Applied Intuition is worth $15 billion. The CEO still wants staff to clean their own office.

Qasar Younis cofounded a company that's worth $15 billion. He still asks his employees to clean their own desks.

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• Qasar Younis, the CEO of Applied Intuition, said he asks employees to wipe down their own desks.
• Workers are also asked to remove their shoes at the front door.
• Younis said the practices — and a weekly "cleaning zen" period — lead to better products.

At many Silicon Valley startups, growth is fueled by venture capital and free...