Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today, we meet Samsung’s Deborah Honig, the company’s first-ever chief customer officer in the U.K. and Ireland.
The executive’s journey began growing up in Toronto, where her engineer father would take her to his aircraft-building workplace. That early experience kickstarted her lifelong passion for “industries that are constantly evolving and using technology to push the boundaries,” she tells Fortune.
She’s since had a career spanning nearly three decades, moved from Canada to Seattle, and then to London, while working for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Nike, Starbucks, Amazon, Marks & Spencer, Diageo, and more.
At the turn of the millennium, she became director of new ventures at Starbucks and was behind the rollout of WiFi across every branch of the coffee chain in North America. “Something that is now in every coffee shop in the world,” she adds. The exec later helped disrupt the grocery industry by leading the launch of Amazon Fresh.
Now, Honig is bringing her innovation-first mindset to Samsung in the newly created role that puts her at the helm of the tech giant’s customer experience and AI transformation.
Her remit? Help customers understand how they can use AI more day-to-day. “I believe we are going through the most exciting phases of change in our history,” she adds. “The AI revolution is one of the most important technological shifts we’ll experience in our lifetime.”
And when she’s not working, she’s juggling childcare with her husband, ordering in last-minute school bits for him from Amazon Prime, or playing Lego together. Like Bill Gates, she switches off from the chaos by retreating to a cabin for a week every year. “It’s so important to find time to disconnect from the world and recharge with each other in nature.”
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
I believe in buying fewer, better quality items that last me a really long time. When I got my first bonus, I bought a Chanel handbag that I have used thousands of times. Its cost-per-use is incredibly low and its value has rocketed. I’m always tempted to resell it on a vintage site but we’ve been through too much together.
And the worst?
I learned my lesson after buying a brand-new car. It depreciated about 30% as soon as I left the forecourt, and I had to sell it within a year when an overseas job opportunity came up.
If you have children, what does your childcare arrangements look like?
My husband and I don’t have family nearby and both have demanding full-time jobs, so we need help with our son. We have an amazing nanny who supports us and allows us to show up at work at our best. We divide the day to ensure one of us is there for the morning or evening routine with him, so we’re both getting that quality time in.
“The AI revolution is one of the most important technological shifts we’ll experience in our lifetime.”Deborah Honig
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
I’d borrow to buy property so I could get on the ladder as soon as possible and when interest rates were lower.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
I couldn’t live without Amazon Prime. As a mother, I need stuff quickly, whether it’s last-minute gifts or a World Book Day costume that needs to arrive overnight. Yes, I am in that camp.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
Coffee is very important to me. Flat whites are my go-to choice and as the day progresses, I’ll switch from caffeinated to decaffeinated. Right now, a Nespresso is my first taste of the day, as I am on the go and need something quick. But I love the ritual of getting a coffee locally from an independent in my neighbourhood and I’ll often listen to a podcast on the way if and when I can pull that off.
What about eating on the go?
It’s 50/50: When I am with colleagues in London, I like to make it a social occasion and go to Lina Stores or Dishoom. But the other half of the week, it’s usually grab-and-go with a salad and a protein bar.
Where do you buy groceries?
Waitrose and Ocado. And sometimes Amazon Fresh. This is for the big shop, but I like a visit to top up at our local grocer too.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
I’m very appreciative that wardrobes for women have become much more comfortable and a matter of personal style. I’d much rather choose sneakers over heels, or a blazer with denim to mix formal with informal. There’s no pressure from anyone here to dress in full suits. Right now, I’m loving Me+Em and Ba&sh.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
I love getting creative with my son; I find it very meditative. We like building Brio train sets, reading books and playing with Lego.
If I’m going out with my friends or colleagues, I love to attend shows and talks with them and not just do dinner. I’ve always wanted to see Oasis live and I can’t wait to go and see them in London.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
It was a beautiful piece of art, on the advice of my grandmother, who said art is not only a good investment but can also bring you joy every day.
The piece is by Danielle O’Connor Akiyama, who is known for her floral artwork that takes inspiration from Japanese brushpainting. The piece I own is inspired by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and has gone up in value in the time I’ve owned it.
How do you record your notes in a meeting?
If you’ve never been introduced to Transcribe Assist from Samsung, you’re missing out. It does a better job of capturing all the notes than I ever could and allows me to stay present in meetings. Using AI tools like this frees my time to do the work that adds value.
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
We go back home to Canada every year, where my family has a lovely cabin by the Muskoka lakes. I highly recommend spending a week untethered. It’s so important to find time to disconnect from the world and recharge with each other in nature. We roast marshmallows, do puzzles, go swimming, canoeing and paddleboarding… It’s just lovely. Oh, and we love an off-road biking holiday!
Fortune wants to hear from leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: [email protected]
