

• TechCrunch: “Co-Star raises $5.2M to bring its AI-powered astrology app to Android” (2019)
• Financial Times: “Star power: the strange rebirth of astrology” (2022)
• IBISWorld: “Psychic Services Industry Report” (2023)
• Isaacson, Walter: “Steve Jobs” (2011)
• McKinsey & Company: “The Wellness Revolution” (2021)
• GlobeNewsWire: “Corporate Wellness Market Size to Hit USD 80.64 Bn by 2027” (2021)
• Business Insider: “Silicon Valley is obsessed with meditation, and there’s new evidence it changes the brain for the better” (2017)

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