- Christine Trodella is Director of B2B Business Sales for Reality Labs in Meta, formerly Facebook.
- Start the workday early to catch up on messages from customers in different time zones.
- This is how he plans his morning routine, as he tells the writer Robin Madell.
This essay as stated is based on a conversation with cristina trodellathe Director of B2B Business Sales for Reality Labs at Meta (formerly Facebook). It has been edited for length and clarity.
My workday varies depending on my meeting schedule, but I typically get up between 6am and 7am. I like to leave early to get a head start on the day before the rest of my household wakes up.
If I’m working from home, I put the morning news in the background while I get ready for the day. If I’m in my car going to the office, I listen to “The Daily” podcast from the New York Times.
My team is spread all over the world and I talk to clients from all over the world.
As the head of B2B commercial sales for Reality Labs in Meta, I manage teams that work with international clients who use our products. Reality Labs encompasses Meta’s team of researchers, developers, and engineers working on virtual and augmented reality products, including our Workplace, Quest, and Portal products.
Communicating during our clients’ business hours when we can is crucial because it helps us be more efficient, serve them in a timely manner, and maintain strong relationships.
After catching up on what happened in other time zones while I slept, I have a better idea of what I need to prioritize that morning.
Depending on what my focus is, my day begins by communicating with various of my co-workers, bosses, reports, or clients. I scan my Workplace chats, WhatsApp messages, and emails, spending 15-30 minutes responding to messages and adjusting my to-do list or calendar as needed.
I respond to a lot of chats and emails fairly quickly at the start of my day, but I also place a high value on quality communication with my team and make a point of scheduling dedicated one-on-one and group meetings.
The pandemic has inspired me to take more breaks throughout the day.
If I have a tight schedule or a morning full of back-to-back meetings, I like to break up the day by going for walks. I often turn off my camera and go for a walk during one-on-one meetings because it allows me to fully focus on what the other person is saying without distractions on my phone or computer.
I encourage everyone on my team to do the same: In addition to the benefits of fresh air and exercise, getting outside can make a world of difference in unlocking creativity.
Talking walks also helps me organize my thoughts. If I have an upcoming speech or presentation, on my walks I will think about the key points and practice in my head.
I keep my to-do list written on a pad at my desk
There is nothing more satisfying than physically erasing a task from that list.
In addition to my pencil-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 currently enjoy the flexibility of working from home.
But as things start to open up again, I plan to spend a few days a week in the office. I’m a people person, so apart from the change of scenery, I know it will be invigorating for me to be able to physically be with my colleagues after more than two years apart. It’s the best of both worlds.