Synthesia CEO's Daily Routine: From Joe & The Juice to $4B AI Unicorn

Victor Riparbelli, the CEO and cofounder of Synthesia, has built a daily routine that balances disciplined productivity with personal indulgences. His morning begins between 8 and 8:30 a.m., though he admits he wishes he were one of those 5 a.m. people.

After showering, he heads straight to the office, aiming to avoid checking his phone before leaving his apartment—a goal he achieves about 75% of the time. He doesn't eat in the morning, preferring to arrive at the office around 9:30 a.m.

Once settled, he immediately reviews messages, emails, and overnight communications. His most important ritual is his commute: biking to and from the office most days, weather permitting.

Unless the weather is terrible, I prefer to bike to and from the office most days. That's my most important ritual.

The early morning hours are sacred for deep work. Riparbelli deliberately keeps his schedule free of meetings during this window, typically from 9:30 a.m. until noon, to allow time for processing and creative thinking.

While working across US time zones makes this challenging, he generally protects this period. During these hours, he focuses on interviews, product development, and internal thinking.

Despite Synthesia's growth to a $4 billion valuation, he remains deeply involved in product details, focusing his input where it's most valuable. A significant portion of this time is spent reading Slack messages.

He makes a genuine effort to read almost everything daily, skimming most content without reacting to every notification. This practice helps him understand what's happening across the company.

• Product development and interviews
• Internal thinking and strategy
• Reading Slack for company-wide updates
• Staying close to product details

Synthesia's internal communication operates entirely on Slack—not by policy, but by cultural practice. No one uses email for internal correspondence, making Slack the primary channel for company-wide communication.

For external communication, Riparbelli splits his time between email and WhatsApp, with a strong preference for instant messaging depending on the relationship.

His cofounder, Steffen Tjerrild (now Chief Operating Officer), and he have divided business responsibilities. Riparbelli runs product, technology, and marketing, while Tjerrild oversees finance, operations, and sales.

Riparbelli is typically involved at the VP level for areas outside his direct domain, but goes deeper into director-level and above matters on his side of the business when it makes sense.

I make a real effort to read almost everything every day. Spending half an hour going through Slack is one of the best ways for me to understand what's actually happening across the company.

Lunch happens at noon, typically a Joe & The Juice club sandwich or salad. Riparbelli actually worked at Joe & The Juice early in his career, so he's been eating their food for years and still loves it.

He doesn't take a formal lunch break, usually eating on the go or at his desk, finishing by around 12:30 p.m.

Afternoons follow a consistent pattern. When based in London, the US workday begins in the second half of his day, filling his calendar with international meetings. The work remains consistent: product development, hiring, and external-facing responsibilities.

He has an assistant who helps manage his schedule, including some personal life overlap. He also makes a point to speak with at least one user or customer weekly to stay connected to how people actually use the product.

• Club sandwich from Joe & The Juice
• Eaten at desk or on the go
• Finished by 12:30 p.m.
• International meetings in afternoon

Riparbelli typically leaves the office between 7 and 8 p.m. Three or four nights a week, he goes to the gym before heading home to unwind. About half the time, he works another hour or two later in the evening.

Dinner is usually quick. Living alone, he mostly orders in, though occasionally cooks eggs with bacon and avocado. When ordering, he prefers simple meals like chicken and fries.

He tries to eat healthily and avoid late meals, as this significantly impacts his energy—especially problematic since he describes himself as a bad sleeper.

At night, when not working, he reads or makes music. He doesn't watch much TV but enjoys serious sci-fi films like "Interstellar" and "Arrival," as well as Stanley Kubrick movies like "A Clockwork Orange."

I try to eat fairly healthy and avoid eating too late because it has a big impact on my energy, especially since I'm a bad sleeper.

Riparbelli's routine demonstrates how structured discipline enables creative leadership at scale. His approach combines protected deep work time with direct communication channels and personal rituals that maintain energy.

The Synthesia CEO's method shows that even at a $4 billion valuation, staying connected to product details and employees through skip-level conversations remains crucial for effective leadership.

His evening habits reveal a balance between work and personal interests, with reading and music providing mental decompression. The sleep hack of falling asleep to podcasts or YouTube videos on physics or philosophy demonstrates his practical approach to personal challenges.

Ultimately, his routine proves that successful leadership isn't about working the longest hours, but about protecting creative time, maintaining direct connections, and balancing productivity with personal well-being.