- Christine Trodella is the director of B2B commercial sales for Reality Labs at Meta, formerly Facebook.
- She starts the workday early to catch up on messages from clients in different time zones.
- This is how she plans her morning routine, as told to writer Robin Madell.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christine Trodella, the director of B2B commercial sales for Reality Labs at Meta (formerly Facebook). It has been edited for length and clarity.
My workday varies based on my meeting schedule, but I typically get up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. I like to get going early for a headstart on the day before the rest of my household wakes up.
If I'm working from home, I put the morning news on in the background while I get ready for the day. If I'm in my car commuting to the office, I listen to the New York Times' "The Daily" podcast.
My team is globally dispersed and I speak with customers from all over the world
As head of B2B commercial sales for Reality Labs at Meta, I manage teams that work with international clients who use our products. Reality Labs encompasses Meta's team of researchers, developers, and engineers who work on virtual and augmented reality products, which include our Workplace, Quest, and Portal products.
Communicating during our clients' working hours when we can is crucial because it helps us be more efficient, serve them in a timely manner, and maintain strong relationships.
After I'm caught up on what happened in other time zones while I slept, I have a better sense of what I need to prioritize that morning
Depending on what my focus is, my day begins by checking in with a number of my coworkers, bosses, reports, or clients. I scan my Workplace chats, WhatsApp messages, and emails and spend 15 to 30 minutes responding to messages and modifying my to-do list or calendar as needed.
I reply to a lot of chats and emails pretty quickly at the start of my day, but I also really value quality communication with my team and make it a point to schedule dedicated one-on-ones and group meetings.
The pandemic has inspired me to take more breaks throughout the day
If I have a packed schedule or morning full of back-to-back meetings, I like to break up the day by taking walks. I often switch off my camera and take walks during one-on-one meetings because it allows me to focus fully on what the other person is saying without any distractions on my phone or computer.
I encourage everyone on my team to do the same — besides the benefits of fresh air and exercise, getting outside can make a huge difference in unlocking creativity.
Talking walks also helps me organize my thoughts. If I have an upcoming speech or presentation, on my walks I'll think about key points and practice in my head.
I keep my to-do list written on a pad on my desk
There's nothing more satisfying than physically scratching a task off of that list.
In addition to my pen-and-paper to-do list, I use Outlook on my laptop and phone to keep track of meetings and certain tasks. When I'm at my desk, having a second screen with my Portal device allows me to jump into meetings without having to click in and out of tabs.
I'm currently enjoying the flexibility of working from home
But as things begin to open up again, I plan on spending a few days a week in the office. I'm a people person, so besides the change of scenery, I know it will be invigorating for me to get to physically be with my colleagues after more than two years apart. It's the best of both worlds.