_I am unaware of any actual data that shows a correlation between raw intelligence...and career or company success_

Declarations of personal ignorance don't really prove anything. Such data, in fact, exists.

He goes on to list a bunch of voodoo hiring practices (viz, someone who faced adversity) and I won't criticize him for it: In the end, that's how every company hires. The government, to a degree, even forces its own set of voodoo traditions upon companies. People don't object too much: When you actually have that big pile of resumes in front of you, you realize that most people aren't all that distinctive. I've been shocked by how many CS grads DON'T HAVE WEBPAGES. Good god, people.

Of course, you know what will get you hired every time? If someone interviewing you liked you personally.