The small rituals helping business leaders survive work travel

Sunday, 22 March 2026

As someone that slugs out the 9-5 from the comfort of my home office, I’m lucky enough that my biggest work travel commitments these days are the few stairs and the corner I need to turn to reach the coffee machine in the kitchen.

But in a previous life, travelling to see big-band artists play memorable gigs overseas - heading off on other work-related adventures - happened just often enough to know that arriving at the airport without decent noise-cancelling headphones could ruin a trip, but not often enough to spring for a Koru membership.

While work travel can be great fun, once you add deadlines, meetings, the possibility of jet lag, and the reality of leaving family or pets behind, it can quickly become exhausting, lonely, and a little disorientating.

So I contacted a handful of people that are generally known for spending a fair bit of time mastering the art of travelling for work. I asked CEOs, business owners and executives how they stay grounded while travelling.

Here’s what they had to say.

Caroline Rainsfield

Country Director, Google New Zealand

As the country director of the big tech giant, Rainsford’s favourite way to stay grounded while away from home is through the simplicity of movement.

“Over the last five months I’ve been travelling with my pilates band and doing a quick routine in my hotel room,” she says. “It really sets me up for my day.”

Rainsford says she’s recently “been focused on how I take my health and fitness habits when I travel”.

And even when time-crunched, “I’ve found that 15 minutes of movement is always better than nothing”.

Patrice Green

Managing Director, Wellington Beds

With a young family to balance alongside work, Green tries to limit the amount of time she spends travelling.

When they are necessary, they are “usually only a couple of nights and I will jam as much in as possible”.

“Unfortunately, this means my usual routines go out the window and I also notice the fatigue when I get home!”

Unsurprisingly for someone leading a family‑owned bed company that has been thriving for more than 30 years, she knew she didn’t function as well without quality sleep — and that it showed.

Penny Mahoney

The Lab Brow Bar

The founder of the beauty bar with a sole focus on brows, Mahoney keeps herself grounded by sticking her normal routines as much as possible”.

“Morning coffee, a walk, and checking in with my family makes anywhere feel a bit more normal,” she says.

Stephen James

CEO, Sinch eBikes

For James it comes down to simple routines.

“I find travel can be disorienting, so familiar habits help keep everything in perspective, wherever I am,” he says.

That means keeping up with things like “an early morning walk, exercise and checking in with family”.

Emily Choi

President, Samsung Electronic NZ

It probably comes as little surprise to anyone that being president of a company like Samsung Electronics NZ comes with a fair bit of travelling.

“As exciting as that is, it can be taxing on the body and mind,” says Choi.

When faced with long, international flights, it all comes down to keeping things simple. “I prioritise rest and quiet time so I can maintain as much of my usual routine as possible.”

Choi also makes a point to carry familiar “daily essentials” from home, such as “skincare, hair masks, little comfort items”.

“So no matter where I land there’s still a sense of familiarity and care.”

There’s no mention of electronics in Choi’s answer, but I’m personally grieving the loss of one Galaxy earbud to a vacuum cleaner more than three years ago. So I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bit of noise cancellation in that essentials bag, too.

Matt Slattery

CEO, Essano

South Auckland-made skincare brand Essano is my go-to for SPF suncare products. And while the brand may be Aotearoa-owned, it’s expanded to several global markets, too.

When Slattery travels he grounds himself by connecting with his family back home.

“Talking to my wife and kids daily,” he says. “Which delightfully includes listening to my 5-year-old daughter tell me about her day.”

Todd Lacey

Regional Manager, Oceania, Booking.com

Lacey has a pretty great strategy when it comes to work trips. He tries to turn them into “micro holidays”.

“I try to build in one day before or after to experience the place I’m going to,” he says.

“It means I get a few moments to decompress but also makes travelling there worthwhile personally.”