Walpole: In a world where we’re always available, how do you separate your personal time from your work time?
François Mare: I organise my time into dedicated slots, otherwise I end up juggling too many things at once. It's amazing what you can achieve with your time if you have a focus – even if it’s just an hour before work. I could do more to separate my time, but I help myself by only checking my personal phone at the weekend.
What’s one thing you do after the workday to help you unwind?
Cooking allows me to completely unwind, and turn my focus to my family. Whether I’m on my own or my daughters help me, I like being creative with what we eat. As we’re in mushroom season, I have been making lasagna with ceps!
What activity do you do in your time away from the office that helps you relax and recentre after a stressful week?
Running in the forest (regardless of the weather) and reading magazines. I usually run close to home in Bois de Vincennes, which is the largest park in Greater Paris. As soon as I’m in the fresh air, I’m transported away from the noisy city and feel calm. Then I reconnect with an architecture, travel or economics magazine like Architectural Digest, ELLE Decoration or L’Officiel.
What’s something you’ve read, listened to, or seen in your spare time that’s helped you at work?
Podcasts are great for when I’m commuting or travelling. Thinkerview, a French talk show, has a catalogue of inspiring guests that I dip into. I sometimes read Harvard Business Review and I enjoy classical music, so I often listen to Bach in and outside of work. That usually triggers inspiration.
After home and the office, where’s your favourite ‘third space’?
I love anywhere that brings me closer to nature. It doesn’t have to be miles from the office – it could be a small park or even a garden. When I have the time, my absolute favourite spots to visit are the Christian Dior Gardens in Granville, on the west coast of France, Paris' botanical garden and Forêt de Rambouillet, which is just west of Paris.
On Sunday night, how do you prepare yourself for the week ahead?
Organisation, organisation, organisation. This is the last moment in the week when work and personal life cross over, so I use the time to look at my calendar for the next few days, and make slots in my calendar for things that I need to prioritise. The clearer I am about what’s coming up, the better I feel. Once I know that I’m organised, I feel excited about the week ahead.
Best reason you've had to turn your out of office on recently?
The Paris Olympics. Colleagues had told me how fantastic the London Olympics were so I seized the opportunity to get tickets in Paris. It was amazing how much I could pack into a day!
Your go-to out of office outfit: Jeans, a white shirt, a dark blue jacket and Dior parfum. No outfit is complete without your fragrance.
Your happy place anywhere in the world: I’ve had amazing holidays in Marstrand in Sweden. It’s a small seaport town which is great for water sports.
Your favourite bar or restaurant: Bonnie Paris, a bar and club with an unbeatable rooftop view. Depending on my mood, I order the Berries & Co Cocktail or a Bonnie 75 – both are amazing.
Something cultural or sporting you booked recently that you'd recommend: I recently went to La Galerie Dior – it’s not the first time I’ve been, and I know it won’t be the last. It is a fantastic exhibition that celebrates Parisian fashion and how the world inspired this
movement.
Something you've listened to or read recently that you'd recommend: Selected Poems by Rudyard Kipling. I felt transported to a fantastic world in which his characters provoke humanisation. An amazing piece of music I recently returned to was Antonio Vivaldi's 'Cantate, RV 684 "Cessate, ormai cessate": II. Ah, ch'infelice sempre'. Vivaldi is so full of energy. Despite being centuries old, his music appears modern and creative.
A hobby you'd like to cultivate: Singing – at the moment it’s limited to my kitchen when cooking.
A luxury that’s actually a necessity: Your favourite perfume; it leaves a part of you long after you have left.
Best luxury under £25: A generous smile and a first flush Darjeeling from Mariage Frères.
