The CEO of a healthy aging company shares how she shines with bike to work and diving vacations at work
Today’s CEOs face myriad challenges: a global pandemic and a sea-change in how and where employees choose to show up for work, to name a few. The pressure has never been greater for leaders. How do they mitigate it? In our new series, we ask business leaders about their daily wellness habits to gain insight into the tactics they use to minimize stress and maintain their well-being.
Katie Reed is co-founder and CEO of Balanced, the digital fitness platform for healthy aging. Prior to Balanced, Katie was Engineering Manager at Ro, Software Engineer at Namely, consulting with nonprofits and think tanks on product development strategies.
Coffee or tea? And what do you put in?
I enjoy both – but I’m a daily coffee drinker. I drink my coffee black because I enjoy the taste of quality ground, and honestly I drink too much coffee to keep up the habit when I add extra calories like milk or sugar.
What’s your favorite breakfast?
Coffee. I usually skip breakfast and opt for an early lunch, but if I’m going for a long morning run, I grab an all-bagel, toasted with cream cheese.
Tell us about your workout routine.
I used to have a programmatic approach to fitness, but now as long as I prioritize an active lifestyle, it’s seen as a win. This can be a morning run before work to train for the New York City Marathon, walking or biking instead of driving to work, or a weekend hike with my partner and dog . We also have a culture where we take our own Balanced classes for product experience feedback, which can range from cardio to strength training to stretching.
How many hours do you sleep on a typical night?
On average, I get about 8 hours of sleep. My sleep quality is great, but that wasn’t the case when I was younger. Prioritizing physical activity and not watching movies or working in bed has helped tremendously.
How do you relieve stress?
Having a special community of friends – from laughing to faithfully supporting each other over the years brings me a lot of joy and energy. My Dog is a refreshing reminder to get away from it all. And if I do feel overwhelmed at the moment, nothing helps more than lacing up my running shoes and going outside for a run, either to clear my head or to organize my thoughts.
According to your smartphone, what was your daily average screen time last week?
6 hours, 23 minutes.
Which app do you use the most?
Google Chrome.
When was the last time you took a day off? What did you do?
A few weeks ago I took some time off to get my diving license in Menorca, Spain. I love all things sea related and felt like I was missing out on the entire diving experience. It was fantastic. I’m already dreaming and planning the next diving adventure.
What is your company doing to prioritize employee wellbeing?
Our philosophy is simple: our employees know best about wellness. We offer an ongoing incentive of $100 per month (or $1200 per year) to be used towards health/wellness/fitness products or services that bridge the gap between personal development and research and development.
What’s your favorite treat?
Petee’s cake. All cakes. I own one of her sweatshirts.
Show us a photo of your happy place.
Courtesy of Katie Reed
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