Google’s Sundar Pichai tells young professionals to seek out smarter colleagues

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has a clear message for young professionals: surround yourself with people who challenge you.

Speaking on the “Lex Fridman Podcast” on June 5, Pichai reflected on the importance of discomfort and growth in the workplace. “Trying to work with people who you feel… are better than me, that kind of like, you know, you almost are sitting in a room talking to someone, and they’re like, wow,” said the 53-year-old tech leader. “Trying to get yourself in a position where you’re working with people who you feel are kind of like stretching your abilities is what helps you grow.”

Pichai also spoke candidly about the role of passion and instinct in choosing a career path. “When you do things, I think it’s important to kind of get that, listen to your heart, and see whether you actually enjoy doing it,” he said. “If you love what you do, it’s so much easier, and you’re going to see the best version of yourself… I think kind of listening to your heart a bit more than your mind in terms of figuring out what you want to do is one of the best things I would tell people.”