For Elizabeth Varley, productivity isn’t just a virtue – it’s her business. As co-founder
and CEO of TechHub, she builds coworking spaces to help startups perform at their
best. The firm operates in six cities worldwide, and over the past eight years has supported
thousands of companies that have collectively raised more than $1bn. Varley is a
high-achiever herself – she sits on boards at both Imperial College London and the Open
Data Institute. With TechHub’s New York opening creating a whole new set of transatlantic
demands on her time, WIRED asks her: how does she fit in so much? Charlie BurtonPRODUCTIVITYElizabeth Varley:
an entrepreneur
whose company
operates in six
cities worldwideDo you always reply
to an email?
“It’s just not possible to read every
email. Accepting this made a huge
difference to my productivity.”How do you know when it’s
time to go home?
“Email is a really good indicator. When
I am reading one, closing it, marking it as
unread, I’m like: ‘OK, my brain is done.’”Q&AHow do you judge whether to
say no to something?
“My friend A manda told me that I need to
think, ‘Would I do that thing tomorrow?’
And if I think ‘no’ then I should say no.”Balancing a packed schedule with nurturing a team, Elizabeth Varley
has turned TechHub’s coworking culture into a transatlantic businessQ&A
TIMELY MANAGEMENTWORK
SMARTER