Polly Maske

Do I think women can have it all? Well, 'all' is a subjective word, but I definitely think that if you can think it, you can do it. If you want to be on it at work and still a dedicated wife, mother etc, then nothing is impossible.  Same thing that you would pack for a school field trip Toddler lunch Ideas cold Brita, 45, is Executive Director of Women for Women International UK, where she is responsible for the operation and management of the organisation in the UK and Europe. She was born in Germany but grew up in Venezuela and now lives in the UK with her husband who is from Spain.  Gaby, 42, is Head of Strategy at M&C Saatchi, where her strategic insights for Nivea, Unilever, RBS, TFL and Motorola have been recognised with numerous industry awards. She lives in Wandsworth, London.  I am up and about by 6am - just in time for a quick shower, a mug of hot water, lemon and a spoonful of ginger powder for a morning kick while I review morning emails, and then to get the kiddies out of bed.  Marissa, 33, is co-founder of Top Dog, an authentic American eatery in the heart of Soho, a mother to two little boys, Max and Jake, and her husband, Matt Hermer, owns The Ignite Group, which includes Royal favourites, Boujis, Bumpkin and Eclipse Cocktail Bars. Marissa is also a cast member of ITVBe's Ladies of London. When I get into work, I feel inspired and motivated at the prospect of innovating and pushing boundaries. I was previously Beauty and Health Editor at British Vogue, which is where I started as an intern and eight years later left as an editor.  Routine is everything and I am a bit of a robot with my breakfast - I always have the same thing that I make at home and take into work. It's a simple formula: natural Greek yoghurt with fresh berries, a heap of milled flax and sunflower seeds, chia seeds, a sprinkle of cinnamon and some flaked almonds. Lee (at The Workshop Gym) once told me this was the ultimate breakfast, and I have never looked back. I love it!  I'm a big believer in setting your mind to do things and get places and with that attitude, I believe you can make changes in your life that will make you happy. I think we're often too quick to judge others, but I believe we each create our own happiness and I believe you can do anything you want to do, if you set your mind to doing just that.  Gaby says she mixes up her workout regime, whether it's a 10k loop running, a mix of personal training, cycling or pilates reformer. Then she cycles to her commuter station, jumps on the train to Victoria and cycles to Soho from there Our house is around the corner from our office, so we often pick the kids up from nursery or playdate and eat lunch at home together - so I always have some pre-made salads or a soup or my favourite right now is a mushroom and tarragon pie that I make over the weekend and just pop in the oven when we are ready to eat.  Before bed, I do a series of stretches and then read a chapter or two in whatever self-help or parenting book I'm reading at the time (I have a stack next to my bed!) These ALWAYS put me straight to sleep! I wake up by 7am and in the early hours, I like to scan the news and emails whilst still in bed just to get ahead of the day and see where the land lies. I will also check my calendar to see if there are any important meetings that I need to prepare for I go to bed around 11 and my ritual is my skincare routine before: rigorous removal of make-up, eye cream, serum and face oil and then a spritz of some aromatherapy essential oils to help aid sleep (This Works Deep Sleep is one of my favourites). We wake up with the kids and take them to Hyde Park to feed the ducks and then to Duke of York Square for Farmers Market and lunchtime empanadas. While the kids are napping, we either read the papers or nap ourselves - this is definitely our time. And Sunday nights, after the kids are in bed and husband is finishing the weekend papers, I take a bath and completely switch off. I really value my weekends, which are for reading, relaxing and watching. I try to make the majority of the weekend 'me time' and like to indulge in binge watching serials (I am currently obsessed with Narcos), but then on a Sunday night, I will dive into a little bit of work to make sure I can get ahead on my week. At the very least I will prepare my Monday to do list so that I the minute I get in on a Monday I can hit the ground running.  Skip the extra glass of wine the night before - AND have an extra glass of water before bedtime - hangovers just don't help a productive morning. The night before, look at your diary and see what you are doing - and plan your outfit for the day; whenever I don't plan what I'm going to wear, I end up standing for an eternity in front of my wardrobe and think ‘I have nothing to wear!' - if I plan it the day before, I just pop it on and go. As the executive director of an amazing organisation - Women for Women International - I have the pleasure of meeting some of the most incredible women from all over the world who come from countries affected by conflict.