World Bank president Ajay Banga on work-life balance: It’s all about you, not the grind

Balancing work and life can feel like a tightrope walk, and no one knows this better than Ajay Banga, the World Bank president and former CEO of Mastercard. Recently, he spilled the tea on this hot topic, reminding us that there’s no cookie-cutter solution when it comes to work-life balance. What feels peaceful to one person could feel like total chaos to another, and Banga is here to break it down.

Ajay Banga on work-life balance??

He pointed out that the definition of balance is as varied as our favourite TikTok trends. “Some folks thrive on working 12 to 18 hours a day, while others can barely handle six,” he said. For Banga, the secret sauce lies in figuring out what works for you. “I don’t know how you define it for yourself,” he admitted, leaving the answer up to us. It’s all about finding that sweet spot that aligns with your vibe.

Pillars of Ajay Banga

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of Banga’s philosophy, which revolves around two key ingredients. First up, enjoyment. Yep, you heard that right! “If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, it’s time to do something different,” he said, channeling his inner motivational speaker. Banga, who’s clocked hours in every corner of the globe, knows that while grinding hard is a must, loving the ride is even more important. “If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, why are you doing it?” he quipped. Food for thought, right?

The second pillar? Family time, folks! Banga emphasised the need to carve out moments for those you care about. “You’ve got to provide time for their play... because it’s important to them,” he shared, drawing on his own experiences. He even recounted how, while running the show at Citigroup in Asia, he’d hop on a plane just to make it back for family events—even if it meant just being there for a single day. “If you’re not going to be there when they need you, then you’ve got no balance,” he said, and honestly, he’s not wrong.

To sum it up...

Banga didn’t stop there. He called out our obsession with mobile devices, reminding us that we often scroll away our precious time instead of focusing on our loved ones. He said, a person is not spending time with the people they are with; a person is spending time with the instrument. While he recognized the perks of tech, he urged us not to let it steal our personal moments.

Well, to sum it up, Banga hit the nail on the head when he stated that “that’s what work-life balance is – everything else tends to fall into place.” So, let’s take some inspiration from him—discover your own balance, savour the journey, and prioritise spending time with your loved ones.