Jules Robertson is the co-founder of Tally Workspace, a flexible workplace solution for teams where you can meeting rooms, hot desks, and private offices – wherever, whenever.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I started my working life in ship broking (lots of pirates and politics) in London and then in singapore. There is a lot of amazing innovation in the shipping industry currently but at the time I found it a bit stuffy and so I decided to do an MBA to see what else was out there.

I then worked for an amazing startup (well it was a startup at the time) called Soldo where I learnt lots from their founder, the serial entrepreneur, Carlo.

My co-founder Laura and I started Tally Workspace as a side hustle during lockdown but have been working on it full time with our amazing team for almost a year now.

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

I am a morning person so I like to get as much done before my brain turns off at 6pm.

I am addicted to Slack, so I will start in the morning checking slack and emails in bed. I will then head to a spin class, before going to work from one of thousands of workspaces on Tally Workspace.

We meet as a team on Monday and Fridays but on other days, I will book to work from a coworking space near to my house in Shoreditch or I will go check out a recently added venue.

This week I am excited to try our Warner Yards. I am trying to meet more people in person now that we can but my day is normally filled with customer meetings, checking in with the team and interviews.

I also spend a lot of time on the phone to Laura. I try to time block my diary to allow for deep work and keep on meaning to try a no meeting day. I will read a subjectively cringeworthy sales or account management book on the way home for our recently started Tally Workspace book club.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Tally Workspace was born out of the need for flexibility in workplace location. We are strong believers in that you should work where you work best and for the type of work you are doing at the time.

I am a strong believer in in-person collaboration, preferably in exciting spaces designed to inspire and excite. Equally, we all sometimes need a day of focused work in a quiet space. I don’t have a good space in my flat (like many others) and so I like to work from local coworking spaces or one that is convenient for me that day.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

As a founder, I definitely do not have as much time as I used to to socialise which I think is important to accept. Work-life balance to me means saying no, sometimes even when you don’t have anything else on.

It means prioritising and learning how to turn off when you are not working. It also means listening to your body – some days you just won’t be able to do as much as others and that is a good thing.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

I have stopped doing yoga and taken up spinning which I love – to me it’s like clubbing but at my favourite time of day – first thing in the morning. I have also taken up long walks even when I don’t have anywhere to go. I have given up completing my emails or completing WhatsApp.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

I start every sentence with ‘I was listening to a podcast and…’ I highly recommend The Daily, Invisibilia, Soul Music and 99% invisible. I love Harry’s marketing newsletter and the one by Matt Learner – they always make you think!

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

My MacBook and AirPods (v predictable, I’m sorry!). Also my Nutribullet – my housemate has really perfected the chocolate smoothie and I am so very grateful to her for this!

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?

My grandparents from the 40/50s when there were no laptops or iPhone. I can’t even begin to imagine.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

Work-life balance is different every day. It is also not just about your balance, it is about everyone else’s too, it is about your familys, your friends and your colleagues.

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