How CEOs optimise their sleep routine

Business Times

18-07-2025

THIS question for the big boss is one that preoccupies almost everyone I know: How do you optimise sleep? There's a lot of appreciation for night-time rituals, from vitamin regimens to micro meditation sessions and half-hour baths. But there's also an appreciation for just falling asleep the old-fashioned way.
As CEO of Uber Technologies, Dara Khosrowshahi operates in a world with an abundance of screentime; unsurprisingly, that used to be part of his resting regimen. 'I used to wear a smart health tracker that rated my sleep, and I absolutely loved it,' he says. 'As someone who is really into data, getting detailed insights was right up my alley.' But eventually, he says, 'I got a little too into it, competing with myself every night'. These days, he employs a completely different sleep hack. 'I've gone back to falling asleep the old-fashioned way – no tracking, just reading.' His advice? 'Get rid of the screens, and you'll be ahead of the game.'
Thirty years ago, Sam Calagione helped kick off America's craft beer obsession when he started Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Rehoboth Beach, in the US state of Delaware. (In 2019, the Boston Beer Company acquired it for US$300 million.) Calagione works out for 60 minutes every day, in part to be properly worn out at night. As it happens, he says, 'our best-selling beer is called 60 Minute IPA'. But his real sleep tip is to relax before bed. 'I take a half-hour bath every evening, below a giant photograph of Andre 3000 playing a flute. It calms me as I read, but it freaks my wife, Mariah, out a bit, which may be why we have separate bathrooms,' he says.
'I've been lucky in that I've always been able to sleep, despite my 20 espressos a day,' jokes Konstantin Sidorov, CEO of the London Technology Club, a UK-based venture capital fund. (It's most recent launch, in May, was the US$250 million VC Secondary Fund.) 'I typically have a late, sociable dinner with fine wine, which I'm sure helps.' On the opposite end of the spectrum, another of his sleep secrets is staying active. 'No matter how busy my schedule is, I always work out at least twice a week – wherever I am in the world.' Sidorov also takes advantage of his hectic travel schedule to nap: 'I have no problem sleeping on a plane, travelling to and from our investor hubs in Hong Kong and Dubai.'
In 2024, Rayni Williams, CEO and co-founder of The Beverly Hills Estates, closed over US$1.3 billion in house sales; her clients include actors Jeremy Renner and Angelina Jolie, and developer Bruce Makowsky. Sleep is non-negotiable, she says, and she's developed a very specific routine to help her maximise it. 'I take magnesium, zinc and ATP (a cellular energy supplement), along with a cortisol balancer to help regulate stress levels.' And that's just the start. 'A relaxing shower, followed by a full skincare and self-care regimen, helps signal to my body that it's time to rest,' she says. 'I'll often journal to clear my mind and always incorporate deep breathing work to centre myself before bed. A few nights a week, I use my Shani Darden red-light mask. This helps boost collagen; it only needs 15 minutes, so I will do a meditation simultaneously.'
Tony Tjan is the CEO of MiniLuxe, a national nail-care brand that offers nail and body services and non-toxic products; it brought in over US$26 million in revenue in 2024. Sleep is not Tjan's speciality, but he says he's been trying to be better. 'The biggest shift has been a routine that includes a micro session of meditation with a sound bowl,' he says. 'Then, earlier to bed and super early to rise. I'll never forget a saying that Tom Brady once shared with me: 'You can't be soaring with the eagles in the morning if you are hooting with owls late at night!''
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The Carlsberg Group has been brewing beer in Copenhagen since the 1840s. Two years ago, Jacob Aarup-Andersen took over as CEO of Carlsberg, whose 2024 reported earnings hit almost US$11 billion. One of his current priorities is expanding the company's non-alcoholic beer portfolio, which complements his own personal focus on health: 'If I wake up earlier than planned, I don't fight it. I get up and get going. Trying to squeeze in more sleep often leaves me groggy and throws off my rhythm for days.' Instead, he says, 'I use that extra time to work out or run, which helps me reset and sleep deeply the following nights. It's about listening to your body.'
'This might sound counterproductive, but my best hack for a good night's sleep is to make time for a nap – at least 40 minutes a day,' says Michael Kirban. He's the co-founder and executive chairman of the Vita Coco Company, a popular coconut water brand. In 2024, Vita Coco hit US$516 million in sales of its boxed beverages. About naps, Kirban continues: 'They help me turn my brain off more easily when I go to bed at night.'
Peter McGuinness knows his way around major food companies. In 2022 he became CEO of the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods, following a run as president of popular yoghurt company Chobani. What he's not so good at is optimising sleep. 'That's not a good thing to brag about,' he says. 'I'm not philosophically against sleep. I just don't do a good job.' Part of the reason, he says, is his busy travel schedule, which has him navigating time changes: 'I'm on a plane a lot. It's enough to be disruptive and throw your biorhythms off.' McGuinness has also learned to function without a lot of sleep. 'I just kind of power through it. But I'm not too old to learn. So I will make it a priority, or more of a priority.'
Amina Belouizdad Porter is CEO of PS, which stands for Private Suite, and operates private terminals at both LAX and ATL that let clients go through private security systems before being escorted to planes. Even as she expands her company nationally, Porter prioritises her downtime. 'We've finally moved past bragging about no sleep. I aim for a consistent seven to eight hours every night. It's non-negotiable.' BLOOMBERG