Investing in the Foundations

In our latest People Without Compromise, we speak to Sophie Bowler, our Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Zodia Custody about the actions that keep her grounded, from a focus on maintaining fitness to the joys of adventure, the importance of being intentional with her time, and how investing in the foundations shapes everything she does.

Hi Sophie, what don’t you compromise on?

Maintaining my health and fitness, seeking out adventure and a challenge, and being intentional with the people I spend time with.

Over time, I’ve realised my level of fitness directly impacts everything else in my life. Without regular exercise and the structure and focus it provides, I find it harder to consistently show up as the person I want to be. That also applies to my love of adventure and a challenge, whether that’s travelling somewhere new, tackling a tough workout, or managing a difficult situation at work. Opening myself up to new experiences, even when they’re uncomfortable, keeps me learning and reminds me that growth doesn’t happen when things are easy. Whatever I’m doing, I try to be intentional with my time so I can show up properly, for myself, my friends and family, and in my career.

They all feed into each other. When I’m active and looking after myself, I’m more energised to take on new challenges. When I’m pushing myself or seeing something from a different perspective, I come back with more focus. And when I’m being intentional with my time, I can give more to every facet of my life.

Let’s start with your health and fitness. It’s clearly a very important part of your life – why is that?

For me it’s the foundation for everything else. I train a few times a week, usually a mix of strength work and Hyrox-style sessions and the short, intense workouts force me to switch off from everything else. I think it’s easy to forget how regular exercise is not just important for your physical health, but for your mental health as well.

For the one hour I’m in class I can’t think about anything other than the next rep or exercise, and I love the opportunity to focus on one thing and reset my brain from all the pressures of the day. When I’m training regularly, I notice the difference straight away and come away from sessions calmer, with a clearer head and more patience.

The same applies to risk and compliance, they are all about strong foundations and consistency. When the right foundations are in place you can move forward with confidence and continue to build on that safely. Fitness and healthy eating reinforce the same principle I live by: you need solid foundations if you want strength that endures.

You mentioned adventure and challenge as another thing you don’t compromise on. How do you seek that out?

I like finding experiences that push me out of my comfort zone and remind me how much more of the world there is to see. I think it’s so important that everyone makes the most of their time off and truly give themselves a chance to rest and reset, in whatever way works best for them. I’m not very good at sitting still, so my time off usually consists of active holidays, exploring new places, trying something different, and finding that perfect mix of adventure, challenge and perhaps a little bit of rest!

My partner and I are very aligned on the things we enjoy and regularly combine travel and fitness. I enjoy them because they’re not about strict routines or training camps but being active in new and often beautiful settings. We’ve taken trips to Thailand, Morocco, Australia and Italy that are specifically designed that way, and then always try to fit in a yearly ski trip to somewhere different each time! In Thailand we did a mixture of high-intensity and Muay Thai sessions, alongside hikes up to the Big Buddha of Phuket of Nakkerd Hill. That was an immensely difficult climb but well worth it for the views and sense of accomplishment at the top.

I do have to remind myself that adventure doesn’t always have to mean intensity and it’s important to allow time for rest. We recently spent some time on a friend’s horse ranch in Texas and I got back into horse riding for the first time in years. It’s a completely different kind of challenge – about rhythm and awareness rather than endurance – and it forces me to slow down. You’re working with another living being, so you have to be present and very intentional in what you do. It reminded me that sometimes challenge comes from patience rather than speed (although there can be a lot of speed involved!), and that’s just as valuable.

You sound like you really enjoy horse riding. Is it something you’d like to do more of?

It’s definitely something I want to make more time for! If I had it my way I’d have a horse and ride multiple times a week, showjumping is something I’ve always want to get back in to as I did that a lot growing up. I’m relocating to Australia this month and one of the things about living there that really appeals to me is the lifestyle. It’s very active but also a bit more relaxed than London, so I’m really looking forward to having the chance to spend more time outdoors, slow down a bit, and hopefully finding somewhere to ride regularly again.

This move feels the just the right kind of challenge for me. Relocating is a big change but I’ll still be with Zodia doing my current role, just in a different part of the world. It’s a chance to build new routines, settle into a different way of life, while keeping the same foundations, both personally and professionally. I’m also really excited to immerse myself fully in the Digital Asset scene in Australia.

What about being intentional with your time. What does that mean to you?

It’s something I’m still working on if I’m honest, and it’s always a battle living in London, when everything is so busy and “go go go”. It’s really easy to let plans slip or tell yourself you’ll catch up with someone next week when life gets busy, but I’ve realised that if you don’t make the effort, time just disappears. So, I try to be a bit more deliberate with my time to make sure I follow through, plan in advance, make the call, or go to the dinner, even if sometimes it might easier not to.

I’m really lucky to have a solid group of friends, and we all make a point of showing up for each other. It’s not always anything big. Sometimes it’s just a message or a quick catch-up dinner but for me those small actions matter. They stop everything from feeling like it’s just work, training, sleep, repeat and if you don’t make a conscious effort to do that in London, it’s very easy to fall into a bad cycle where its’ all work and no play (or rest!).

I’m under no illusion that everything is balanced all the time, and I know I have to make a conscious effort. I don’t want to take people for granted, and making sure I maintain the connections I value most is a big part of that.

You seem to have a strong sense of balance but you’re also clearly driven. How do you make sure those things don’t conflict?

I think I’ve learned to recognise that balance isn’t static. There’ll always be times when work takes more, or training takes more or I need more rest. The key is just noticing when something’s out of sync and adjusting, rather than trying to have it all perfect all the time. I think drive’s important, but it’s only sustainable if you know when to slow down too. That’s why it’s so important to me to have strong foundations in place, because once you invest in those, you can build everything else on top.