Ex-Meta executive who runs $1 billion firm reveals Mark Zuckerberg's work-life lesson

Former Meta executive Martin Ott has said his years working with Mark Zuckerberg taught him to focus on high-impact work rather than simply staying available around the clock. Ott believes sustainable routines, fewer meetings and protected personal time can help teams avoid burnout and perform better.

In Short

• He urges leaders to prioritise high-value tasks over packed calendars
• Questioning every meeting can free time for more deliberate decisions
• An always-on culture may work briefly but raises burnout risks

We often think that building a successful company means putting in long hours. But former Meta executive Martin Ott says his years working with Mark Zuckerberg taught him a different approach to work-life balance. In an interview with Fortune, Ott said success is less about being available around the clock and more about using limited time to create meaningful impact.

Ott, now CEO of Berlin-based tax platform Taxfix, valued at more than USD 1 billion, joined Facebook in 2012 as managing director for Northern and Central Europe. At the time, Facebook was still privately held, rapidly shifting from desktop to mobile, with only a few thousand employees globally.

Ott said his experience at Facebook reinforced the importance of making the most of his time rather than simply working longer hours.

FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT CREATES THE BIGGEST IMPACT

For Ott, being productive does not mean keeping a packed calendar. He believes leaders should use their time strategically and concentrate on work that can make a meaningful difference to the business.

“There’s only so many hours in a day,” Ott told Fortune. He also advises leaders and employees to assess whether every meeting on their schedules actually requires their presence.

His approach is to measure productivity by the value created, rather than by the number of hours spent at work.

24/7 WORKING IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

Ott acknowledges that an always-on approach can work for a period, particularly during intense phases of building a company. However, he believes it becomes difficult to sustain over the long term and may contribute to burnout.

His focus is not only on his own work-life balance but also on protecting his team. Ott believes leaders have a responsibility to ensure employees have enough time away from work to recharge.

HIS MORNING ROUTINE AND EMAIL RULE

Ott follows a structured morning routine that typically begins around 5:30 am. He spends time reading before exercising and running, while also making an effort to stay connected with his support network. Meditation is another practice he has used at different times.

He also takes steps to ensure his early start does not become an expectation for his employees.

Ott may begin drafting emails and Slack messages early in the morning, but he schedules them to reach his team later, generally around 8 or 9 am. This allows employees to remain disconnected from work during their personal time without feeling pressure to respond immediately.

RUNNING A COMPANY IS A MARATHON

Ott sees leadership as a long-term exercise rather than a constant sprint. Running a company inevitably involves ups and downs, crises and periods of intense pressure, making it important for leaders to maintain their energy and performance over time.

His approach is therefore centred on creating sustainable working habits rather than expecting leaders and employees to remain constantly available.

Ott’s experience highlights a broader lesson about workplace productivity: working longer hours does not necessarily create more value. For leaders, the focus may be better placed on prioritising meaningful work while giving themselves and their teams enough time to recharge.

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