"For Cisco's chief product officer, Jeetu Patel, that reality translates into working seven days a week, typically starting around 6 a.m. and sometimes stretching past midnight. Yet even with marathon days, Patel insists his version of balance only works because he sets strict guardrails. His first rule: no meetings before 9 a.m., unless the invite comes from CEO Chuck Robbins or the Cisco board. Those early hours, before the sun is even up, give him time to plan his goals and focus on high-impact work."
"Even with an around-the-clock schedule, Patel acknowledged that balance is not static. There are periods in life when personal affairs demand more attention-and that's okay. For example, before his mother passed away in 2023, he spent eight weeks at her side in the hospital, barely working. "You have to figure out a way to make sure that it works for you, and you have to make sure that the people around you think that that's okay, and you have to create that system for yourself. I don't think anyone else can create it for you.""
Jeetu Patel works seven days a week, commonly starting around 6 a.m. and sometimes working past midnight. He enforces strict guardrails, including a rule against meetings before 9 a.m. unless from the CEO or board, to reserve early hours for high-impact planning. He prioritizes solving the highest-quality problems because those choices drive outcomes. Balance is described as dynamic, with periods when personal matters demand full attention; Patel spent eight weeks with his mother in 2023 and largely stepped back. Family exceptions include allowing his daughter to interrupt meetings anytime.
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