Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal recently shared his thoughts on work-life balance and startup culture during an episode of Raj Shamani’s podcast. He said that to build a very successful startup, much more is required than a standard “9-to-5 mindset.”
“Startups don't get built on a 9-to-5 attitude. They can be built on 9-to-5-hour clocks. But they can't be built on a 9-to-5 attitude. They are different things," Goyal said. The co-founder said he expects his senior team to be deeply invested in their work, adding that they have got to treat this as "their own baby” rather than just a job.
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Taking ownership beyond working hours
Goyal used the example of a bug to make this point. “If there is a bug that would delay customer orders by 15 minutes, I would put a night out and solve it. The whole company should put a night out,” he said.
But he was very clear on the fact that employees were not expected to solve all their problems by themselves. In case of any urgent work, they could always fall back on their teammates who were available that day. Mr Goyal pointed out that “commitment to urgency” is non-negotiable amidst all the other values that Zomato supports.
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Addressing ‘toxic boss’ allegations
When asked about accusations of being a toxic boss, Goyal said, “I don’t think people say that about me.” I don't think that's the way people who work with me think about it, he said, dismissing the Reddit comments, noting they were outdated and from before 2013.
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Goyal also explained his reasoning on employee compensation, saying that the company’s employees are generously paid and are given equity. Goyal said, “We pay people a lot. We give them a lot of equity.”
He further added, “If they show this kind of attitude, they grow faster as well. If they don’t, they stay where they are. I don’t judge people. It’s your choice… if you can manage your family, work-life balance, your peace, and also obsess. Obsession can happen with peace. And those kinds of people who can manage and balance everything and still drive the right kind of outcomes still happen. They’re able to push for solving things overnight when they need to”.
