The Download: Meet Whitney Hawkings, CEO & Founder of Flowerbx

My workspace is…

Classic, designed, curated and elegant and echoes my business and life goals. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.

Some essential desk tools I have include…

A carafe of water (my favourite is by Rose Uniacke) and a Kodak ringlight that helps make winter and evening zooms more flattering.

My workspace reflects my personality…

Because I have a vintage Jansen desk with ebonized & gilt bronze trim that helps me think grand thoughts.  I like the formality and the classic style, as they make me feel focused and channel important thoughts.  I also always have a vase in the background with the season’s most beautiful flowers – it would be off-brand not to.

To boost productivity…

I have a lumbar cushion that helps me sit with the correct posture and I do make myself stand up and stretch every thirty minutes. If I’m feeling tired (and my schedule allows), I take a thirty minute break and walk along the river which re-energizes me.

To stay organised… 

I try to schedule all of my in-person meetings in town in the mornings and then all of my zooms in the afternoon. I find this is the most efficient way to organize and maximize my time.

A personal memonto…

I have a picture of my husband and our babes when they were smaller in a chic silver Asprey picture frame, that was given to me as a gift when our first was born. They are my North star and remind me of my purpose for everything. I also always have fresh flowers on my desk. It would be rude not to that hold special significance?

My workspace hasn’t changed…

Because I found my formula at a young age whilst working for Tom Ford in many cities around  the world with multiple offices in Paris, London, Milan and NYC, so (while the technology has evolved, mercifully) I haven’t really veered from my OG office set up template.

Crucial tech in my workspace includes…

Slack. It has changed our inter-company communication so much that I don’t know how we functioned without it. Shared docs and zoom make work so efficient and allow me to spend a lot more time on the ground meeting with our flagship accounts and luxury brands, as relationship management is key in the floral (and any!) industry.

To maintain a balance between comfort and professionalism…

I think it’s always important to keep a neat workspace to have organized and clear  thoughts. Tom Ford once said to me that every drawer should be ready for a photo shoot at any time. While I don’t go that far, I do think that a tidy desk promotes productivity and clear thinking.

Three essential gadgets… 

Phone, ring light, and red light face mask.

Key softwares…

Slack, Zoom, Chat GPT

Ultimate tech tip…

Chat GPT for any and everything –  from creative to finance, it is a great business partner.

The Modems’ Byte-Sized Questions: