2026-01-09T10:05:01.214Z

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nancy Green, the CEO of Beyond Yoga, who’s based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I’ve spent my entire career in retail, starting in college, where I worked on the shop floor. I spent nearly three decades with Gap Inc., across two stints, raising four kids while building global brands. One of the highlights was scaling Athleta from a $250 million business to a billion-dollar powerhouse.

In 2022, I joined Levi Strauss & Co. to lead the Beyond Yoga brand. This brand feels like a perfect fit for me — it sits right at the intersection of wellness, joy, and community.

I do a lot of workouts. I love yoga classes, Pilates, lifting weights, and hiking — all in Beyond Yoga wear, of course.

Here’s what a typical day looks like for me.

6 a.m. — Coffee and set intentions


Green hiking. Beyond Yoga

I wake up around 6 am, whether I’m at home in the Bay Area or Los Angeles, to go into the office. The first thing I need is coffee. My husband makes a beautiful latte when he’s around, but I’m perfectly happy to make one myself.

I quickly scan emails and the news to see if there’s anything urgent. Then I carve out time for movement. I’m not wedded to one routine — I enjoy mixing it up.

In the Bay Area, I’ll lace up my sneakers and hike right out my back door into the hills, surrounded by nature. In LA, I’ll either go for a power walk outside or head to the gym in my apartment building. I alternate between strength training and cardio during the week, and I reserve Pilates or yoga for the weekends.

I aim for 35-45 minutes of exercise per day. That time isn’t just about fitness — it’s when I set my intentions. The way you walk into the office matters. My role is to read the moment and set the right tone.

7:30 a.m. — Getting ready for the day

I shower, get dressed, and usually have a high-protein breakfast of Greek yogurt with organic berries.

Tuesdays are early flight days. I’m up at 4:45 am to head to the airport and fly to LA, where I stay for three to four days. I keep an apartment there so I can drop my bags and get straight to work.

What drains me is unnecessary negative energy. I don’t expect everyone to be positive all the time, but constant negativity that isn’t productive can be exhausting. That’s why I protect my energy and focus on bringing an upbeat, optimistic tone into the office.

9 a.m. — Office and early check-ins

Most days, I arrive at the Beyond Yoga office by 9 a.m. That first stretch of the morning is usually about setting the agenda.

Tuesdays start with a business update meeting: What did we learn last week? What’s trending? What needs adjusting? It gives everyone clarity and momentum.

We design and manufacture all our own products, so the quality of our fabrics is of the utmost importance. They need to be beautiful, durable, and versatile — pants that look just as good on the trails of Marin County as they do on the streets of New York.

12:30 p.m. — A quick salad break

I’m a creature of habit with food. Breakfast is always protein-forward, and lunch is nearly always a salad.

In LA, there’s nothing right near the office, so I either order delivery or I stop by Erewhon. True confession — I’m an Erewhon member. I don’t buy everything there, but I really love their salads.

My assistant does her best to keep 45 minutes protected, although sometimes business intrudes and someone needs to run something by me while I’m eating.

1:30 p.m. — Deep work and milestone meetings

Afternoons can be intense. We run on a quarterly "concept to customer" cycle, and the milestone meetings that anchor it can last multiple days. We’ll review samples for next year’s line, align on design direction, and make critical investment decisions.

On other afternoons, I’ll be in creative reviews, reviewing brand campaigns, or engaging in strategy conversations about real estate and store growth. There’s always a decision that needs to be made quickly, or a trend that requires a response.

3 p.m. — Dealing with curveballs

Things come at me constantly. Sometimes it’s a genuine crisis, and other times it’s something personal, such as when a child is ill. You must lead through all of it and shift your focus when necessary.

There will always be curveballs, but as a leader, you can’t let them derail you. Staying calm and steady matters. I need to be able to react, pivot, and refocus, but I can’t be effective if every unexpected moment throws me off.

5 p.m. — Out in the field

I often pop into a store on my way home because we’re trying something that I want to see for myself. Fridays are sacred, and I spend them in our stores.

I grew up in retail on the shop floor, and I love being where the energy is — seeing how product shows up, hearing directly from customers, and connecting with store teams. It’s the best way to keep the feedback loop alive.

6 p.m. — Wrapping up the day

I try to finish by 6-7 p.m. at the latest. That habit stems from raising my kids, when family dinners were a non-negotiable part of our routine. Even though they’re grown, I still anchor myself to that rhythm.

Evenings are about balance — sometimes it’s a business dinner, other nights I’ll cook with my husband. I might pour a glass of wine, catch up on the news I missed during the day, or relax with a good series on Netflix or Apple TV. I just finished "Ripple."

10 p.m. — Bedtime

I’m not rigid, but I prioritize sleep: if I’m up at 6 a.m., I need to be asleep by 10 p.m. so I can get a full eight hours.

Leading a brand through growth takes stamina, so I prioritize wellness and surround myself with great people. You have to do what you love and love what you do — I feel lucky that after decades in this industry, I still do.

• as told to
• Power Hours

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