A day in the life of an HSBC executive who wakes up at 5:30 am to meditate and exercise, always eats green, and manages her work and life in two cities

"I find that the best way to set the tone for the day ahead is a short meditation where I focus on deep breathing and determine my priorities for the day," she said.

Having lived and worked across the Europe, Asia, and US, Edwards' family and friends are based all over the world. So she spends some time in the morning to catch up with them through FaceTime.

"The healthy Californian lifestyle is contagious," she said.

Before heading to work, Edwards likes to play a good game of tennis at a court near her home.

She then walks to her office, wearing a pair of sneakers, which are a must for her morning commute as she lives in San Francisco's Russian Hill, near the the famous "crooked street" which is full of hills.

Once she gets into work, Edwards' day is full of meetings with venture capital firms, technology companies and new start-ups. During these meetings, she and her colleagues help these companies identify various ways that they can work with HSBC, from providing them with international banking services to connecting them with HSBC's digital and investment teams.

Edwards talks to emerging tech companies to understand their businesses and match their needs with HSBC's international banking services.

To Edwards, this is a great opportunity to expand her knowledge in the tech industry. “It’s exciting to learn about new technologies changing the way live and work," she said. "Living in the Bay Area exposes me to a plethora of new companies pushing the boundaries.”

To Edwards, "lunch is a time to refuel" after an intense morning at work. Her lunch break usually starts at around noon, and she likes to grab a bowl of salad from the famous farmer’s market at the SF Ferry Building. "There is always fresh seasonal produce, and the waterside views refresh me for the rest of the day," she said.

Back at work, Edwards starts a conference call with her working group. Recently, they launched a new initiative called "HSBC Women on the Rise in FinTech," a program that celebrates and promotes 10 inspiring women in the fintech space across the U.S.

"We recognize there is an issue with underrepresentation of woman in senior positions within technology, specifically in fintech, so we just wanted to do something to help," she said.

While she's commuting, she plugs into podcast or checks emails on her laptop. Her favorite podcasts include The Pitch, Dorm Room Tycoon, and The Goop Podcast.

Edwards said she loves both cities. "San Francisco has a lot of culture, and it's exciting to be in the city. However, in Palo Alto there are a lot of exciting tech companies. I'm grateful to live in two innovative and thriving environments, surrounded by inspiring people," she said.

"English breakfast tea is my favorite as I am a British. I will have one coffee in the morning, and English breakfast tea for the rest of the day," she said.

So after work, she also spends some time drafting proposals for the organization.

"In my spare time, I try to give back," she said.

As a lot of her day is spent on her laptop, Edwards likes to fit in a yoga session to stretch out and relax.

"He never fails to put a smile on my face!" she said.

"On the evenings that we stay in Palo Alto, we walk down the tree-lined University Avenue, reflecting upon our key wins and challenges and preparing for the adventures of the next day!" she said.