Lucy Guo Says that Desiring Work-life Balance Indicates A Person Is In An Unsuitable Job

Lucy Guo, the youngest self-made female millionaire globally and cofounder of the AI company Scale AI, contends that a need for a rigid work-life balance may indicate that an individual is misaligned with their profession.

Lucy Guo is now the youngest self-made woman billionare globally, surpassing Taylor Swift/ IMAGE CREDIT: NIC FORD

In an interview with Fortune magazine, the 28-year-old stated that she does not perceive her occupation as conventional labor. “I take great pleasure in my profession,” she stated. "If you require work-life balance, it may indicate that you are not in the appropriate job." Her daily regimen commences at 5:30 a.m. with two to three high-intensity workouts at a training bootcamp, subsequently followed by work from 9 a.m. to midnight.

On certain days, I engage in more marketing initiatives. She informed Fortune that she is engaging with our public relations team and participating in podcasts, among other activities. On other days, I concentrate more on product-related tasks... Evaluating designs and providing user experience feedback.

She consumes lunch at her desk and never prepares meals, depending exclusively on the food delivery service UberEats, she stated. Despite working up to 90 hours weekly, Guo stated she still allocates one to two hours daily for family and friends. "You must consistently allocate time for that, irrespective of your level of busyness."

Although younger generations are placing greater emphasis on work-life balance, Guo's schedule exemplifies an emerging trend among company entrepreneurs.

The CEO of Zoom, Eric Yuan, has a like perspective. “Work constitutes life, and life constitutes work,” he stated in a recent podcast episode. Notwithstanding his rigorous schedule, he emphasized that family is paramount: "In the event of a conflict, consider this." Prioritize family. That is all.

Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, CEO of the consultancy firm Culture House, had a similar perspective. I am perpetually engaged in work around the clock. I am a workaholic, hence I do not cease working as I derive pleasure from my endeavors.

Guo, a former student of Carnegie Mellon University, subsequently co-founded Scale AI with Alexandr Wang, who is currently recognized as the youngest self-made billionaire globally, with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion, as reported by Forbes.

Upon departing the company in 2018, she maintained a 5% equity share, currently valued at around $1.2 billion due to Scale's valuation increase to $25 billion in 2025, as published by Entrepreneur magazine. She currently serves as the CEO of Passes, a platform that enables digital creators to monetize their material.