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In the heart of Silicon Valley, the world’s innovation hub, the long-standing debate over work-life balance has flared up once again. Leading tech executives say the idea of achieving greatness within a 9-to-5 schedule is unrealistic, and that true success demands a level of commitment far beyond the conventional workweek.

Need Extraordinary Effort?

Andrew Feldman, cofounder and CEO of Cerebras Systems, the USDF 8.1 billion artificial intelligence chip company, told Fortune magazine and the 20VC podcast that it is “mind-boggling” to believe one can achieve extraordinary success while working just 38 hours a week.“This notion that somehow you can build something remarkable with a part-time mindset, it’s not true in any walk of life,” Feldman said. “The path to creating something from nothing requires every waking minute of attention and energy. Of course, there are costs.”

However, he added that it’s not about counting hours but about passion. “It’s about being consumed by what you’re building, driven by purpose, and helping your team be the best version of itself,” he told Fortune during the interview.

Top Executives Challenge the 40-Hour Week

Feldman’s belief isn’t an isolated one. Google cofounder Sergey Brin told employees earlier this year that a 60-hour workweek is the “sweet spot” for productivity.LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman said in a guest lecture at Stanford University that founders who talk about work-life balance “are not committed to winning,” adding that extraordinary companies require extraordinary sacrifices.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan has also suggested that “work is life and life is work,” blurring traditional boundaries entirely. And Twilio CEO Khozema Shipchandler, speaking to Fortune, said he allows himself “eight hours on Saturdays” to disconnect from work — emphasizing that such choices depend on personal limits.

Even as the world moves toward flexible work hours and hybrid workplaces, grindset mentality still prevails at the top tiers of tech and finance. To many, intensity remains the secret to innovation. They contend that revolutionary thinking doesn't come from comfort zones, but rather from refusal to quit and absolute focus.

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How Gen Z Is Defying 'Hustle' Culture?

Gen Z workers heavily influenced by the pandemic and virtual offices are rebelling against Silicon Valley's "always-on" culture. They are instead creating a new model of ambition grounded in sustainability and purpose.

• Prioritising mental health first: They look at emotional wellness as a necessary precondition for productivity, not something that can be indulged in later. Therapy, relaxation, and self-care are part of their business toolbox.

• Rigidity over flexibility: Gen Z prioritizes control over time. Remote or hybrid work arrangements that enable them to blend life and work are their preference.

• Working efficiently, not tirelessly: Automation, prioritisation, and effectiveness are their priorities. Long hours are substituted with impactful results.

• Saying no as respect for oneself: For them, saying no to non-essential work is discipline, not disobedience, conserving energy for what matters most.

• Careers as chapters: Rather than lifelong allegiance to a single company, they accept multiple careers as roads to learning and development.

• Purpose over prestige: Compensation and rank are no longer the measure of success; satisfaction, equity, and imagination are.

ALSO READ: Peace Of Mind At Work:  5 Quick Tips To Release Office Stress

The gap between generations is evident. To Silicon Valley's veterans, greatness continues to be all about hard work and sacrifice. To Gen Z, it is about creating something great and being tough enough to appreciate it. As corporations transition through this cultural revolution, one is sure, the next era of innovation will not only be driven by long hours but by balance, resilience, and purpose.