As deputy digital editor Katie O’Malley must wear a lot of hats, and we’re not talking the Gucci kind. From multi-tasking between writing features and editing video content to liaising with sales and commercial teams on new deals, she talks us through a typical working day and how she’s finding a better work-life balance with the rise of hybrid working...
From Monday to Friday my alarm goes off at 5.45am. Yup, I’m one of those people. I’ve always been an early riser, but after investigating the mental, social and physical benefits of joining the ‘5am Club’ for a recent ELLE feature, I now couldn’t think of anything worse than a ‘lie-in’ before work. Sunrise is when I think of my best feature ideas, get caught up on social media for potential news stories on my MatePad tablet and get a real sense of achievement before the day has begun. It's great for my current flexible working situation, split between office life and the comfort of my couch.
I always get dressed straight into my gym kit which I lay out every night before going to bed. At my morning class, we’ll either do a mixture of cardio and HIIT workouts or a resistance session. I love exercise and I’m always willing to test out the latest workout.
I get back home around 7.15am, shower, get dressed – usually into something comfy like a Ganni shirt and a pair of Reformation jeans – and make an iced coffee with oat milk before sitting down to start work at 8am. After a quick catch up with my team, I follow up on emails and write up a to-do list for the day in the notes section of my tablet. I’m forever writing endless notes as I find organisation is key to keeping up with my ever-changing schedule so it's great that I can carry it around with me so easily.
It’s a cliché, but working from home during the pandemic has transformed my day-to-day life. Prior to the health crisis, I largely worked an office job from the Hearst Europe HQ in Leicester Square, London. Fast forward 18 months and I can now successfully work through my to-do list from the comfort of my own home, which has made finding a better work-life balance much more attainable.
Employees have been awarded choices and freedoms long dreamed about. I look forward to seeing offices become more open to diverse opinions of how employees ‘should’ and can work.
The rise in hybrid working, splitting time between home and the office, is definitely a good thing. With the ability to conduct meetings from different locations – and even time zones – hybrid working means I’m also able to make my personal life – and my wellbeing – much more of a priority, whether that means choosing comfortable clothing for a day’s work or transcribing an interview from my local park.
Better yet, I no longer have to feel tethered to my laptop. Innovative new gadgets, like the Huawei MatePad Pro and the detachable keyboard, means I can stay productive, creative and mobile throughout the day - and it comes everywhere with me. From answering last-minute emails and taking Zoom calls, to using the M-Pencil to scribble down notes, the MatePad has everything I need to stay connected, even when I'm working remotely. Plus, its long-life battery means I never have to carry a charger.
One moment I could be pitching a feature and interviewing experts, writing an opinion piece for our Digital Voices section, liaising with the sales and commercial team on new partnership deals, or interviewing a celebrity (past names include Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Hudson), editing video content, moderating panel discussions, or trawling through data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports.
When it comes to uploads for things like the Met Gala or the Oscars, you need to make sure technology is not going to fail you at the last moment. What Huawei is doing is making sure that productivity and flexibility is key. When I'm doing a presentation with my colleagues or an interview, it's so difficult to share your screen, so it's great having that dual functionality that you can rely on, which is so rare when it comes to technology and is a complete essential for everyone's current working circumstances.
I like to switch up my location during the day and in the pandemic found that working in a café – surrounded by the buzz of locals chattering and the smell of roasted Arabica beans – to be a real boon. My tablet also effortlessly turns into a sleek laptop when you hook it up to the smart keyboard, which makes writing up features much easier on the go.
I’ve always been fascinated by communication and other people’s stories, which inspired me to study a BA in languages at university and later an MA in journalism. After several internships, I landed a junior position at a weekly print magazine before moving to ELLE.
Last year we launched the magazine’s Social Mobility Mentorship Program, which sees editors mentoring students, aged 16-21, interested in a career in publishing.
In interviews, it’s important to embrace awkward pauses and listen out for the unexpected line that could become an original news story. Too often people are too focused on moving conversations on as quickly as possible than delving deeper into a story – always delve deeper!
I’ve tried to scale back my social calendar since the world ‘opened up’ a bit more after the pandemic. Not long ago there was a time when I’d try to fill every night with dinners and drinks with friends, new exercise classes and work events, resulting in constant burnout and fatigue.
Fortunately, the pandemic has reminded me of the importance of balance, so after work, I’ll either cook dinner with my partner and sit down to watch the latest must-see Netflix series, head to a new restaurant with a friend, or attend my weekly run club. I normally get into bed around 10pm and fall asleep almost instantly.
Keeping on top of your work while you’re on the move is easier said than done, but the Huawei MatePad Pro – with crystal-clear display and multi-screen collaboration – helps you to stay productive wherever you are. To find out more, visit consumer.huawei.com/uk
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
