This month’s EA showcase is the lovely Kelsey Green, Personal Assistant.
Our goal is to raise the profile of EAs with a view to build awareness of the Executive Assistant role by sharing the diversity that the role entails, continue to share tips and tricks, encourage each other and talk about the journey in which we all take.
Please share, share and share in support of your peers!
If you know an EA or would like to contribute and share a little about yourself, please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you.
Your CEA Team X
1. Please introduce yourself; what is your name and how long have you been an EA?
Kelsey Green and I’ve been working as a PA for nearly two years.
2. What did your first day as an EA look like?
Hectic! I was on a parental leave secondment and looking after a very busy General Manager. We had an event planned in two weeks time with guests travelling interstate, a whole day bus trip and an evening event. The evening event changed a week prior and I had to work out plan B.
3. How has your definition of the EA role changed from that of your first day?
It’s so much more than organising meetings, creating presentations and expense management. You become a second hand of the manager and can help drive outcomes for the business. My manager saw me as an extension of themselves and we were our own team.
4. What would you consider to be the most rewarding about your position as an EA?
I love working out a solution to a problem and making everything run as smoothly as possible. There is no greater feeling than achieving something you thought was impossible!
5. What do you consider to be the most difficult part of your day?
Changing between tasks – I often have people come up to me and ask questions and don’t always get a lot of quiet time to work on projects.
6. What skills do you possess that you believe is crucial to your EA role?
I always build trust between myself and my manager – they have to know that I won’t break their confidence.
7. What role have you owned, or what experience have you had, that helped shape your EA career?
Taking on the secondment role to the GM – they could have hired more experienced external PAs but they saw my development plan and took a chance on me. It’s helped me realise that this is what I want to do long-term and create a career path.
8. What is the most exciting opportunity you have had as an EA?
I’ve been lucky enough to travel interstate for meetings and events and participate in lots of development training.
9. What are 3 items you can’t work without?
1. Microsoft OneNote – I’ve gone paperless and keep all my to-do lists, logins and cheat sheets all digital
2. Water bottle – gotta stay hydrated
3. Coffee – typical Melbournian
Do you have any tips you would like to share?
Trust your gut – If something doesn’t feel right don’t do it.