By Wes Flores
As a Managing Partner at a tech consulting firm, my days are a kaleidoscope of meetings, deadlines, and problem-solving. Here’s a glimpse into a particularly busy day filled with various client interactions and project demands.
Once I wake up, I’ll have breakfast, and then consider the types of meetings I have to determine how I should dress. Even though I may be on camera, it matters to dress for the type of sessions and it’s easier to be over dressed than under dressed.
I live in the Central time zone, so I start my workday around 8:00 AM to accommodate clients living on the East Coast. To kickstart my energy, I’ll open a 5-Hour Energy bottle, drinking half of it to boost my productivity. I’ll reserve the rest for a mid-morning pick-me-up; nothing like a strong dose of B-12 to keep you going! I’ll log in to my computer, check my calendar, and catch up on emails to assess any high priority needs or urgent issues.
After assessing needs or urgent issues, I’ll create a list of goals for “today,” “this week,” and “when possible,” along with a separate list of strategic projects. Rebuilding my “today” list daily helps me stay organized and focused, even if I don’t complete everything. I have used this system for my entire career and writing them on good ol’ fashioned paper works well for me, so I guess I am old school like that.
At 9:00 AM, I take a call with one of my offshore leads who has questions. At 9:30 AM I’ll lead a daily stand-up call with both offshore and onshore teams that support a key client. With many moving parts, this call is both intense and engaging, as we discuss project challenges and progress carrying out a data warehouse build based on many different source systems.
After the stand-up, I have a debrief with team leads at 10:30 AM to prepare for another lengthy client call. The process feels like a marathon due to the focus and deep analysis required, considering the many moving parts and changing requirements involved in the project.
At 11:00 AM, I jump on a weekly sync-up call with a different client, a non-profit for the Olympics. This project is smaller but still has many moving parts. The call is productive, and we tackle challenges while keeping everyone updated.
By 11:30 AM, I dive into my daily marathon call scheduled for an hour and a half, discussing the new platform’s architecture and various vendor data source challenges. While I lead these discussions regularly, I collaborate closely with my onshore team to balance responsibilities.
I typically try to eat before this meeting but this day I didn’t have time.
At 1:00 PM, I participate in another call with the finance department heads of a client to discuss financial reporting, which enriches my understanding of project requirements. Following this intense round of meetings, I take a break and check emails around 2:00 PM.
After checking emails, I grab a quick sandwich for lunch, and then return to my office to reassess what I need to tackle next.
At 3:00 PM, a client reaches out to discuss updates from the finance call. We work through contract options as we prepare to extend the project through the end of the year, addressing key follow-ups needed on the details.
Around 4:00 PM, I meet with a colleague on a different project focused on app functionality and process optimization. The project requires agile thinking and continuous discovery, ensuring we can adapt to new findings. While things are moving well, we still identify open questions that require follow-up.
At 4:45 pm, I connect with a partner regarding business development opportunities and the days latest developments. Based on our conversation, I’ll jot down items that need to be tackled for tomorrow, as I wrap up my day.
Though my days can be hectic, I enjoy the challenge of engaging with complex projects and brainstorming solutions. Each day presents new opportunities and hurdles, allowing me to stay agile in my approach to work. Through strategic planning, effective communication, and a bit of caffeine, I navigate my busy days driven by project goals and client needs. I love the challenge and the ever-evolving landscape of my career.
