How CEOs Find Work-Life Balance: Tips and Quotes

Finding the perfect work-life balance remains one of the most challenging tasks for many professionals. However, advice and strategies from leading business figures can serve as valuable guides in this quest.

Finding the perfect work-life balance remains one of the most challenging tasks for many professionals. However, advice and strategies from leading business figures can serve as valuable guides in this quest. Here are 17 quotes and tips from CEOs that can help you find your own balance between career and personal life.

Mary Barra
General Motors CEO Mary Barra states that planning business lunches instead of dinners and prioritizing family commitments are crucial for work-life balance. She shares her method:

“I say, ‘The meeting starts at 4:30 and ends at 5:30 because I’m going to my child’s sporting event.’ Everyone then says, ‘Okay, let’s be efficient. Let’s get this done quickly.’”

Jeff Bezos
Former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos suggests viewing work and personal time as one large overlapping area, rather than two separate parts:

“This work-life harmony is what I try to teach young employees and senior executives at Amazon. I think it’s a debilitating phrase because it implies a strict trade-off.”

Michele Buck
Hershey CEO Michele Buck emphasizes that family support is crucial for her successful leadership:

“My family … makes all of this possible. My role as a mother of three amazing children enhances my ability to lead a company with thoughtfulness, ingenuity, and compassion.”

Brian Dyson
In his 1991 commencement speech, former Coca-Cola CEO Brian Dyson compared balancing work and life to juggling:

“Imagine life as a game where you’re juggling five balls – work, family, health, friends, and spirit. Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one, it will be irrevocably damaged.”

Cathy Engelbert
As the first female CEO in one of the Big Four financial services firms, Cathy Engelbert shares her scheduling approach:

“When I was pregnant, I requested to work with a client two miles from my house instead of traveling a longer distance.”

Sallie Krawcheck
Ellevest CEO Sallie Krawcheck has moved beyond focusing on achieving balance:

“I’m over the work-life balance question because it’s impossible to maintain for more than a few minutes.”

Marissa Mayer
Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer writes that avoiding burnout isn’t just about time at home but also understanding what causes resentment:

“I think burnout is about resentment. You beat it by knowing what you’re giving up that makes you resentful. Find your rhythm.”

Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes perfect work-life balance isn’t always achievable in competitive industries:

“There are companies offering better work-life balance, but achieving our mission requires extreme effort. We must advance the cause despite the imbalance.”

Satya Nadella
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella focuses on the quality of time spent with his children rather than the quantity:

“The moments I’m with my children … that is when I want to be fully present. That’s what gives me the harmony to manage a tough work-life balance.”

Indra Nooyi
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi discusses the conflict between career and family duties:

“The biological clock and career clock are in total conflict. As you rise in your career, your children need you more.”

Chris O’Neill
Former Evernote CEO Chris O’Neill emphasizes the importance of certain personal moments:

“It’s not easy to balance work and family. I reserve Saturdays for my kids. Don’t miss the ‘crystal’ moments.”

Ginni Rometty
Former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty prioritizes health and fitness for balance:

“I make time to exercise. It’s not indulgent. It’s crucial for managing and staying focused.”

Brad Smith
Former Intuit CEO Brad Smith highlights the difference between “rubber” and “crystal” moments:

“Don’t ever drop a crystal moment. These are irreplaceable.”

Mark Schneider
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider asserts that the job comes first:

“When a CEO talks about their work-life balance, it might be time to sell the stock.”

Howard Schultz
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz notes that loving your work often requires sacrifice:

“Entrepreneurs must love what they do so much that it’s worth the sacrifice and pain.”

Jeff Weiner
Former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner uses compassion to balance work and personal life:

“The only way I can balance work and life is by practicing compassion and not taking anything or anyone for granted.”

Mark Zuckerberg
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg states that measuring work-life balance depends on how you view your time:

“If you count time in the office, it’s about 50-60 hours a week. But if you count time focused on our mission, that’s basically my whole life.”

These insights from well-known CEOs highlight that while perfect balance may not exist, practical steps and proper priorities can help improve both work and personal life.