‘Shark Tank India 3’ judge and Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal on work culture and ‘toxic boss’ claims, says, ‘You have to be obsessive about building something’ |
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal is no stranger to strong opinions. The entrepreneur, who was also seen as a shark on ‘Shark Tank India Season 3’, recently opened up about leadership and work-life balance. He also talked about why startups demand a very different mindset. In a candid podcast conversation, Goyal explained what he expects from his senior team. Also, why he believes obsession, when done right, is not toxic but necessary.
What does Deepinder Goyal expect from his team?
Speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Deepinder Goyal said he wants senior leaders to feel personal ownership of their work. “You have to be obsessive about building something. That’s the kind of obsession I want from my senior team,” he said.He made his stance even clearer by adding, “I don’t want them to think of this as a job. If the senior team thinks of this as a job, I’m out. They have to think about this as their own baby.” According to Goyal, startups cannot be built by people who clock in and clock out mentally. He believes leadership comes with responsibility that goes beyond job descriptions.
Why can’t startups run on a ‘9-to-5’ mindset?
Goyal explained his thinking with a real-life scenario. If a major bug shows up late on a Friday evening, waiting till Monday is not an option. “I would not go home on Friday, 6 pm. I would stay back and do the job,” he said.He stressed the difference between hours and attitude. “Startups don’t get built on a 9-to-5 attitude. They can be built on 9-to-5 hour clocks. But they can’t be built on a 9-to-5 attitude. They are different things.” He added that flexibility already exists within his teams. People can take leaves freely. But urgency has to be respected when customers are affected.On being called a ‘toxic boss’When Raj Shamani pointed out that such expectations are often labelled toxic, Goyal pushed back strongly. “I don’t think people say that about me,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the way people who work with me think about it.”He dismissed online criticism, especially Reddit posts, calling them old and outdated. “If there is a bug that would delay customer orders by 15 minutes, I would put a night out and solve it. The whole company should put a night out,” he added, underlining his belief in collective responsibility.Goyal also addressed the argument that founders and employees cannot be compared. “We pay people a lot. We give them a lot of equity,” he said. He explained that growth depends on mindset. “If they show this kind of attitude, they grow faster as well. If they don’t, they stay where they are.”At the same time, he maintained that the choice is personal. “I don’t judge people. It’s your choice… if you can manage your family, work-life balance, your peace, and also obsess.”According to him, the best leaders are those who balance calmness with commitment. “Obsession can happen with peace. And those kinds of people who can manage and balance everything and still drive the right kind of outcomes still happen. They’re able to push for solving things overnight when they need to,” he concluded.
About ‘Shark Tank India Season 5’
Meanwhile, Shark Tank India Season 5 premiered on January 5, 2026. The new season features four new judges: Shaily Mehrotra, Kanika Tekriwal, Hardik Kothiya, and Pratham Mittal. They join popular sharks such as Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar, Peyush Bansal, Vineeta Singh, Ritesh Agarwal, and Anupam Mittal, bringing fresh perspectives to the tank.
