24 hours with... Utsav Malhotra

Ever wondered what an ideal day in the life of someone from advertising/marketing/media is? We're here to spill the beans on it.

Every Tuesday, we'll have a person from the advertising/marketing/media industry profiled in this section.  

Name: Utsav Malhotra

Job: chief operating officer, Noise

Professional and personal mantra: Every day can be extraordinary 

6am: My day starts early. I wake up at 6 am and spend some time with myself focusing on setting a positive tone for the day. This helps me approach each day with a sense of enthusiasm and clarity. More importantly, this is the time I use to clear the pile of emails. The 40min spent in the morning is the most productive since I get nearly 400 mails a day. This is followed by the usual morning routines.

6:30-7am: I take some time to consume the news and everything else that is happening in our industry. In the business we are in, staying out of loop is not even an option.

7-8am: My family is the most important part of my life and I always try to be as involved as I can be. This is the hour when I cherish a quiet moment with my wife over a cup of coffee, where we discuss our plans, goals, and share our thoughts on various matters. Breakfast is a family ritual and we all attempt for a huddle at the breakfast table. 

8-9am: I get ready for work and leave home. I prefer driving on my own as the commute only takes about 20min. 

9:30am to 1pm: As the COO of Noise, my mornings are often filled with back-to-back meetings. I collaborate with various teams to discuss ongoing projects, review progress, and provide guidance and support where needed.

1pm: Lunchtime is an essential part of my workday. I believe in the power of shared meals to foster team unity and create a positive work environment. Alongside a group of colleagues, I enjoy a diverse range of homemade meals. My meals are a mix of traditional Indian food and/or some sandwiches. However, I do not shy away from indulging in a scrumptious cheat meal from time to time.

2-5pm: This is the time reserved for more meetings, where we plan the product and design strategies for the future. Most of our key decisions are made in these sessions, which lay a foundation for what happens throughout the year.

5-7pm: I keep this time reserved for casual conversations with my team, where they can come up to me for work-related conversations and otherwise. The focus is on understanding their goals and plans and resolving the issues that they might be facing in any way. This is also the time for any external interactions, interviews etc.

7-7:30pm: I conclude my workday at the office and head home. During this time, I make use of the commute to take care of any remaining phone calls or catch up on urgent matters if any.

8pm: Once I arrive home, I become the quintessential family man. I believe in the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I devote this time to attending to matters at home, be it helping with household tasks or spending quality time with my family.

8-9pm: Dinner with family is non-negotiable and I never miss out on it. This is the time I get to catch up with my parents, and I value this over everything else.

9-10pm: I spend some we-time with my wife and we try watching something on the Telly together. With the OTT revolution in India, there's always something interesting to indulge in and I try to stay updated.

10-11pm: I read a book/e-book or some other content that's related to the art culture of India and the world. I stay active in the art community and take this time to know what it is up to. There are days when it's replaced with quality chat with the wifey which is equally rewarding if not more. 

11:30pm: I go to sleep and make sure I am well-rested for the next day.