What would you sacrifice to succeed? For workers in Asia’s tech industry, the answer is often everything. The “996 culture” pushes long hours for big results. Workers start at 9 a.m., finish at 9 p.m., and work six days a week. Proponents argue it drives innovation and economic growth. Critics see it as a path to burnout and call it unsustainable. The idea of 996 is controversial. Some leaders praise it as necessary. Others call it exploitation. Jack Ma, Alibaba’s founder, once called 996 a “blessing.” He believes long hours lead to opportunity. For him, hard work is the price of success in a competitive world. For investors, this kind of drive can signal strong leadership and commitment - factors that influence market confidence. Some of China’s most valuable tech firms, such as Alibaba and Tencent, rose to prominence under this high-pressure culture and delivered exceptional returns to early backers. But not everyone agrees. Read on: https://www.kotaksecurities.com/investing-guide/articles/996-work-culture?utm_source=social&utm_medium=wa&utm_campaign=kotak-insights