While it’s vital to call out the challenges assistants face, it’s equally important to spotlight the organisations and leaders getting it right. Let’s celebrate those who value, empower, and invest in their administrative teams—and inspire change through positivity.
Category: Culture & Events
Done is Better Than Perfect: Why Sharing Your Work Matters More Than Flawlessness
After spending hours perfecting a checklist for managing executive energy, I faced a formatting disaster on LinkedIn. But I learned a vital lesson: value and progress matter more than perfection. If you’re hesitating to share because it’s not perfect, maybe it’s time to hit send anyway.
Rest is Resistance: Why Taking Time Off Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Necessity
In a culture that glorifies overwork, especially for assistants, choosing to rest can feel rebellious — but it’s essential for long-term success. Backed by research on burnout and productivity, this is your permission to prioritize real downtime. Your future self, refreshed and focused, will thank you.
Knowing When to Get Off the Wrong Train: The Courage to Pivot in Your Career
Sometimes the bravest act isn’t pushing through — it’s recognizing when a role, relationship, or routine no longer serves you and having the courage to change direction. Holding on because of time invested or fear of disappointing others only makes the journey harder. Your value lies in choosing better for yourself and your future.
“Words Are Powerful, Mum.”
My son reminded me at dinner that the word spell once meant to speak with intention—to shape the world with words. That’s exactly what assistants do when they speak up. You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room, but never doubt the power of your perspective. Your words carry weight. Use them.
The Silence Ends Here: New UK Law Bans NDAs That Hide Workplace Abuse
In a powerful step forward, the UK government has voted to ban the use of NDAs to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. For those—especially women in assistant roles—who’ve been bullied, pushed out, and then gagged, this change is deeply personal. It marks the end of enforced silence and the beginning of accountability. No more protecting reputations at the cost of truth.
If You Think Someone’s “Too Important to Ask,” the System Is Broken
After 15 years of working outside traditional structures, I’ve seen how office hierarchies can quietly silence people. When someone says, “I couldn’t talk to them—they’re too important,” it’s not just culture, it’s conditioning. Assistants, and others in perceived ‘support’ roles, often absorb this the most. But real leadership isn’t about reverence. It’s about accessibility, trust, and shared purpose. Because fear-based systems don’t build great teams. They build silence.
The Assistant as Conductor: Quiet Leadership in Motion
Executive Assistants aren’t just coordinating—they’re conducting. Like the conductor of an orchestra, they don’t need to play every instrument to shape the entire performance. With a systems-thinking mindset and deep emotional awareness, they manage pace, transitions, and team dynamics. Their leadership may be unspoken, but it’s essential. This is modern leadership—strategic, steady, and often unseen.
EA to EA: Should You Warn Someone About a Toxic Exec?
When one assistant leaves a harmful workplace, and another is about to enter it—what’s the right thing to do? In a profession built on discretion, does a duty of care to each other override silence? This piece explores the unwritten “EA code” and why integrity, not just loyalty, should guide how we support one another behind the scenes.
The Silent Bias Pushing Experienced EAs Out of the Profession
Some of the most skilled, strategic Executive Assistants are being overlooked—not for lack of talent, but because of age. As redundancies rise and hiring biases go unchecked, too many 40+ professionals are facing rejection, not recognition. This is more than ageism; it’s a crisis of value and visibility. It’s time we stop filtering out the very expertise we say we need.