The debate on the balance between work and personal life has gained strength in recent years, especially among new generations that seek greater flexibility and well-being .
However, recent figures from Silicon Valley such as Lucy Guo , millionaire and co-founder of Scale AI , are challenging this balance, embracing a much more demanding work culture inspired by the Chinese labor model known as “996” (from nine in the morning to nine at night, six days a week). Guo is not the only founder who is adopting this mentality.
Guo, who was recently recognized by Forbes as the youngest self-made female billionaire, has made her extreme work ethic an example for other startup founders. Her lifestyle is igniting an intense debate about what professional success really means in today’s technological era.
The Founder’s Passion for Work
The co-founder of Scale AI and CEO of Passes since 2022 holds a controversial perspective: she does not believe in a work-life balance . In an interview with Fortune, Guo stated, “I probably don’t have a good balance between my work and personal life. For me, work is not really work; I love what I do.” This belief has led her to advocate for workweeks that stretch up to 90 hours , claiming that it should become the new standard for aspiring startup leaders.
Guo argues that if someone looks forward to 5 PM to clock out, “you may not have the right job.” To her, true motivation stems when work feels like a natural extension of life , rather than an obligation to escape from once the clock strikes six.
According to her testimony to Fortune, Guo starts her day at 5:30 AM with an intense workout. By the time the clock hits 9 AM, she is already at her office with her lunch on her desk. Her workday often concludes around midnight when she finally closes her laptop and heads to bed. Even with her intense schedule, she mentions finding “one or two hours” to spend with family and friends: “You always have to make time for that, no matter how busy you are.”
One reason Lucy Guo maintains this “always available” state is her obsession with delivering the best customer service for her startup. She allows her team only five minutes to respond to customer inquiries before stepping in herself: “Offering exceptional customer service distinguishes startups from larger tech firms. Even if you have fewer customers, the executive director should respond to everything, which enhances customer loyalty. Today, it is impossible for an executive director like Uber’s to engage directly. That is my mentality,” she explained.
While this approach might seem extreme, Guo is not alone in advocating such a rigorous work ethic . An increasing number of Silicon Valley CEOs are embracing models that demand over 80 hours of work per week, convinced that passion and total dedication are the keys to success in the current tech landscape.
The “996” Takes Over Silicon Valley
The traditional work culture in countries like China and Japan has long linked work to values such as honor , respect , and loyalty , ultimately leading to a culture where employees have collapsed under the strain of grueling hours . Many adhere to the “996 model,” which leaves little to no time for rest, socializing, or personal life— work becomes everything .
This philosophy, which has begun to face scrutiny in the countries that first embraced it due to its social and demographic impact, is now being openly advocated again by certain Silicon Valley founders and CEOs who maintain that this is the only way to stand out in an increasingly globalized and competitive market.
The trend within Silicon Valley towards this model of extended workdays is not new. In 2018, Michael Moritz , president of Sequoia Capital, vocalized this sentiment in the Financial Times, stating that Chinese tech companies had taken the “hard work” concept to unprecedented levels for their West Coast counterparts. “Here, senior managers arrive around 8 AM and often don’t leave until 10 PM. Most do this six days a week,” Moritz noted approvingly.
Major companies like Google and Microsoft are tightening performance assessments to encourage employees to work harder. This approach starkly contrasts with firms in regions familiar with the adverse impacts of such extreme work schedules.
Europe Joins the Wave
The “996” wave is also expanding into Europe , where some tech founders are embracing this new labor philosophy, arguing that Europe risks falling behind if workers do not increase their hours. Some countries are buying into this narrative.
<p>Joel Hellerk, CEO of Sana Labs, expressed to his employees that "60 hours per week is the ideal point," reflecting a mindset previously enforced by Sergey Brin at Google. Harry Stebbings, founder of a significant venture capital fund, has similarly endorsed the "996" work model. He stated, "7 days a week is necessary to win right now. There’s no room for error. It’s not about competing against any German company, but against the best in the world," he wrote on his LinkedIn profile.
However, not all voices are in agreement with this shift towards longer working hours in Silicon Valley and Europe. Suranga Chandratillake , a partner at Balderton Capital , argues that such an approach undermines startup growth: “Many of the venture capital investors promoting these ideas have never created a tech company. Listen to someone who has been in your position,” he advised in an interview with Fortune.
Similarly, Amelia Miller , co-founder of IVEE , remarked that endorsing such a work ethic is a red flag for investing in a startup. “Only poor time management leads one to work seven days straight. Exhaustion is a leading cause of startup failure,” she stated on her LinkedIn profile.
As the conversation continues, it remains clear that tension exists between differing workplace philosophies, especially across various cultures and economic landscapes.
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