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?
partnership
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.
Revolutionise Your Role in 2025: Becoming a Strategic Business Partner
2025 is the year administrative professionals redefine their impact and step into strategic roles. Start with a simple yet powerful self-assessment to reflect on your achievements and identify where you can grow. This foundational exercise will help you unlock your full potential and be recognised as an indispensable partner in your organisation.
Executive Support: 35 Years On and Still Fighting the Same Battles?
While clearing out some office shelves this week, I stumbled across Volume 1, Issue 1 of Executive Secretary Magazine—the very first edition, published in 1989. The topics? Technology, partnership working, assertiveness, and stress. Sound familiar? Thirty-five years later, the landscape may have changed, but the challenges remain strikingly similar. A timely reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.
Unlocking the Full Potential of Your EA: The Power of Visibility in Leadership
To truly unlock the potential of your Executive Assistant (EA), increasing their visibility within your network is key. EAs are more than just schedulers—they can be strategic partners who anticipate needs, solve problems, and strengthen key relationships. By empowering your EA to connect with senior leadership, board members, and external partners, you not only enhance their impact but also foster their professional growth. This visibility transforms them into trusted contributors, helping drive your business forward with confidence and alignment.