As work-life balance becomes a key priority for many professionals, Bupa CEO Inaki Ereno offers a different perspective.
In an interview with LuckEreno said a strong focus on maintaining work-life balance could indicate that an individual may not be in the right role.
“When the balance of your life becomes an issue, then you have a problem. You have to love your job so you don’t feel like your life has to be balanced,” he said.
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He added that while rest and recovery are important, the repeated emphasis on boundaries between work and personal life may reflect a deeper connection to the profession.
‘Work is not a burden for me’
Ereno, who runs a $23 billion company that employs nearly 100,000 people worldwide, said he does not see work as something to be separated from his personal life.
“I enjoy thinking about business on the weekends. I write emails and read my paper and all that. Do I feel like it’s a lot of pressure? No, I enjoy it. So I don’t feel like I have to think about how I balance my life,” he said.
His comments suggest that when individuals are engaged in their work, the need to actively manage balance may diminish.
Advice for those who “live for the weekend”
When asked what advice he would give to people who feel disengaged at work or spend the week waiting for the weekends, Ereno advised to rethink their career choice.
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“I think the advice is to take the time to think about what you like to do. Don’t do a job that you don’t enjoy, so then you need a balance,” he told the publication.
A routine reflects a structured approach
Eren’s views are also reflected in his daily routine. According to Fortune, he starts his day at 6:30 a.m. with black coffee while reading six digital newspapers — three in English and three in Spanish.
He prefers to go to Bupa’s London office by subway rather than by private car.
His schedule usually runs from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, after which he spends time reflecting on the day and answering emails.
Fitness and daily habits
The CEO also follows a consistent fitness routine. He walks for about 50 minutes after work, a practice that started as a way to relax and has since become a regular habit.
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In addition, he goes to the gym six times a week, where he focuses on both strength training and treadmill running.
“I go to the gym six times a week. I do weights four days and a treadmill two days,” he said.
He said this routine helps him stay grounded while managing the demands of a global business.
Who is Inaki Ereno?
Born in 1964, Ereno joined Bupa in 2005 and has held several senior roles within the organisation. He became Group CEO in 2021 after leading operations in Spain and later overseeing the company’s business in Europe and Latin America.
Before entering the healthcare sector, he worked with Telefónica and Carrefour and also founded an online startup.
He holds a law degree and an MBA from IESE Business School.
