24 hours with… Priti Murthy

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: Priti Murthy

Job: President, GroupM Nexus

My mantra: Living in the attitude of gratitude

5:30am: Before I embark on the humdrum of daily routine, I take 10 minutes to centre around myself and focus on gratitude. I like to start my day with a positive mindset. I strongly believe when we approach life with a spirit of thankfulness, everything seems a little brighter and full of possibilities. Post that I freshen up to prepare my son for his school.

6-7am: One of my first tasks is to wake my son and see him off to his school bus which usually arrives around 6:45. 

7-8am: After seeing my son off to school, I like to kick-start my own day with a little exercise. Whether it's a short stroll around the neighbourhood or a quick workout at the gym, I find it very energising. And once I've worked up a bit of a sweat, I like to catch up with my husband over a cup of tea. This is our special time as a couple - a chance to connect and reflect on the things that matter to us. 

8-9am: Time to move so, I get ready for work and leave home. Since work is a good 30-40 min drive I usually listen to some music or catch up on social media to help clear my head and get in the right mindset. It's a small but important part of my morning routine, and it helps me arrive at work feeling focused and ready to take on the world. 

9.30-1pm: Most days I have a tight schedule with back-to-back meetings, but I ensure that I keep a slot for a coffee catchup with team members. Even if it's just for 10 or 15 minutes, it's a chance to check in, share ideas, and build relationships beyond the confines of our daily tasks. I like to engage with people, and I derive my energy from them. By staying connected with my team in this way, I feel inspired and exhilarated.  

1:00 pm: No workday would be complete without a break for lunch. And for me, this is a time I always look forward to. Around midday, 10-12 of my colleagues and I huddle together with our dabbas (lunch boxes) and enjoy a real-life buffet of home-cooked food. It's a chance to share stories, catch up on the latest news, and simply enjoy each other's company. And of course, savour our meals together.

2-6pm: Time for more calls and discussions. So, I dive into key discussions as the head of the division delivering excellence, I like to be on top of things happening across the teams. We are always on our toes devising new strategies to synergise with cross-functional teams. 

6:00 pm: I like to head back home and take my remainder calls for the day while in transit.

7-8pm: Time to attend to matters at home. I switch modes and embrace home mode with gusto. I try to wind up my day by 8 pm as I value my family time the most and that’s the only time, I can create memories with them.

8-9:30pm: This time is reserved for my son. This is the most treasured time where we talk about his school and friends and of course share stories from our day. We read books, play some games, and this way I traverse back to my childhood. Kids are the best stress busters and when you have a 9-year-old chatterbox you don’t need to look for any other avenues to unwind. I feel it’s important to connect with him not for his sake but for mine as well. 

9:30 pm: After my son sleeps me and my husband watch television and that’s how I like to end my day with a little bit of light entertainment and we time.

11:00 pm: I take a last glance at my mails and generally crash by this time.