Melania Edwards is always on the move.
The HSBC exec, who’s part of the bank’s Global Venture Capital Coverage Group, works from two Northern California offices an hour apart. She previously worked across Asia, Europe, and the US training senior executives to lead the international bank by putting them in top roles across different businesses around the globe.
She recently broke down her daily routine for Business Insider. Here’s what her day looks like.
Edwards wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and always kicks off her day with meditation.
“I find that the best way to set the tone for the day ahead is a short meditation where I focus on deep breathing and determine my priorities for the day,” she said.
At 6:30 a.m., she catches up with friends and family
Edwards has lived and worked across Europe, Asia, and the US, so her family and friends are based all over the world. She spends some time in the morning catching up with them on FaceTime.
She eats breakfast — a bowl of fresh fruit or a bottle of green juice — at 7 a.m.
“The healthy Californian lifestyle is contagious,” she said.
At 7:30 a.m., she plays a game of tennis
Before heading to work, Edwards likes to play a game at a court near her home.
She walks to her office in sneakers — they’re a must, as she lives in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, near “the crookedest street in the world,” which features lots of hills.
She gets into the office around 9 a.m
Once Edwards gets into work, her day is full of meetings with venture-capital firms, technology companies, and new startups.
During these meetings, she and her colleagues help these companies identify various ways that they can work with HSBC, from providing them with international banking services to connecting them with HSBC’s digital and investment teams.
Around 10:30 a.m., she meets with tech companies
Edwards talks to emerging tech companies to understand their businesses and match their needs with HSBC’s international banking services.
To Edwards, this is a great opportunity to expand her knowledge in the tech industry.
“It’s exciting to learn about new technologies changing the way live and work,” she said. “Living in the Bay Area exposes me to a plethora of new companies pushing the boundaries.”
It’s time for lunch around noon
To Edwards, lunch is “a time to refuel” after an intense morning at work. Her break usually starts at around noon, and she likes to grab a salad from the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building.
“There is always fresh seasonal produce, and the waterside views refresh me for the rest of the day,” she said.
Around 1:30 p.m., she goes back to work
Back at work, Edwards starts a conference call with her working group. They recently launched HSBC Women on the Rise in Fintech, a program that celebrates and promotes 10 inspiring women in the financial technology space across the US.
“We recognize there is an issue with underrepresentation of women in senior positions within technology, specifically in fintech, so we just wanted to do something to help,” she said.
Later in the evening, Edwards works with an organization in Papua New Guinea to promote women’s economic empowerment in the country
After work, she spends some time drafting proposals for the organization.
“In my spare time, I try to give back,” she said.
A big believer in continuous learning, Edwards is getting a certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship from Stanford University
At 7:30 p.m., she does yoga
Because a lot of her day is spent on her laptop, Edwards likes to fit in a yoga session to stretch and relax. Still, the best way to wind down after a busy day is cooking with her boyfriend and experimenting with new recipes
After dinner, they walk around the neighborhood, which has become their evening ritual
“We walk down the tree-lined University Avenue, reflecting upon our key wins and challenges and preparing for the adventures of the next day,” she said.
Source: www.businessinsider.com
