Hustle culture, marked by the relentless drive for success and constant productivity, often pressures employees to work excessively hard and long hours. While some may embrace this mentality, it poses serious risks. The ongoing stress of chasing success at the expense of work-life balance can lead to burnout, anxiety, and deterioration of mental and physical health. Although many industry leaders endorse hustle culture, Swiggy Food and Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor argues that it is a flawed approach. At a recent event, Kapoor emphasized that working late into the night at the cost of one’s health and personal relationships is counterproductive.
Speaking with Shradha Sharma at Techsparks in Bengaluru, Kapoor noted that while working late occasionally is necessary, it shouldn’t be a daily routine. “Those who claim they work until 3 a.m. never mention that they arrive at the office at 1 p.m. the next day,” he said in a video. Kapoor expressed strong disapproval of this culture and advised people to prioritize spending time with family and loved ones.
Kapoor acknowledged the need for hard work, stating that while one should work “damn hard,” it shouldn’t come at the expense of personal life.
The video, which has garnered over 32,000 likes, sparked widespread discussion, with many agreeing with Kapoor’s views. Several comments highlighted how hustle culture is often glorified and called for a shift in perspective.
One social media user quipped, “Narayan Murthy getting panic attacks watching this,” referring to Murthy’s controversial statement suggesting young people should work 70 hours a week. Another added, “Narayana Murthy crying in the corner.”
Praising Kapoor, another user remarked, “Finally, someone talked like normal to all of us.” Others echoed the sentiment, with one comment reading, “More people need to talk about this,” and another stating, “Finally, someone said this; otherwise, people have been glorifying hustle culture.”
Rohit Kapoor, Swiggy’s CEO, has extensive experience in leadership roles. He began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in 2000. In 2012, he joined Max India Limited as Senior Strategy & Business Performance Director and later became Executive Director and Board Member at Max Healthcare. He then moved to OYO, where he held various positions before joining Swiggy in 2022 as CEO of the Food Marketplace.
