The Financial Times has finally spotlighted the Chief of Staff role, but much of what they praise has been the quiet expertise of senior EAs for decades. CoS and EA roles aren’t competitors—they’re partners in the same ecosystem, each driving leadership and business performance in different but complementary ways.
leadership support
The 21 Office Nightmares Only an Assistant Will Understand 👻
They say ghosts aren’t real — but every assistant knows better. From resurrected projects to haunted calendars, the admin world has its own kind of horror story. This Halloween, clutch your coffee and prepare for 21 office nightmares that will make every EA shudder with recognition. What would you add to the list?
Founder Associate or Executive Assistant — Which One Feels Like Home?
A new title is emerging in the world of executive support: Founder Associate. Common in start-ups and scale-ups, it mirrors many of the same skills as a senior assistant — influence, prioritisation, and execution — but operates in a world without structure. While assistants bring order to complexity, Founder Associates thrive in chaos, building systems from the ground up. Both roles demand intelligence and courage, but the key question is: do you want to work within a system or build one?
Founder Associate or Executive Assistant — Which One Feels Like Home?
A new title is emerging in the world of executive support: Founder Associate. Common in start-ups and scale-ups, it mirrors many of the same skills as a senior assistant — influence, prioritisation, and execution — but operates in a world without structure. While assistants bring order to complexity, Founder Associates thrive in chaos, building systems from the ground up. Both roles demand intelligence and courage, but the key question is: do you want to work within a system or build one?
Assistants Are Not Accessories: Why Outdated Mindsets Are Dangerous in 2025
When a CEO transition prompted someone to suggest an EA should “go with the pharaoh,” it revealed the persistence of a dangerous mindset: that assistants are disposable. In reality, assistants are infrastructure — holding institutional memory, guarding relationships, and ensuring continuity no handover can replicate. With AI accelerating change, organisations that still view assistants as replaceable risk burning out leaders, losing knowledge, and undermining business performance. It’s time to end the stereotype and start recognising assistants as critical strategic assets.
The Smartest Voice in the Room Isn’t Always Yours
If your assistant always agrees with you, you don’t have a partner.
You have a mirror.
And a mirror can’t warn you when you’re about to walk off a cliff.
Here’s the thing:
• The best assistants sense-check decisions and ask why.
• They push back on processes that waste time.
• They flag risks you don’t want to see.
That isn’t insubordination.
That’s what partnership looks like.
Many executives still confuse silence with loyalty. It isn’t.
Silence is fear. And fear kills performance.
If you’ve hired well, you already have someone who sees what you don’t. When they speak up, they’re not undermining you. They’re protecting you. That’s their job.
I tell every assistant I train: your role is not to be afraid of your executive, but to be afraid for them.
So the next time your assistant challenges you, pause before shutting them down. Ask yourself: What am I missing?
Because here’s the paradox: the voice you silence might be the very one that saves you.
The smartest voice in the room isn’t always the loudest.
Sometimes, it’s the one you’re not ready to hear.
The Overlooked Risk: Why You Need a Succession Plan for Your Executive’s Assistant
Most organisations plan meticulously for C-suite succession but overlook a critical risk: assistant turnover. A senior EA carries the executive’s operating system — context, relationships, and rhythms that keep leadership running smoothly. When they leave without a plan, years of finely tuned knowledge disappear, productivity stalls, and business continuity suffers. Assistant succession planning isn’t optional; it’s essential.
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.
Still Not Sure What an Assistant Can Do? Read This.
A C-suite exec once told me, “I just don’t know what an assistant could do for me.” If that sounds familiar, it’s time for a wake-up call. A world-class Executive Assistant isn’t just support—they’re a strategic asset. From protecting your time to spotting risks, building bridges, and saving you 25% of your week, here are 20 ways a high-level EA transforms leadership. Because if you don’t have an assistant, you are the assistant.