By: ERIN MICHELE NEWBERG
Partner and global creative director at Wolfgang Puck Worldwide and Fine Dining Group, Gelila Puck shares a day from her packed agenda book.
5 AM: I start every morning by sipping warm lemon water in bed and reflecting on what I am grateful for. I intentionally keep my mornings slow and relaxed so that I can calmly welcome the day…plus I love watching the sunrise.
6 AM: I love the aroma of fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee. We have fresh coffee beans that my mother sends from Ethiopia, which I could not live without. It grounds me and takes me back to my roots, and you cannot imagine the smell. This is when my day really gets going.
6:30 AM: Quick breakfast with my family.
7 AM: I drop my sons off at school. I love milking the mornings with them.
8:30: AM No day is the same, but I love when I can go for a 20-minute walk. If my morning isn’t stacked with meetings, I try to play an hour of tennis! This helps me wake my system up.
10 AM: I am in full work mode in my home office or at the corporate office. As soon as I get to the office, I generally do quick meetings with my team and make a point to prioritize what needs to get done that day. Much of the work I do involves partnerships and collaborations around the world – from Budapest, London, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia, and many other worldwide locations, it is important to stay organized. I must keep my time zones straight and my calendar on point.
2 PM: If I have a lunch meeting, which generally involves philanthropic topics, you can find me at the Hotel Bel-Air. It’s am usually making my way to an artist’s studio or visiting with designers and architects on one of our many projects.
3:30 PM: I am typically doing school pick up. The car ride is where my boys and I really talk and bond. At this point in the day, their schedule drives mine. From sports practice to doctor appointments, I am wherever they need me to be.
5 PM: I am at my home office desk doing some more follow-up emails, Zoom meetings or phone calls.
6 PM: This is when I unwind from my day and detach from technology, as much as possible. It’s a challenge but I do my best. I enjoy the days the kids have tennis lessons. I love to watch them practice and play.
7:30 PM: We generally dine as a family, but it’s often hard with Wolfgang’s schedule and nightly visits to our restaurants. We make an effort to not let work or events get in the way of time.
10 PM: While the kids wrap up homework, I enjoy a bath with Himalayan salt. It’s my ‘me time.’ I reflect on my day, ending it the same way I began, with gratitude. Once in bed, I wind down and find something to watch on Netflix.