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Jadga launched Proximity Works in 2019 (Image: Instagram/@h.jagda)
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News18•18-10-2026, 10:54
Indian-Origin CEO Rejects Silicon Valley 996 Work Culture
  • •Hardik Jagda, founder and CEO of Proximity Works, works a demanding personal schedule starting at 3 am but does not force his employees to follow the 996 work culture.
  • •He believes that productivity should be measured by the quality of work produced rather than the total number of hours spent working.
  • •Jagda draws inspiration from Olympic athletes, balancing his intensive daily routine with adequate rest, recovery, and time spent with loved ones.
  • •His company allows employees the flexibility to choose their own working hours as long as there is an overlap of five to six hours with colleagues.
  • •Jagda emphasizes building the right structural processes rather than focusing on the sheer volume of time employees sit at their desks.
Read Full Article on News18 in English

Key Questions Answered

The '996' work culture requires employees to work from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week.

Hardik Jagda typically wakes up between 3 am and 5 am, begins meetings around 7:30 am or 8 am, exercises, and aims to sleep by 9 pm while working six days a week.

No, Jagda does not impose his demanding schedule on his employees, allowing them to choose their working hours as long as there is a five to six-hour overlap with colleagues.

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