'50% CEOs would be unemployed': Ex-HCL CEO Vineet Nayar says CBSE board exams don’t decide destiny

Ahead of CBSE board exams, ex-HCL CEO says life is bigger than marks

Each year, board examinations bring a sense of tension to households across India. Dining tables turn into study desks, routines shift, and families organise their days around revision timetables. For many students, the coming weeks feel decisive.

At this crucial time, former HCL Technologies CEO Vineet Nayar has offered a measured message of reassurance ahead of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams.

Sharing his thoughts on X, he questioned the long-held belief that school results alone determine long-term success. He wrote, “If board exams decided life, half the CEOs would be unemployed. Let that sink in.”

He made it clear that he was not undermining the value of hard work or formal assessment. Stressing balance from the outset, he added, “Boards are important. But they are not your destiny.”

To explain his perspective, Nayar reflected on his own time as a student under CBSE in 1979. He described a moment when anxiety nearly took over after one particular paper.

He recounted the exchange that shifted his thinking, “At 17, I walked out of my Chemistry exam knowing I had messed it up. Full panic mode. A cousin looked at me and asked, ‘Will you die if you fail?’ I said no. ‘Then why are you treating it as a life and death situation?’ That question changed everything.”

According to him, that brief conversation helped him regain control and approach his next exam differently. He explained, “Two days later, I had Maths. I studied calmly. Walked in steady. Crushed it.”

Drawing from that experience, he highlighted the difference between academic tests and real-world challenges. He wrote, “Here’s the truth: Exams test memory. Life tests courage. Boards are a level in the game. Not the whole game. So sleep. Study hard. Give it your best shot. Then accept the result.”

Turning his attention to those currently preparing for their papers, Nayar encouraged them to adopt a steady mindset and avoid panic. He advised students to remind themselves that a single exam does not define their entire future, “Life is bigger than one exam. Look in the mirror and say: ‘Not life or death. Best shot. No fear.’ And occasionally, shout: ‘Dad, omelette please… and don’t forget the mango shake!’ Let parents cook and worry. Your job is to prepare and stay steady. To every student reading this: The Board Exam Bully survives on fear. Starve it! You’ve got this, my friend!”

IF BOARD EXAMS DECIDED LIFE, HALF THE CEOs WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED

Let that sink in. Boards are important. But they are not your destiny. At 17, I walked out of my Chemistry exam knowing I had messed it up. Full panic mode. A cousin looked at me and asked, “Will you die if you… pic.twitter.com/FED0Cmi90q — Vineet Nayar (@vineetnayar) February 13, 2026

The message received wide support online. One parent responded by expressing agreement and sharing it at home, “Absolutely true. Loved it. Showed it to my daughter too.”

Another user reflected on the broader meaning of examinations in life, adding, “This is the message I gave to some kids along with tagging your post, Guys: Don't take stress...Life is long and there are many exams ...formal and informal...I am still taking exams even if it is informal...and exams will last till my last breath on earth”

Several users also commented on his past academic performance, noting the marks he achieved. One wrote, “71% in that era is awesome, and 94 in Maths is outstanding even in today’s terms.”