Snowflake CEO Shares Four Rules for Efficient Meetings

Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of the $76 billion cloud data platform Snowflake, believes that meetings should be purposeful, not bureaucratic. Following research showing U.S. companies waste over $37 billion annually on unnecessary meetings, Ramaswamy has implemented a rigorous meeting framework that emphasizes efficiency and respect for employees’ time. His approach challenges common business practices and offers practical solutions for executives struggling with unproductive meetings.

Preparation and Purpose Drive Success

Ramaswamy’s first rule is non-negotiable: every meeting must have a published agenda and supporting documents available in advance. He refuses to attend meetings without pre-distributed materials, using early morning hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. to prepare thoroughly. His second rule demands that each meeting has a specific purpose and clear viewpoint. Meetings aren’t held to “check a box” or maintain visibility; they’re strategic tools designed to bring together the right people, not the most people, to address critical decisions.

Conversation Over Presentation

The Snowflake CEO treats meetings as forums for open discussion rather than information recitations. He emphasizes that “facts can be read offline,” reserving meeting time for interpreting and debating information. This approach encourages diverse perspectives and prevents dominant voices from controlling conversations. His final rule prioritizes speed—the moment a meeting achieves its objective and decisions are made, participants are dismissed immediately. Ramaswamy admits he feels “itchy” in lengthy meetings, pushing teams to wrap up the moment their goal is reached.

By implementing these four principles, Ramaswamy demonstrates that efficient meetings aren’t about cutting corners—they’re about respecting time and maximizing impact.