Baringa’s Hatcher boosts client satisfaction with time-blocking

David Hatcher, the managing partner of Baringa, revealed his daily routine and productivity hacks in a Business Insider interview, giving a rare look at how the firm’s top executive keeps his workload in check amid the relentless pace of global consulting.

The consulting industry is built on long hours, tight deadlines and frequent travel. For firms like Baringa, which advises multinational corporations and governments across finance, energy and technology, maintaining high productivity is not just a personal advantage but a competitive necessity. Hatcher’s routine, which he says has evolved over the last decade, reflects the broader shift in the sector toward smarter work practices and a stronger focus on employee well‑being.

Hatcher starts his day at 5:30 a.m., when he does a 30‑minute cardio session followed by 15 minutes of meditation. He then spends an hour reviewing his calendar and setting priorities for the day. Throughout the morning, he blocks 90‑minute intervals for deep work, interspersed with 10‑minute breaks to stretch or check in with his team. Lunch is a quiet 45‑minute walk, after which he tackles client calls and strategy sessions. In the late afternoon, he reserves time for mentorship, reviewing junior consultants’ progress and giving feedback. He ends his workday at 6 p.m., and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. he spends time with family, reads a book or does a short yoga routine before heading to bed at 10 p.m. The routine, which averages 8 hours of sleep, 1 hour of exercise and 3 hours of focused work per day, has helped Hatcher maintain a 95 percent client satisfaction rate while keeping his stress levels manageable.

Looking ahead, Hatcher plans to roll out a firm‑wide productivity training program that will incorporate his time‑blocking technique and mindfulness practices. He is also piloting a new digital dashboard that tracks team workload and well‑being metrics, hoping to reduce overtime and improve work‑life balance across Baringa’s 1,200‑person network. If the program proves successful, it could set a new standard for the consulting industry, showing that disciplined routines and intentional downtime can boost both performance and employee morale.