Hinna Azeem is the founder and CEO of H.AZEEM London, a business with three main parts: B2B, B2C, and a licensing arm. Her days are varied, as she oversees the company’s direction and ensures multiple projects are on track.
A Quiet Start to the Day
Azeem’s day begins early, typically between 5 and 6 a.m. She values this first 30 minutes to herself. It’s a time for reflection and planning. She starts with a glass of cold water and lemon tea, followed by an English breakfast tea, which helps her feel calm and focused. She checks urgent emails but tries to keep this time work-free.
After her quiet morning, her attention shifts to her family. Azeem has three young children who attend three different schools, making mornings busy. She ensures they have breakfast, their school bags are packed, and they are ready for the day. Once they are off to school, she drops her son at his school and heads to her office.
An Efficient Commute
Azeem has strategically placed her office in Hammersmith, just five minutes from her home and her children’s schools. This was a deliberate choice. She has had offices all over London but learned that with three children and a business, efficiency is key. The short commute minimizes travel time, allowing her to be more present both at work and at home. She can manage both sides of her life without feeling like she is constantly traveling between them.
Her main responsibilities involve communication and coordination with her team, especially when working on important deadlines or large projects. She advises the team, helps resolve bottlenecks, and looks for ways to make processes more efficient. A significant part of her job is ensuring different teams are moving in the same direction while keeping an eye on the company’s overall goals.
Recently, Azeem completed a licensing project with Historic Royal Palaces. She is now working on a new project with the Rijksmuseum. Both projects require bringing together multiple teams and ensuring everything runs smoothly from start to finish. She enjoys this aspect of her role because each project brings different challenges, allowing her to move between the creative, commercial, and operational sides of the business.
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Midday and Beyond
Azeem typically brings a home-cooked lunch to her office. She prefers a proper meal over eating out. Her office includes a small kitchen, making it convenient. This habit allows her to bring a piece of home into her workday.
After lunch, she remains focused on her tasks. She coordinates with her team on various projects. She advises them and helps solve any issues that arise. Her role requires her to monitor progress and ensure all teams are aligned with the company’s goals. She values the balance between creative, commercial, and operational work.
Creative Thinking and Reflection
The most valuable work often comes from having time to think, reflect, and create. Azeem is becoming increasingly intentional about protecting those hours. She treats creative thinking as an essential part of the business. It is not something that happens after everything else is finished.
Evening Wind-Down
In the evenings, Azeem prioritizes time with her family and friends. She is married to her childhood sweetheart. She values socializing and going out for nice dinners when possible. Spending quality time with her three children is also very important to her.
She tries to take short weekend breaks with her family. These trips allow them to disconnect from their routine. It gives them a chance to step away from work and simply enjoy being together. Azeem believes these moments are important for a business owner.
Despite enjoying her peaceful mornings, Azeem wishes she could make more time for exercise. She often feels she sits at her desk too much. She enjoys being active and would like to integrate more movement into her day, such as walks or badminton. She feels finding a balance between desk work and staying active is important.
