As founder and CEO of C&A Digital, a marketing and communications agency based in White Plains, Elena Rivera-Cheek has been working with brands for over 20 years. With a long and successful track record helping clients in the health and wellness sectors tell their unique stories, Rivera-Cheek knows firsthand what it takes for a business to succeed. Come along for the ride.
5:30-7:30 AM
The day officially starts when my alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. The first mission? Always coffee. Mug in hand, I settle in for what I call my “power hours.” This isn’t just routine; it’s non-negotiable mental prep. I start with prayer and meditation, finding that quiet grounding before the world starts pinging.
7:30-9:00 AM
By 7:30, the mental engines are firing, so it’s time to rev the physical ones. Depending on my mood and muscle soreness, you’ll find me either conquering my Peloton or pushing my limits at an Orangetheory class. If I’m on my Peloton, my go-to instructors are Robin Arzon for strength and Cody Rigsby for spin—especially for a laugh. We even have a bike in our office for the team. This isn’t just about fitness; it’s my daily dose of endorphin-fueled therapy.
9:30 AM-1:00 PM
Walk into my office around 9:30, and you’ll catch me in focused, deep work. This is when I dive into the nitty-gritty: reviewing the latest market research for a C&A Digital client’s marketing campaign or assessing the landscape for a new innovative marketing tool creation for C&A Health. I’m often running internal leadership meetings, sketching out big-picture strategy with my executive teams, or connecting with clients. These client calls are the heartbeat of our business; they’re where we brainstorm, troubleshoot, and ensure our solutions are hitting the mark.
1:00-2:00 PM
Lunch is usually a quick affair. Sometimes it’s just me at my desk, other times, a spontaneous chat with a rising star on the team. I love soup and just sipping chicken broth throughout the day. I might have a salad, soup, or something from my favorite spots around here, like Via Garibaldi or Noodle Plus.
2:00-6:30 PM
My typical CEO tasks during this block might involve diving into C&A Health’s operational performance, ensuring our engagement platforms are running flawlessly, or refining our talent strategy for C&A Digital. Sometimes, I’m reviewing scripts for upcoming videos, ensuring our message is sharp and resonant. This period is also when the unexpected often pops up—a sudden client need, a market shift, or a unique opportunity that demands immediate strategic thinking. A favorite office ritual is connecting with the team and managing our Spotify music playlist. I love music and you will always hear it in the halls of our agency. Also, I keep my candy stash top-notch. Right now, I have Sugarfina gummy bears, and they are the talk of the office.
The Home Stretch: 6:30 PM–Bedtime
The moment I walk in the door, Corporate Me dissolves. Evenings are dedicated to family, often involving a chaotic but good dinner and homework wrangling that tests my sanity and my elementary math skills. Before bed, I might plug in to an audiobook. I love to listen to anything Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, John Maxwell. Fun fact: I have attended more than 10 Tony Robbins seminars in the past five years and was featured in his marketing as a success story! By 10:30 p.m., I’m usually lights out, dreaming of perfectly executed strategy and hopefully a full eight hours of sleep.
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