On any given day, you’ll find Steven running — whether it’s down trails, to his next meeting or to catch a flight.
Steven Doolan is the president of the Americas division for Salomon, a heritage sports brand known for its shoes, apparel and gear. Founded in the French Alps in 1947 and now with customers worldwide, the company runs its Americas operations from Ogden, Utah.
Since taking the helm in 2023, the job regularly keeps Doolan traveling across the globe. Regardless of where he finds himself working — from his office, hotel or home — Doolan has intentionally crafted rhythms and routines that keep him grounded, regardless of the time zone. It is a life that requires consistency and personal discipline.
“I’m actually a person of ritual,” Doolan says. “Over the course of the next two weeks, I will be in Mexico City, Berlin, Miami and New York. Travel is the thing that happens all the time, but there are certain things that I do really religiously.”
The role requires a balance between quiet moments of contemplation and jetting off to corporate boardrooms. Maintaining this balance requires a thematic element of ritual, which allows Doolan to “recover, recharge and be present.”
A hearty breakfast
“I always make 45 minutes to an hour in the morning for breakfast. If I’m traveling, it’s simply in a hotel, and I’ll take the time to sit down and reflect on the day. If I’m at home, I make breakfast from scratch. … I think the process of getting up and making an omelet or making a burrito or just getting the day going, … having the opportunity to look at the calendar and think about what’s going to go on over the course of the day, is grounding in some ways.”
Take a nap
“One of the other things I actually do quite a bit is nap — 10 to 12 minutes is the limit. With a day like today, I won’t get one until the end of the day. [As soon as] I get home at 5:30 or 6, I’ll lie down and put my phone on silent. Usually, before the 10 minutes, I wake up, and I feel instantaneously refreshed. … During the day, it’s really hard. If I’m working from home, it’s actually quite easy.”
Get outside
“When I get the opportunity, [I try] getting outside. And even if it’s walking around the block or taking 20 minutes to walk a mile. Jet lag is a real thing that … I have tried all sorts of tricks. But sun on your face goes a long way. I don’t know if it’s connecting with nature or maybe there’s a momentary digital detox component. But having your phone in your pocket — not in your hands and not in front of your face — and walking along and seeing what’s out there has real value.”
Consistent bedtime
“Get to bed at the same time, if at all possible. I’ve realized, maybe it’s a reflection of aging, the value of seven or eight hours of sleep is critical in terms of being present, at least for me. I think there’s also a component of defense, whether it’s getting sick or getting run down. … At 8:15 p.m., my phone tells me it is time to start winding down, and at 9, my phone goes to sleep mode. It’s easy to miss, right? You get six, seven, eight nights in a row, … then you’re out with a team, you’re traveling, you land late or you’re out with clients. And the next thing you know, it’s 11:30 p.m. when you get back to your hotel or you’re getting home and you go to bed. Giving yourself grace that it’s OK, and just getting back into the rhythm immediately is the key piece there.”
Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL shoes
“When you’re traveling, you try to travel light, but one of the challenges is shoes take up space. The pair of shoes that has the most consistency in the rotation for me is our Aero Glide 4 GRVL. As cheesy as this may sound, it has the functionality of being able to run in New York City down a concrete sidewalk or … go and trail run in the same pair of cushioned shoes with our proprietary quick-lace system. The shoes are just amazing. They’re super comfortable. And that is the go-to shoe for travel for me today.”