Google CEO Sundar Pichai, now a newly minted billionaire worth $1.1 billion, believes that the most effective employees are often their own harshest critics. “At times, you’re working with people who are so committed to achieving, if they’ve done something wrong, they feel it more than you do,” Pichai said in a conversation during Lex Fridman‘s podcast.The 52-year-old CEO of tech giant Alphabet, who has transformed Google into a $2.3 trillion giant since joining as a Product Manager in 2004, shared his management philosophy and career advice for Generation Z employees seeking professional growth.

Google CEO says embrace discomfort to unlock your potential

Sundar Pichai’s journey from product manager to CEO wasn’t without challenges. He admits to feeling intimidated by colleagues throughout his career, but views this as essential for growth. “At various points in my life, I’ve worked with people who I felt were better than me,” he told Fridman. “You want that feeling a few times, 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.”The CEO encourages young professionals to “put yourself in uncomfortable situations” because “often you’ll surprise yourself.” This philosophy helped him catch the attention of Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, leading to his CEO appointment in 2015.Rather than relying purely on logical career moves, Pichai advises Gen Z to follow their passions. “When you do things, I think it’s important to listen to your heart, and see whether you actually enjoy doing it,” he said.

Building teams that drive excellence is Sundar Pichai’s mantra

Success at Google, according to Sundar Pichai, centers on finding the right people. “You find mission-oriented people who are in the shared journey, who have this inner drive to excellence, to do the best, and motivate people, and you can achieve a lot that way.”His calm management approach stems from trust in committed employees. “Occasionally, there are people who you need to clearly let them know, like, ‘That wasn’t okay,’ but I’ve often found that not to be the case,” Pichai explained.Despite only recently joining the billionaires club, Pichai’s net worth pales compared to Google’s co-founders, whose wealth reaches $163 billion and $174 billion respectively.