Indian origin CEOs are leading silicon valley companies and often work long hours yet some manage to stay grounded with simple personal rules. One such example is an Indian-origin executive Jeetu Patel at Cisco who puts in extremely long days but follows a disciplined system to protect his time, health, and family life.
Who Is Jeetu Patel?
Jeetu Patel is a top product leader at Cisco, who is responsible for shaping the company’s product direction, strategy, and innovation. His job role involves working closely with multiple teams, making critical decisions, and staying ahead of changes in the tech industry.
As a key decision-maker in one of the world’s biggest networking and software companies, his schedule is obviously demanding yet he has found a way to manage it without compromising on his priorities.
What His Daily Life Look Like?
Jeetu Patel’s workday usually starts around 6 in the morning and extends well over midnight. On many days, he ends up working nearly 18 hours. He also works seven days a week because of the nature of his role and the global responsibilities he handles.
Despite this hard routine, he says his workload feels manageable because he follows a strict rule about when and how he works. These are self-defined boundaries that help him focus on the most important tasks and avoid unnecessary pressure.
Jeetu’s three rules that shape his balance
No Work Meetings Before 9 a.m.
Jeetu Patel keeps the first three hours of his day meeting-free. This time is reserved for planning, thinking, and solving the biggest problems on his plate. He believes that choosing the right problems to work on is more important than trying to do everything at once. Moreover, by avoiding early meetings, he gets quiet, uninterrupted hours to organise his day and make clear decisions.
Family Time Cannot Be Interrupted
Even with his demanding role, he sets one unwavering rule that his daughter can reach him anytime, even if he is in an important meeting. For him, family comes before everything else.
He has also stepped away from work when needed. When his mother was unwell in 2023, he spent several weeks with her, cutting down his workload significantly. He says balance is not fixed rather it shifts depending on what matters most at that moment.
Health Is Part of His Routine
Jeetu says he tries to exercise for at least 20–30 minutes daily. He openly admits he is not in perfect shape, but consistency matters more to him than intensity. According to him staying active helps him manage stress and perform better at work.
What His Approach Shows?
Jeetu’a success journey shows people a realistic version of work-life balance which is although not perfect, not equal, but is practical. Furthermore, even with long hours, his simple rules about time, family, and health allow him to stay grounded while leading at the highest level of the tech industry at Cisco.
