At Kovai.co, our mission is to empower businesses with solutions that enhance their operations and customer experience. Our Vice President of Sales, Gowri Ramkumar, plays a pivotal role in ensuring our goals are met, leading a global team with precision and dedication.
Below she gives you a glimpse into a typical day in her life, offering insights into how she balances leadership, productivity, and personal well-being.
Starting My Day with a Plan
I kick off my day by checking my calendar, identifying meetings that require preparation, and noting any follow-up actions. This helps me structure my day around key commitments—whether they’re with my team or customers. Once I have my day mapped out, I fit in other tasks like reviewing team goals and providing feedback on customer calls.
Optimizing My Meetings
I’ve learned to concentrate most of my meetings on specific days to maintain efficiency. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are packed with back-to-back meetings until around 3:30 pm. Mondays are reserved for weekly reviews and team catch-ups, which we call “level 10s.” Fridays, however, are strictly no-meeting days, dedicated to deep work without interruptions.
For interviews, I schedule them early in the morning, around 5-6:30 am UK time (9:30-11 am India time). By the time my official workday starts at 9 am, I’ve already ticked off an important task, leaving the rest of the day for other responsibilities.
Fitting in Ad Hoc Work and Personal Projects
In addition to managing my team, I host Document360’s flagship podcast, Knowledge Base Ninjas. I use tools like Calendly to manage my schedule, typically opening up slots for recordings between Tuesday and Thursday. Flexibility is key, but having a plan helps me stay on track.
Recharging Between Meetings
With a packed schedule, taking time to recharge is essential. I take a 45-minute walk every day between 1 pm and 2 pm and make sure no meetings are scheduled during this hour. This daily walk is my time to get fresh air, stay active, and clear my head before diving into the next round of meetings.
Achieving Work-Life Balance
I don’t believe in drawing a strict line between work and life. If you love what you do, there’s no need to completely disconnect. I leave the office by 5 pm to pick up my kids from school, then take a 2-3 hour break to spend time with them, serve dinner, and help them settle down. Around 7:30 pm, I switch my laptop back on to check emails, spending 2-3 hours replying, listing action items, and giving approvals where needed. This routine ensures I’m always on top of things before the day ends.
Weekends for Hobbies and Personal Growth
Weekends are my time to recharge and focus on personal growth. I catch up on reading about team management and customer relationships, and I listen to podcasts on these topics while doing chores. I also make sure to pursue my hobbies like learning classical dance and crochet. These activities help me relax and rejuvenate, giving me something to look forward to and keeping me open to learning new things.
Ensuring I Get Enough Rest
No matter how busy the day gets, I always make sure to switch off my laptop by 10:30 pm. Getting at least six to seven hours of sleep is crucial for me to stay energized and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. I also have a physical trainer who comes in three times a week, ensuring I stay physically fit.
Conclusion
Balancing work, personal time, and self-care is challenging, but with a little planning and flexibility, it’s possible. I hope sharing my daily routine helps others find ways to make their schedules more productive and fulfilling.
