ANDREW GOULD President of Publishing, Roc Nation

Constantly moving between cities, cultures, and time zones, Andrew Gould reflects on how a life in transit shapes leadership, creativity, and decision-making. Business Traveller India speaks with the President of Publishing at Roc Nation on why presence still matters, how travel sharpens perspective, and what better travel should look like for leaders and creatives always in motion.

- ANDREW GOULD President of Publishing, Roc Nation

Your role requires constant movement between cities and time zones. How has a life in transit shaped the way you make decisions and lead teams?

I don't draw a hard line between work and life; if something matters, I respond when it needs responding, regardless of time zone or whether it's morning, noon, or night where I am. It's simply the way I work, and it allows me to stay in motion without missing a beat. If something is urgent, it gets handled immediately rather than waiting for a perfectly carved-out block of 'work time'.

From a leadership standpoint, travel raises the bar on hiring and delegation. You need people who are competent, motivated, and trusted enough that the business runs smoothly without constant supervision.

That makes communication even more important. I don't want my team to ever feel that my being on the road makes me less accessible. If anything, it means I have to be more deliberate about staying connected.

When you're travelling for work, what helps you stay sharp, whether that's certain routines, environments, or ways of carving out focus on the move?

I'm very intentional about departure and arrival times, especially on the first leg. If I'm heading east from LA, I'm usually on the first flight out; it helps offset the time change, gets me to sleep earlier that night, which, of course, helps my performance the next day. At this stage of my life, sleep matters; I aim for no less than six hours. One of the professional hazards of crossing time zones is sleep disruption from time to time, and a quick nap can work wonders.