Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today we meet Workera’s founder and CEO, Kian Katanforoosh.
The 31-year-old leader of the AI-powered skills platform was born in France to an Iranian family, but immigrated to chase his dreams at the mecca of technology evolution: Silicon Valley.
Alongside spearheading his multimillion-dollar technology company out of San Francisco since 2019, Katanforoosh also worked as an adjunct lecturer of computer science at Stanford University. He teaches deep learning at the prestigious university—a course he co-created with DeepLearning.AI founder and AI savant Andrew Ng. The millennial entrepreneur has also developed a deep learning specialization on Coursera, completed by over a million learners.
“I want to help people achieve their fullest potential and accelerate progress through technology,” Katanforoosh tells Fortune.
Workera has been on a high in recent years; the company grew to a Series B company, with $55.5 million in venture funding from New Enterprise Associates, AI Fund, Owl Ventures, and Accenture. Over the past six years, the platform has helped enterprises assess, develop, and optimize their staff’s skills—especially with abilities like data science, AI, and software engineering. So far, Workers has verified more than 5 million skills through over 500,000 assessments taken across 25 countries. Some of Workera’s most notable customers include Accenture, Siemens Energy, Belcorp, the United States Air Force, and Samsung.
Katanforoosh’s contributions to education and the future of skills haven’t gone unnoticed; he’s received Stanford’s highest teaching award, and was ranked in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Education list in 2020 and 2021. When you take a peek into his daily habits—from using ChatGPT “for hours every day,” to his luxe espresso set-up—one thing becomes clear: He’s all about streamlining his life
“Long-term thinking, where you go all-in on one area and let it compound, is what worked best for me,” he says. “That’s how you get to the top 1%, or even the top 0.01%, if you truly excel.”
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
I struggled with sleep for years. Being a measurement nerd, I got an Oura ring early on—one of the first adopters—because you can’t improve what you don’t measure. It cost me around $250-300, and it was worth every penny. Over the last five years, my average sleep score has climbed from below 69 to over 75—a big win. I sleep better, I understand what impacts my sleep, and I’ve A/B tested myself enough to know what works. I’ve been very happy about it!
What are your living arrangements like? Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
I live in a high-rise in downtown San Francisco, and I love it. Many of my friends live in the building, which makes a big difference as a remote worker—it gives me a sense of community and regular face-to-face interactions.
ChatGPT. I use it for hours every day—it boosts my productivity, sparks innovation, and makes my work more enjoyable.
How do you commute to work?
As a remote worker, I simply move from my bed to my desk.
Do you carry a wallet?
Yes, I use a minimalist pop-up wallet my uncle gave me. It’s super convenient—press a button, and five cards slide out, making it easy to grab the one I need. I carry three credit cards, along with my driver’s license and green card.
Since I travel a lot for work, the American Express Platinum has been a game changer. It makes booking travel easier, gives me lounge access to rest or take meetings, and speeds up security with TSA PreCheck, Clear, and Global Entry. It also makes non-USD currency transactions less costly and seamless.
Do you invest in shares?
Aside from Workera shares, I rarely invest in stocks.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Focus on depth, not distractions. Keep your head down, build expertise in a domain, and persist—it will pay off. Long-term thinking, where you go all-in on one area and let it compound, is what worked best for me. That’s how you get to the top 1%, or even the top 0.01% if you truly excel.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
Without a doubt, ChatGPT. I use it for hours every day—it boosts my productivity, sparks innovation, and makes my work more enjoyable. It frees me up to focus on higher-order tasks where I add the most value, rather than delegating them to a machine.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
Coffee is a serious obsession in our household. A close friend first taught me how to make great coffee, and it quickly became an engineering project. I started with a Flair Espresso Maker, using a manual press, brewing cylinder, and steel plunger. These days, we’ve streamlined our setup. We upgraded to a Breville machine, which handles espresso extraction and includes a steam wand, making it easier to create a great latte or cappuccino without sacrificing quality.
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What about eating on the go?
I usually eat with my roommates and my girlfriend. One of my roommates is a great cook and loves being in the kitchen, and my girlfriend is amazing at it too. So, my department in the house is usually grocery shopping and cleanup!
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
If I’m not traveling for work, my girlfriend and I usually eat out once or twice a week—mostly on the weekend. I also grab a meal out with friends about once a week.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
For work, brands like Theory, Vince, or AG jeans.
What would be a typical work outfit for you?
Comfortable jeans with a t-shirt or a button-down. I keep it simple with neutral tones—blues, grays, khakis—or stick to solid colors.
After a packed quarter with long hours, I booked a quick getaway to Cabo—much needed.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
I play a lot of soccer—it’s my personal time to unwind. I also follow the game closely, especially the Premier League and Ligue 1. I’m a die-hard Arsenal fan, having grown up idolizing French soccer legends and former Gunners like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Robert Pirès.
I listen to a lot of French rap and keep up with the latest releases (e.g., PNL, Orelsan, etc.). I’m pretty good at memorizing lyrics—and I enjoy singing, though not well. Let’s just say it’s not everyone’s favorite.
Sometimes, I play games—my favorite is Warzone (Risk), a strategy game by an indie developer that takes the classic RISK board game to the next level. I also have a PS5, and every now and then, I’ll pick up a game I’ve been excited about and dive in! This year it was Cyberpunk 2077.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
After a packed quarter with long hours, I booked a quick getaway to Cabo—much needed and totally worth it!
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
Since moving to the U.S. in 2015, most of my holiday time has gone into trips back to France to see family. But lately, a new travel theme has taken over—weddings! My friends have started getting married, so I have been to Mexico City, Milan, Dubai, and I’m gearing up for Uruguay in March 2025.
How many days of annual leave do you take a year?
It varies based on how busy we are, but on average, it’s around 2-3 weeks per year. That said, it’s flexible—I trust my team to keep things moving and cover for me whenever I’m away.
Fortune wants to hear from leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: emma.burleigh@fortune.com.
