10 Apps To Make You Productive

CEOs reveal their favorite smartphone-enabled office shortcuts.

- Katie Van Syckle

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, your smartphone keeps you connected to your job around the clock—but it can also help you manage your work more efficiently. We asked 10 CEOs to share their favorite productivity-boosting apps. From digital “Post-it wall” Trello to news curator Flipboard, these tools will help you stay on top of it all. Even better: Except where noted otherwise, basic versions are free.

WorkFlowy

“I schedule two ‘open door’ blocks every day so my team can come in and strategize about our business. WorkFlowy is my go-to, and I can keep track of the specific things I want to cover with each person. Other note-taking apps are overcomplicated and have unnecessary in-app purchases and upgrades. With WorkFlowy, I can make whatever list I want—long or short— and it organizes my brain seamlessly across all my devices.”

SCOTT SANBORN,

CEO LendingClub

Trello

“My most important app to organize my daily life is Trello. I have tried every kind of to-do list app and finally went back to just using a book that I would constantly carry around. Then I found Trello. It’s nothing more than a typical Post-it wall in an app format. So it requires a bit of setup time. I organized mine along the days of the week. I have a “to do this week” list, a “to do next week” list, and so forth. Since I have Trello I never forget deadlines anymore, and I have less weight to carry around.”

LEA VON BIDDER,

CEO, Ava Science

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