Maria Binu

7.15 AM

My alarm went off around 30 minutes ago, but I'm still cozy in bed, scrolling through my phone. The realisation hits that I need to get out of bed soon, or else the bus will leave without me. Hastily, I throw on my work attire, add a touch of makeup, and pack my work bag, speed walking to catch the bus just across the road.

9.00 AM

Pressing the top floor on the elevator never gets old. In the office, I settle into my favourite spot, which is by the window showcasing the breathtaking view of Sydney. After sorting through emails and organising my calendar, I prioritise tasks to kick off my day.

9.30 AM

I go on a delightful coffee run with colleagues for a nice break. A stroll to the café, my usual Chai Latte, and engaging conversations with colleagues from different departments on the new projects coming up and our interests. While coming back to our seats, I caught up with my previous project manager and we chatted about upcoming new project opportunities that interested me, setting the stage for potential future involvement.

10.00 AM

My first meeting is with my current project manager, to discuss the ongoing data governance uplift project. It kicks off with the usual casual banter as we chat about the coffee and our weekend plans. Then, we review our progress, identify areas for improvement, and align tasks with client requirements to make sure we are working well with the project timeline. I diligently take all the notes in my trusted notebook which only I can understand. We always make sure to discuss our priorities and workloads for the week to make sure we are not overloading ourselves.

11.00 AM

Post-meeting, follow-up emails to clients are sent, and I get started on the high-priority items. Updating the client status pack and crafting a preliminary client presentation is first on my list. Using my meeting notes, I lay out the high-level presentation layout with key headings. I couldn't decide which slide design looked better so I asked my colleagues sitting next to me for advice. This leads to a humorous debate over which slide design is better.

12.30 PM

It's finally lunchtime. As usual, I forgot to pack my lunch so I walked with a few others to the food court. Choosing lunch is always a dilemma for me as everything is good delicious, but thankfully my friend suggested a delightful chicken sandwich. I come to the communal kitchen area and have lively catch-ups with colleagues.

2.30 PM

We have our weekly status update call with the client. We discuss our progress, current project timeline, our blockers and next steps. The client provided us with good feedback on the prior workshop we conducted and discussed any key observations.

3.00 PM

With all the tasks agreed upon with the client, I started smashing out some work. As we are doing some uplifts to the client data governance documents, I research the elements of a good data governance policy and check on any prior Protiviti work to reference. I detail the positive observations and improvement opportunities with examples. I also researched the Australian Privacy Principles and DAMA DMBoK framework for a better understanding of what a good data governance framework should include. I comment on the document files my initial observations tagging my project manager on any questions I have. Once complete, I make sure to notify my project manager of my progress and schedule a time to get feedback later in the week. 

4.30 PM

I attend the iGROWW National Lead meeting involves a design-thinking activity via Mural, brainstorming ideas for upcoming events. We decide on our next steps and distribute the tasks among the leads to share the accountability.

5.30 PM

I check my emails and to-do list for the day to make sure I have closed out all my high-priority items. I make sure to save all my documents in the correct folders with appropriate labelling. I send a quick MS Teams chat to my project manager about my progress and notify them of any major findings. She thanked me for my work and wished me a good evening. 

6.30 PM

Finally, I'm home and as much as I want to just lay down and do nothing, I get myself ready for my boxing class. I grab some fruit, biscuits and tea to fuel up. I make sure to pack all my boxing gear and head to the gym. Boxing usually helps just de-stress and not focus on work. It gets my adrenaline pumping and helps me recharge.

7.30 PM

Post-boxing, I ended up somehow buying a chocolate doughnut, a guilty pleasure of mine, while doing some groceries. I chat with a few of my gym buddies over our favourite TV shows and sweets.

10.30 PM

I have had my shower, and dinner and unwind through a movie. I set my usual recurring alarms for the morning and then spend the next 1-hour just scrolling through my phone, sharing memes with friends until I finally get tired and fall asleep.

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