In this edition of Workflow, we have Debs Majumdar, General Manager of Digital Product at GroupM, talking about his Marie Kondo-style workspace.
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Describe what you do: By day, I’m the General Manager of Digital Product at GroupM – the world’s leading media investment company responsible for one in three ads. I lead a group of talented product managers, project managers and data engineers to deliver solutions to our agencies and clients.
By night, I’m a hands on dad of two girls aged seven and 5, fitness enthusiast and amateur home renovator.
How do you like your coffee: Week days: strong long black, with a dash of cream. Weekends: skim cappuccino.
Devices you use:
- 13” Macbook Air
- Thunderbolt display
- Magic trackpad
- 12.9” iPad Pro
- Beats Studio³
- iPhone 11
Describe your working style in one sentence: Focused yet flexible: I’m in a business which is always on (actually, who isn’t?), so I ensure my environment is clutter free and I’m always focused on outcomes, rather than misspent time doing meaningless tasks.
What does your workspace look like: I was Marie Kondo in a previous life. My office, both work & home, is often clutter free and generally clean. I find myself the most productive when everything has a place and unnecessary knickknacks are far away.
Not just for work, but also my personal life. Life in COVID lockdown means our ‘home offices’ have evolved into multifunctional spaces where we work, do life admin & act as another social hub for helping kids with homework etc.
I recently purchased a custom Galen Leather desk blotter from Turkey. It helps my gear grip the desk, but is also such a sleek piece of desk candy.
How does your workspace affect your creative process: I’m a firm believer of clean desk clean mind. You don’t need to have the most high tech gear or spacious of office spaces, but you can always maximise the space you have.
I also find minimizing my clutter helps me focus. I’m a bit of a fidgeter so if I ever have papers or other objects on the table, I’ll find myself playing with it and losing concentration.
Finally, I love being connected to my family / other people in the house while I work. So ensuring I have plenty of natural light, ventilation and still being able to hear murmurs in the other room without being totally distracted.
Do you have a favourite playlist for work: I have the most incredibly eclectic taste in music, especially when it comes to work and the tasks I’m doing.
- Admin – Hip Hop workout
- Budgeting, numbers or anything in Excel – Mood (Apple Music RnB)
- Strategic & planning – Classical Piano – Erik Satie Essentials
Who would you like to nominate for the next workflow interview: Dr. Juan Franco, GroupM Chief Analytics Officer AUNZ.
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