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*Buy one, gift one, on new subscriptions to the Executive Support Magazine*
*Buy one, gift one, on new subscriptions to the Executive Support Magazine*
*Buy one, gift one, on new subscriptions to the Executive Support Magazine*
*Buy one, gift one, on new subscriptions to the Executive Support Magazine*
*Buy one, gift one, on new subscriptions to the Executive Support Magazine*
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elite retreat

Elite Retreat: 31 August - 5 September 2025

Elite Retreat is an exclusive training offsite for aspiring Chiefs of Staff from across the globe, hosted by three of the world’s most respected expert trainers: Join us in Jávea, Spain this August for 5 days of bespoke one-to-one training with:

  • Ann Hiatt
  • Vickie Sokol Evans
  • Lucy Brazier OBE

Elite Retreat is different! Every 5-day retreat is unique and will be created specifically for the attendees based on their needs.

A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in your own development, connect with your peers and learn from three of the best industry trainers in the world.

Take a seat at the table and learn from the best.

The role of Chief of Staff is becoming more prevalent in companies across the world. Until now there has never been a bespoke training for the most common challenges of – systematically managing up, across, and down the organization | getting buy-in and collaboration from key stakeholders | up-leveling management skills in anticipation of the needs of a rapidly growing organisation.

In this first of its kind program, join

Ann Hiatt, the former Executive Business Partner to Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon) and Chief-of-Staff to Eric Schmidt (CEO and Executive Chairman at Google/Alphabet),

Vickie Sokol Evans, the world’s leading technology trainer

Lucy Brazier OBE, one of the world’s leading authorities in the administrative profession

for a 5-day intensive training and mentorship program aimed at those supporting at the highest level and who are wanting to move to a Chief of Staff or Head of Business Support role.

Places are limited to 8 and subject to an application process.
Each course will be tailored to the needs of the participants.

You can be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime, exclusive training event with everything you need to perform at the highest level, including accommodation & food – and best of all, it’s all provided in a beautiful setting!

Trainer: Ann Hiatt

Ann Hiatt received her initial business training during 15 years as the Executive Business Partner to Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon) and Chief-of-Staff to Eric Schmidt (CEO and Executive Chairman at Google/Alphabet). Ann now consults with executives and companies across the globe to reverse engineer their moon-shot goals and get results. Ann is a sought-after international speaker, angel investor, and sits on several boards in the UK. Ann has recently relocated from Silicon Valley to Europe and brings with her a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in business today. In 2021 Ann published her first book, “Bet On Yourself”, with HarperCollins.

EXCERPT OF ERIC SCHMIDT’S FOREWORD TO BET ON YOURSELF

“Three years into our partnership, Ann entered my office with the objective of taking the next big steps in her career. She was ready to be chief of staff. She had a habit of laying out clear objectives six months or a year in advance, but this was different. The role of “chief of staff” didn’t yet exist. So, she invented it. She put together a roadmap of what the role could look like and how she could develop the skills to take our operation to the next level. What I didn’t fully appreciate before Bet on Yourself was the legwork Ann did to find new ways to make meaningful contributions – it involved a lot of spreadsheets. Today, the role of “chief of staff” is standard in the technology industry.

In 2011 I became Executive Chairman of Google after 10 years as CEO. I wanted to take the opportunity to reimagine what leadership could look like. Every one of my direct reports assumed new roles, except for one. Ann became the only person who reported directly to me as we entered this new phase. With just a small team after the reorganization, Ann created what I later described as an “embarrassingly good” operation. In her book, she goes through chapter and verse how she made that happen – from the structure to the staffing to the ethos of collaboration and information-sharing.”

– Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Google / Alphabet

Trainer: Vickie Sokol Evans

Vickie is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, specializing in Microsoft productivity platforms for both PC and Mac. But more importantly, she can up-level you to become certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist. She’s witty, sharp, pointed and knows how to get the most from technology and teach it to you and your team. Vickie learned how to do it well by traveling the globe as a sought-after international speaker delivering live, inspired keynote presentations to major brands including Microsoft, The Gates Foundation, Stanford University, The New York Times, Starbucks, American Airlines, Accenture, UK’s Parliament, and most notably, Bill Gates’s Team among a host of others.

Teaching teams tricks to turn what usually takes hours into solutions that takes minutes, means there’s an immediate ROI after each session. It’s no wonder 98% of audiences want her back.

You’re just one step away from working more effectively and executing flawlessly, you just need to learn how to use the technology at our fingertips to its full potential, and Vickie can help

Trainer: Lucy Brazier OBE

Lucy Brazier, OBE is one of the world’s leading authorities on the administrative profession. As CEO of Marcham Publishing, specialist publishers of Executive Support Magazine, a global training magazine dedicated to the professional development needs of senior and aspiring administrative professionals, Lucy is passionate about ensuring the Assistant role is truly recognised as a career and not just a job. Her formidable training expertise and speaking style have given her opportunities to train, present and emcee events in more than 50 countries at over 450 events.

