24 hours with…CNN International's Sonali Chatterjee

Name Sonali Chatterjee

Job Sales Director, India & South Asia, CNN International

Professional Mission To give 100% and more to build the brand image of CNN with our partners and audiences, and lead a team that is committed, focused, dedicated and knowledgeable.

Personal Mantra Life is too short, live and let live

05:30 Wake up to the alarm, rouse my daughter, first cup of tea, first check of overnight mails, responding to mails from the APAC offices if urgent

06:30 Say bye to daughter leaving for school and husband leaving for yoga and then settle down with the newspapers, note any items of interest for the sales team. Banish all thoughts of going to the gym.

07:30 Get ready for office. Second cup of tea and cryptic crossword in the business paper, cannot start the day without it.

08:15 Leave for work after settling the menu routine for the day. Read in the car.

09:00 Start off with the working day, respond to mails, read the trade websites, watch CNNI.

10:00 Conference call, meetings / calls with CNN advertising sales team, revenue forecasting, catch up with boss in Singapore / Hong Kong.

13:00 15 minute break for lunch, meet with colleagues, catch up on industry news.

14:00 Leave for meetings if any, organize travel schedule to the other offices, prepare for key presentations, check on daughter’s schedule for the afternoon.

16:00 Speak with colleagues in PR and Marketing, and correspond with the CNN Europe offices as their day starts.

17:00 Once a week, conference call with CNN International’s advertising sales teams across Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and London to discuss sponsorship opportunities. Wind up office work.

18:30 Start for home, pick up groceries if needed, speak with friends to firm up some social activities for the weekend.

19:30 Reach home, spend some time with my daughter’s projects and homework, supervise dinner preparations, finally settle down for a drink with husband while watching the news channels.

20:30 Dinner time, am regaled with stories of my daughter’s social life which is certainly more interesting than mine, sigh and decide against dessert.

21:00 Quick check on movie channels to see what’s on air. Sit with my BlackBerry to liaise with the CNN US offices on commercial clearances and aob. 

23:00 Mails over, movie over, reading over, start counting sheep after setting the alarm for the next day. What a life.