In a recent Fortune Magazine interview, Andrew Feldman, cofounder and CEO of the $8.1 billion artificial intelligence chip company Cerebras, challenged the modern notion of work-life balance, calling it “mind-boggling” that anyone believes lasting success can come from a 38-hour workweek.
Speaking on the 20VC podcast, Feldman told host Harry Stebbings that genuine innovation and greatness require complete commitment — a message that echoes the sentiments of tech titans like Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, and Google’s Sergey Brin.
“This idea that you can build something extraordinary by working 38 hours a week and maintaining perfect work-life balance, it’s simply not true in any part of life,” Feldman said. “To create something from nothing and make it great takes every waking minute. And of course, there are costs.”
‘The Grindset’ Lives On
While many younger workers in the U.S. have pushed for shorter workweeks and flexible schedules, top Silicon Valley executives are standing firm in their belief that relentless dedication remains the cornerstone of major success stories.
Feldman clarified that working long hours isn’t the only path to a fulfilling life — but it’s the only path for those who want to “build something that changes the world.”
“You can have a great life, spend time with family, and do many meaningful things,” he said. “But the road to creating something truly groundbreaking isn’t part-time work. It’s passion, focus, and constant drive.”
Leaders Reject the Myth of Balance
Several of the world’s most influential leaders have also dismissed the idea of maintaining strict boundaries between work and life.
- Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom, famously told employees that “work is life, life is work.”
- Barack Obama once said that excellence in any field requires single-minded attention “at certain times.”
- Reid Hoffman warned that founders obsessed with balance are “not committed to winning.”
Similarly, investor Kevin O’Leary told aspiring entrepreneurs to “forget about balance” and be prepared to “work 25 hours a day, seven days a week.” Tennis legend Serena Williams has echoed that sentiment, saying that success requires “showing up 28 hours out of 24.”
The 60-Hour ‘Sweet Spot’
Some business leaders have tried to set more realistic expectations. Earlier this year, Google cofounder Sergey Brin told employees that 60 hours a week represents “the sweet spot of productivity.” Other executives, like Twilio CEO Khozema Shipchandler, admit that while they carve out limited downtime — Shipchandler gives himself only eight hours on Saturdays, constant commitment is the rule rather than the exception among their peers.
Dan Kaplan, a partner at executive search firm ZRG Partners, told Fortune that the true lesson isn’t about clocking a specific number of hours — it’s about effort and ownership. “If you want to get ahead, 40 hours a week won’t get you there,” Kaplan said. “It’s not about the number, it’s about finishing the work and pushing past the minimum.”
Passion Over Hours
For Feldman, success isn’t defined by timesheets; it’s about obsession and a sense of purpose. “It’s not about logging hours,” he explained. “It’s about being passionate, being consumed by your mission. It’s about striving to be the best you can be, and helping your team do the same.”
While the debate over work-life balance continues across industries, Feldman’s message to future founders is clear: to achieve extraordinary results, you must be willing to live an extraordinary level of commitment.
Adapted from an article by Emma Burleigh, Fortune Magazine (October 13, 2025).