Lucy has access to the most forward-thinking, passionate and knowledgeable trainers and administrative business leaders in the world, as well as personally meeting and speaking to literally thousands of Assistants for more than a decade, and her knowledge of the market and what Assistants all over the world are facing on a day-to-day basis is second to none.

In 2021, Lucy was awarded an OBE from the Queen, in recognition of her services to office professionals. She has also received an Honorary Fellowship to the Institute of Administrative Management – one of the oldest management institutes in the world, having inspired professional business managers and administrators since 1915 – in recognition of her work to drive the profession forward.

You will leave with

  • Knowledge of who you are and what you want
  • Your personal mission, vision, and values statement
  • A pathway to passion-aligned career decisions
  • Identified mentors, sponsors, and avatar mentors
  • A performance review plan for acquiring actionable feedback
  • A detailed career roadmap of increased expertise, experience, and authority
  • An understanding of global business trends for the Chief of Staff role and beyond
  • Communication best-practices to establish your authority
  • Understanding how to lead through influence versus authority
  • A guide for collaboration for the future of work
  • A toolbelt of best practices for C-Suite team efficiency
  • A common scorecard for how success is measured
  • A masterclass of OKR and KPI management
  • Ways to efficiently run senior management meetings
  • An understanding of how to build up your reputation as an ally
  • Tips for championing culture and preventing burnout while in a team sprints
  • How to build and manage dashboards to track and analyse data for success
  • Ways to identify and automate critical efficiency through processes
  • Design a Win-Win-Win Proposal for innovation implementation
  • A CEO-level presence in knowledge, influence and skills that opens doors for opportunity
Increase
  • Revenue
  • Profit
  • Growth/market share
  • Shareholder value
  • Employee retention
  • Return on assets/investment
  • Efficiency
  • Visibility
Reduce
  • Costs
  • Time/effort
  • Complaints
  • Risk
  • Turnover
  • Conflict
  • Paperwork
Improve
  • Productivity
  • Business process
  • Service
  • Information
  • Morale
  • Image/reputation
  • Skills
  • Quality
  • Customer loyalty
Create
  • Strategy
  • System
  • Process
  • Business
  • Product
  • Service
  • Brand
Guerrilla Marketing for Consultants by Jay Conrad Levinson

More about the course

Each Chief of Staff Role is completely unique

This offsite training will be focused and tailored to your specific role,  needs and requests. You should expect to leave with the tools to succeed in your position at the highest level.

The training includes 6 months’ email follow-up with the trainers, for  support in the implementation of skills learned during the course

Maximum of 8 attendees to ensure you get the individual training and support you need

Spend quality 1:1 time with each of the trainers to ensure your individual mentorship needs are met

Receive full support in planning your travel

Experience luxury accommodations and food along with opportunities to explore the local area during non-training times

Connect with other Elite Chiefs of Staff from across the globe

Location

Enjoy exclusive access to a 5* Spanish villa

Elite Retreat will take over the entire luxury property of the Adelante House. You will have private accommodation in one of the most incredible Mediterranean villas: a Mediterranean dream home equipped for modern living while maintaining an authentic aesthetic.

The accommodation is perfect for learning as a group but has a variety of spaces for reflecting and one-to-one sessions too. Ideal for your 5-day training retreat.

A 5* villa for 5* training, for more information please email Sophie: sdouglas@executivesupportmedia.com

About Jávea

Jávea, or Xabia as it is known locally, is located in the Comunidad Valenciana area of Spain; with the closest airports just 1 hour away in either Alicante or Valencia.

Located on the most easterly tip of the Spanish mainland, Jávea is a place to see at least once in your lifetime.

We are happy to provide any further information you may need, please feel free to contact us.

Our retreat is hosted by Executive Support Media

Who are Executive Support Media?

Executive Support Media is the home of the Executive Support Magazine, Executive Support Training, Executive Support Events & much more!

We are a global force synonymous with world-class training, and we specialise in working with individuals and businesses to ensure that they fully utilise their administrative professionals. Ann Hiatt and Vickie Sokol Evans are pleased to be partnering with Executive Support Media on this event.

Below are a few of the companies we have supported:

Daily Themes

  • Day 1: Setting the parameters of the role – unifying expectations through mission and value alignment
  • Day 2: The rhythm and the language of the business
  • Day 3: Building Influence
  • Day 4: Building the roadmap for getting permissions and resources to convert from theoretical to practical
  • Day 5: Presenting the roadmap

Interested?

With limited spaces available, early booking is advised.

For more information about Elite Retreat and to apply, please fill in the form.

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