Meet Jane Cao, the communications officer of financial planners bamboo money. We followed the expert of sustainable business around for the day to see what she gets up to. From organizing photography classes for migrant kids to keeping up on the latest in Shanghai’s ecosphere, Jane is always on the ball and centered. Maybe it’s all that Indian music she listens to.

06:00 I’m planning to get back to my old early bird days little by little. Early rises energize me and set a good mood for the day, but waking up is one thing– getting out of bed is another. So there I lay, eyes closed, with the radio playing. FM87.9 has always been my favorite station.

06:30 I must have fallen asleep again before my second alarm rings. This time, I finally get my body out of bed. The day begins!

07:00 Listening to beautiful music while checking my email is usually a better wake-up for me than breakfast, but at the moment my neighbor’s parents are visiting, and I’m blessed to be invited over for homemade breakfast. Dumplings, boiled eggs and an hour of laughter later, I’m prepped for the day both physically and spiritually.

08:00 One of my friends told me the other day that I could take the bus directly to work. It’s bus no. 45 and there are eight stops, but lucky me gets a seat after just two. Shanghai has been enjoying a crystal clear blue sky recently; I love it! Indian music from my MP3 player is filling my ears, transporting me away from the madness of Shanghai in rush hour.

08:58 Perfect timing! Two minutes early for work–I’ll take the bus more often. I take a deep breath and prepare for a busy and exciting day. The first 30 minutes of my day are used to keep up with what’s going on in Shanghai and the rest of the world.

09:30 Email time officially arrives. The first one I open is from someone I met at a CSR event at the UN Pavilion at Expo. Responsibility has been one of our company’s core values from the beginning, and I’m excited because the email says he’d like to share his experience with me and discuss how to systemize CSR activities.

10:20 Email is a sweet pill, but my terrible spelling is not–thank goodness for spellcheck! I switch communication modes to the phone and call our graphic designer about “Picture This,” our exhibition at the German Centre of photos taken by migrant students.

11:30 One of the bonuses of working at this company is having fresh, homemade lunch prepared for us every day by an ayi! Today it’s kung pao chicken, tomato soup, green beans, potatoes and fish, giving me lots of energy for a busy afternoon and evening ahead.

12:35 I need to finish the last piece I did for our monthly environmental magazine, eg. I love this aspect of my job, being able to meet and talk with a whole load of different, interesting people, but sitting down to write the article is a challenge. I’m a born perfectionist, and it’s so hard to get the first word down. Once I start, though, it’s not so bad.

14:30 Leaving for a 3pm eg interview with the manager of Melange Oasis. My 30-minute readings paid off after I spotted this café whose interior is constructed from compressed bamboo, including the bar, chairs, tables and even the floor! My boss, James, is going to love Melange’s focus on bamboo. He’s the entrepreneur who named our company after this versatile, strong, resourceful and sustainable green plant.

15:30 Interview with Matteo, Melange’s manager. I am amazed by their concept and also love the drinks they offer! After two glasses and loads of laughs, the interview is over.

16:25 I know it’s early for dinner, but I need somewhere to sit down and sort out my notes, so I find a nearby restaurant and order some noodles. They’re OK, and at the very least taste of noodles, but since the thing I really want is a comfortable seat, I’m happy.

17:30 Take a taxi to Xintiandi for a BritCham event. Drown out the honking horns by playing my Indian music again.

18:30 Arrive at the venue. It’s nice to see some familiar faces. The topic is multimedia marketing, and I find my mind busy with ideas. I jot down some thoughts to discuss at our next team meeting.

20:47 I take the Metro and head home. My best friend Jessica calls and we reminisce about our national holiday trip.

22:13 Home. Rest and diary– writing time. I always write my thoughts down at the end of each day; I find it relaxing and a good time for reflection. Can’t help but check email one last time before going to bed. I’m glad I did. The German Centre has confirmed an end-date of October 31 for “Picture This.” My busy but productive day will ensure a deep sleep and sweet dreams tonight. Maybe I’ll even manage to get up at six tomorrow morning!

What do you think of her day? Leave your comment below.