24 hours with... Harikrishnan Pillai

Name: Harikrishnan Pillai

Role: CEO and co-founder, TheSmallBigIdea

Professional mantra: I have several because I always like to think two steps ahead. This includes what's next? What's the next big technology or thing to focus on? What's the next big move one needs to make to keep employees engaged?

Personal mantra: Don't get overjoyed by success or get pulled down by failure; just live in the present. Whether it is good or bad, nothing lasts for long. Just enjoy or deal with the moment and move on in life.

7:00—7:30am: After waking up, I full focus the next hour on my three-year-old daughter. This involves a lot of chatting, some bit of play and half-baked attempts to get her to meditate.

8:30—10:00am: I drop off my daughter to the school bus and head to the gym. Post my workout, I get ready for work.

10:45—11:00am: Upon reaching my office, I start with my daily reviews. This serves as a crucial foundation for the day ahead.

11:00—1:00pm: Back-to-back internal meetings are lined up pre-decided 20-minute formats. These structured discussions are essential for aligning our team's efforts and ensuring smooth operations.

1:00—5:00pm: This time is usually dedicated to external meetings.

5:00—7:30pm: Upon my return to the office, I continue with internal meetings, prepare for the next day, and respond to emails.

7:30—9:30pm: I usually go for a swim on a good day, and on a bad day, I just go home, watch some shows. If my daughter is awake, then it’s family time again.

10:30—11:00pm To reflect on the day's accomplishments and challenges, I journal how the day went. And then it’s lights off!