I thrive in roles with a clear theory of change and tight feedback loops, ideally spending about 22 hours weekly on designing/coding/writing, complemented by 9 hours reading papers, blog posts, and learning technical skills. Another 4 hours would go toward external communication with stakeholders along the impact chain (policy makers, think tanks, capability labs) and exchanging ideas with unaffiliated colleagues doing similar technical work. The remaining ~5 hours would be dedicated to efficient meetings (quick stand-ups, targeted problem-solving sessions, and broader strategy discussions). I prefer environments with dedicated coworking spaces where brainstorming and smaller decisions happen organically rather than through forced meetings. While I can work beyond 40 hours, I’ve found I’m most effective when my work remains diverse and segmented, preventing diminishing returns.