'Boards are important but they are not your destiny': Former HCL CEO says India’s marks obsession is raising anxious kids, not leaders

Vineet Nayar, former chief executive of HCL Technologies, has argued that India’s fixation on board exam scores is creating anxious teenagers instead of resilient leaders.

Former HCL CEO says Boards are important, but not your destiny

Sharing his own marks statement of the 10th Board exam, the former CEO wrote in bold: “IF BOARD EXAMS DECIDED LIFE, HALF THE CEOs WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED.”

The post quickly gained traction among students and parents.

While acknowledging that board exams matter, Nayar stressed they are not a verdict on one’s future.

“Boards are important. But they are not your destiny,” he wrote, recounting his own moment of crisis at 17 after walking out of a Chemistry exam convinced he had performed poorly. “Full panic mode,” he admitted.

It was a simple question from a cousin that changed his outlook, who asked him, “Will you die if you fail?”

When he replied no, the follow-up hit harder. The cousin asked, “Then why are you treating it as a life and death situation?”

According to the former HCL boss, the shift in mindset allowed him to approach his next Maths exam calmly and succeed.

Drawing a sharp distinction between academic performance and real-world achievement, he wrote: “Exams test memory. Life tests courage.”

In a country where board results often dominate headlines and household conversations, the message from Nayar challenges the belief that marks alone determine long-term success.

"Boards are a level in the game. Not the whole game," he said, encouraging students to prepare diligently but detach from fear. “Life is bigger than one exam,” he reminded them.

"So sleep. Study hard. Give it your best shot. Then accept the result. Life is bigger than one exam."

At a time when exam season anxiety peaks across India, the message from the former HCL CEO could spark confidence and courage in the young generation.

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

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