The Deskie: Meet Hermione OIivia Underwood Bellm, Founder of CEO Yourself

If your idea of a dream workspace is where high ceilings meet high-performance, Hermione Olivia Bellm (née Underwood) has you covered.

The founder and host of CEO Yourself – a motivational mindset brand and podcast helping women “become the CEO of their own lives” – has crafted a West London studio that blends elegance, efficiency, and empowerment in equal measure.

Split between a sleek office and a podcast and photography studio, Hermione’s space embodies her brand’s four pillars – Vision, Strategy, Habits, and Flow. “I wanted somewhere with high ceilings and ideally up high so we could actually catch some of the natural light in the London day,” she says, speaking from the minimalist setup where she records her show.

True to her structured yet soulful approach, her desk setup is simple: A laptop stand, keyboard and mouse “beside my CEO Yourself x Smythson notebook.” Hermione is meticulous about her workspace – “I like to empty my inbox at the end of each day,” she admits  and yet her space feels anything but sterile. The studio’s draped walls, a gift from artist Jessica Yolanda Kaye, sit alongside artworks by her sister-in-law, photographer Kate Bellm, and artist Zoe Alice Hoare. “I love being surrounded by female artists, in a female space that works with inspiring women to empower women,” she says.

As for her favourite tools and? “Notion, Motion, and ChatGPT,” she laughs. Also she warns, “AI is here to stay – better to roll with it than wait and get behind!”

In a world obsessed with hustle, Hermione’s workspace offers a quieter kind of power – proof that when you merge intention, innovation and chic interiors its the perfect space to harness a CEO mindset…

The Deskie With Hermione Olivia Underwood Bellm:

Our workspace…

Has two adjoining studio spaces, one that serves as our podcast & photography studio and one that is our office. I wanted somewhere with high ceilings, and ideally up high, so we could actually catch some of the natural light in the London day, in West London. 

I like my desk to be…

Super clean so it’s usually simply my laptop stand, keyboard and mouse beside my CEO YOURSELF x Smythson notebook, flask for hydration and candle for vibes. Oh… and there are always snacks! 

My workspace reflects my personality because… 

I am quite OCD and like to empty my inbox at the end of each day etc so the cleanliness of the space probably reflects that. 

Some rituals I use to boost productivity are…

I journal at night to organise myself and clear my mind for bed, which means I have a clear focus and direction for how I use my time productively the following day. I use Notion to keep on top of tasks with my team across various business’ and projects, and we’re pretty structured with how we use our days and weeks. 

 

I keep my space organised because… 

Having a clean and organised workspace helps me to keep focused on the task at hand and not get distracted.

I use art in the workspace because…

I love being surrounded by female artists, in a female space that works with inspiring women to empower women. Thus, we’re surrounded by artworks by women who inspire me. Our draped walls are actually a gift from our predecessor, Artist, Jessica Yolanda Kaye.

Her artwork is amongst many others that hang in our space, most of which are by my super talented sister-in-law, photographer, Kate Bellm and also by Zoe Alice Hoare. 

 

A way our workspace has evolved is…

We transformed our Studio to be available rentals because of constant requests and it’s since been utilised for mini events, showings, art exhibitions and podcast recordings. I love seeing the space come to life through the eyes of other creative women. 

We utilise technology… 

For our podcast, to ensure good standards for video and sound production. I love having big screens for day to day work, but for our photography, the more we evolve, the more our style actually reverts back to old school cameras, including old school polaroids and film that we have developed. 

My workspace tip is to… 

Feature a clean, bright white space with natural light that transforms throughout the day allows a backdrop for creative evolution. 

 

The way I maintain comfort in the office is…

Back supporting chairs, they are critical for a full day’s work! Also, I love the style of our podcast chair but I ensure the guest sits on our big, comfy Fendi Casa chair so they are ultra comfortable for the interview. My chair is less comfortable, but I am in love with the style. It’s from my other sister in law (!) Lucie Bellm’s, Lamb Gallery in Mayfair. 

My must-have gadgets are… 

My iPhone and my Airpods! I’m a simple, apple girl. 

My favourite productivity platforms are…

Notion, Motion & Chat GPT. 

The tech tip that has significantly improved my workflow is… 

Adapt early, and learn quickly. AI is here to stay so better to roll with it than wait and get behind! 

 

The Modems’ Byte-Sized Questions:

💻 iOS or Android?

iOS

 

🎧 Earbuds or over-ear headphones?

Airpods

 

📱 Text or voice notes?

Controversial but Voicenotes! 

 

📸 Phone Selfie or Proper Digi camera?

Old school film. 

 

💡 Dark mode or light mode?

Automatic transitions from day in light to night in dark!  

 

💄 Filters or no filter?

Filter for the aesthetic but mostly super natural, as is – no editing! 

 

💳 Apple Pay or designer wallet?

Both, depends on my mood. 

 

📺 Netflix marathon or TikTok scroll?

Netflix! 

 

📖 E-book or Audiobook?

E-book

 

🎶 Spotify playlists or YouTube deep dives?

Spotify! 

 

🖥️ Desktop setup or laptop on-the-go?

Laptop on the go