In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
In this new hybrid working world, when not travelling I still choose to spend most of my working week in the office. I find it the best way to achieve that separation. Outside ‘normal’ working hours, I would rate my self-discipline in not checking work emails as fair to good. When personal time is interrupted by a call or message, there’s no point getting frustrated: if I’m needed, I’m needed and happy to help. That does change when I’m on leave though, when I do disable emails and mute any work chats. My team know they can get hold of me if they really need to.
What’s one thing you do after the work day to help you unwind?
It’s far from glamorous, but I find my commute home the perfect way to close off my working day. I find it a real challenge to bookend the day when working from home and, to be honest, haven’t yet found the perfect solution.
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
I need an active weekend to truly disconnect. Perhaps it’s the distraction I crave, but I can’t switch off during lazy weekends. A weekend trip somewhere new and exciting works best.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
On my Easter break I read Mary Portas’ Work Like a Woman and it resonated strongly. We are an organisation which very clearly puts our values at the heart of everything we do, not to mention that as a team we’re 87% women.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite third space?
Hove Lawns/Brighton beach, directly in front of my old apartment and essentially my front garden. I moved to the North earlier this year, but clearly haven’t yet ‘moved on’.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
Organisation! Meal prep, cases prepared for business trips, gym sessions planned, the following weekend’s arrangements finalised, an early night.
Best reason you've had to turn your Out of Office on recently?
I continued to travel – when permitted – throughout the pandemic, but had to postpone my favourite trip of the year twice due to lockdown restrictions. Last month, I island-hopped around Greece for two blissful weeks. Working in luxury travel, I’m fortunate to experience the very best of the world, but to genuinely switch off I need to be off the grid and somewhere altogether more rustic and simple.
Your go-to Out of Office outfit: In these glorious summer months, it’s normally a Reiss shirt, shorts from Spoke and Birkenstocks. When overseas the shorts are switched for Orlebar Brown and the shirt for linen from one of the mass market European brands like Mango or Massimo Dutti.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: Anywhere with an incredible sunset view and away from the crowds, whether that’s a rooftop bar in an Asian city, the terrace of a suite in Santorini or a beach shack in the Caribbean. I could create an Instagram account with just these pics.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: A fruits de mer platter at Riddle & Finns in Brighton.
Something you booked recently that you'd recommend: I went to a screening of Swan Song followed by a Q&A with the director. It’s exactly my kind of movie – indie, funny, and packs a punch.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: I’d like to get my Spanish back up to scratch. If I can ever justify a sabbatical, I plan to decamp to Seville and immerse myself in the language again.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Good luggage. For me, it’s always Rimowa.
Best luxury under £25: A martini from the Connaught Bar Martini Trolley.
