- Sridhar Vembu said life is not a competition and 30 is a new beginning for many
- He advised young entrepreneurs to marry and have kids in their 20s for societal duty
- Vembu credited his mother for teaching him to view life beyond race and competition
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu weighed in on the ongoing debate over marriage, career, and life choices with a personal reflection, saying he doesn't view life as a competition. Responding to social media discussions sparked by entrepreneur Upasana Konidela's post, Vembu noted that while Mark Zuckerberg achieved global success at a much younger age, he doesn't wake up feeling like a failure. “Life is not a race. There is plenty of opportunity to excel at any age and 30 is a new beginning for many people,” he wrote, crediting his mother for instilling this perspective.
Life is not a race. There is plenty of opportunity to excel at any age and 30 is a new beginning for many people. I remember receiving this advice from my mother and I am glad to have recieved it.
If I were to look at life as a race, I have failed compared to Mark Zuckerberg l,…November 19, 2025AdvertisementVembu had responded to Monika Varma's comment on his comment, which read, “TBH, if I choose to have kids in my 20s who is going to compensate for my career being on pause or even set back with maternity leaves in this cut-throat? Yes, I would love to have children above all. BUT that alone is not my sole purpose in life.”
The discussion gained spark on Nov 19 when Vembu wrote, "I advise young entrepreneurs I meet, both men and women, to marry and have kids in their 20s and not keep postponing it. I tell them they have to do their demographic duty to society and their own ancestors. I know these notions may sound quaint or old-fashioned but I am sure these ideas will resonate again."
AdvertisementThis comes after entrepreneur Upasana Konidela shared her experience from an interaction at IIT Hyderabad, highlighting a striking generational shift: when she asked students how many wanted to get married, more men raised their hands than women. The women, she noted, appeared far more career-focused, calling this the face of a “new, progressive India.”
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