Personally I'd rather just have a workforce that doesn't see themselves as some sort of techno-messiahs that are going to make some profound impact on the world.
The companies that often command the most of my respect are ones that are at peace with the fact that they're providing a product or service to meet a certain demand. They don't paint themselves as some sort of profound agent of change; they are honest that they exist to build a good product that people want to buy. I'd take that over a company that roots it's identity in high flung ideals.
I also agree with the notion that tech companies' need to have some sort of profound social mission is a big reason why tech (at least SV tech) has become so politically charged these days. Because SV companies often see themselves as agents of social change, they often only attract people that are enthusiastic for that kind of social change. In more extreme cases, these companies can become outright hostile towards employees that area skeptical of that change.
The companies that often command the most of my respect are ones that are at peace with the fact that they're providing a product or service to meet a certain demand. They don't paint themselves as some sort of profound agent of change; they are honest that they exist to build a good product that people want to buy. I'd take that over a company that roots it's identity in high flung ideals.
I also agree with the notion that tech companies' need to have some sort of profound social mission is a big reason why tech (at least SV tech) has become so politically charged these days. Because SV companies often see themselves as agents of social change, they often only attract people that are enthusiastic for that kind of social change. In more extreme cases, these companies can become outright hostile towards employees that area skeptical of that change.