ES Tech 2024

Mike Thomas is a leading UK-based IT Trainer and Content Creator renowned for his expertise in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Power BI. 

Throughout his distinguished 35-year career, Mike has delivered thousands of courses and produced an extensive library of written and video tutorials, available on his blog and YouTube channel. 

As a Microsoft MVP and Fellow of The Learning and Performance Institute, Mike has collaborated with numerous global and UK-based companies, providing tailored training and developing innovative Microsoft Office solutions that streamline business processes.

His passion for teaching, knowledge-sharing and technology makes him a sought-after speaker and trainer, continually inspiring others to harness the full potential of Microsoft Office tools. 

Copilot in Excel: Intelligent Assistance for Personal and Executive Assistants

Unlock the full potential of Excel with the power of Copilot, a revolutionary tool designed to elevate your productivity by automating routine tasks. In this session, specifically tailored for PAs and EAs, you will discover how Copilot can transform the way you work, enabling you to focus on what truly matters. 

We’ll begin with an introduction to what Copilot is, how it integrates with Excel, and the steps to acquire it – including an overview of licensing costs. From there, we’ll delve into practical demonstrations showcasing how Copilot simplifies the creation of complex formulas, automates the application of conditional formatting and effortlessly generates insightful charts and pivot tables. 

You’ll learn how Copilot streamlines sorting and filtering lists, making data management a breeze. You will also see firsthand how it can analyze complex datasets, providing you with actionable insights in seconds. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to leverage Copilot’s capabilities, significantly boosting your efficiency and productivity in Excel!

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the fundamentals of Copilot integration with Excel 

• Master no-code automation of routine tasks 

• Generate and interpret charts and Pivot Tables 

• Extract actionable insights from data 

Email and Workplace Productivity Expert

Steuart Snooks is an Australian email and workplace productivity expert. He works with senior executives, their Assistants and support teams who are overloaded with email and has over 25 years’ experience in researching and developing practical, affordable solutions to the relentless demands of email and the workload it delivers.

Steuart delivers fast-paced, information-rich and highly practical presentations (with a touch of humour) that make a real difference to personal and organisational productivity.

He helps restore email to its rightful place as a powerful tool to leverage workplace and personal productivity. What he teaches can change the way you work . . .  forever!

9 Ways to Speed up Email Replies & Processing

Do you find that you can think and speak much quicker than you can type? But how much of your workday is spent using a keyboard and mouse? And how much of that is processing email? 

So, a real bottleneck to productivity is typing or processing speed. 

This session will show you how to make greater use of your current email software to speed up the typical email and related activities that admin and support staff perform every day. 

There are a surprising number of functions you don’t yet know about that your email software will automate and leverage for the many repetitive actions and activities you perform on a daily basis . . .  you just haven’t learnt about them yet! 

Learning outcomes:

• Identify the real bottleneck to your email productivity 

• Save surprising amounts of time and effort 

• Discover 9 ways to speed up and automate email replies and processing 

• Harness the hidden potential of email tools like Outlook and Gmail – it’s like having your own EA! 

The MS Office Maestro

Known as The MS Office Maestro, Shelley has been a Microsoft Office trainer for over 20 years, delivering face to face training sessions, presenting at events and training people remotely with various online tools.

Helping Assistants keep up to date with Microsoft Office is her passion. Shelley does this via her Virtual Live training sessions, webinars and her suite of self-paced courses – Essential Office for The Savvy Assistant.

Shelley is a Fellow of The Learning and Performance Institute and holds the COLF (Certified Online Learning Facilitator) and CDOL (Certified Designer of Online Learning) qualifications from the LPI.

Over the last several years Shelley has spoken or presented at a variety of events specifically aimed at PAs, EAs and VAs helping them to improve the way they work. Events include The PA Show, ESTech, Hemsley Fraser, PA Forum Conference, Practically Perfect PA, Miss Jones PA.

TIME Mastery: Amplifying Efficiency Through Technology and Innovation in Microsoft Tools

With the rapid pace of innovation in Microsoft tools, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to keep up. In this 45-minute session, we’ll explore how to save time and make the most of the latest updates and features.

We’ll dive into Teams, PowerPoint, Microsoft Loop, and Co-Pilot, showing you how these tools work together to enhance your productivity. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to leverage these tools to complement each other and streamline your workflow. Let’s get started! 

Learning outcomes:

• Enhance Microsoft Teams Usage: Participants will learn to personalize Teams by changing the appearance, setting file preferences, and efficiently managing Teams and channels. 

• Master Presentation Tools: Participants will effectively use Presenter Coach and Rehearse Timings in PowerPoint to improve their presentation skills and timing. 

• Optimize Media and Visuals: Participants will learn to compress media files and integrate Cameo into presentations for better performance and visual storytelling. 

• Integrate Loop Components: Participants will introduce and integrate Loop components into Teams Chat, Teams Channels, and Outlook to boost collaboration and productivity. 

• Utilize Co-Pilot Features: Participants will understand how to use Co-Pilot to generate presentations, summarize emails, and enhance team collaboration within Teams and Outlook. 

Passionate about Spreadsheets | Founder of Excel Ace

Traci Williams is a self confessed ‘spreadsheet geek’ and has spent more than half of her life working with Excel spreadsheets. She has an infectious enthusiasm and a genuine passion for showing people how ‘simple’ Excel can be, how much time they can save by using it correctly, and even makes it seem like ‘Fun’!!!

Traci founded Excel Ace in 2008, leaving her career in accountancy, as she was frustrated at not having enough time to show colleagues how ‘ACE’ and simple Excel could be. Her mission with Excel Ace is to help people to love Excel as much as she does, or at the very least, not be afraid of it.

Excel Gantt Charts: simplifying Project Management

In today’s fast-paced project environments, effective task management is crucial for success. In this session, we will explore how you can revolutionize your project planning and tracking with Gantt charts in Excel. 

This session is designed to equip you with the skills to create, manage, and interpret Gantt charts using Excel, making complex projects more manageable and transparent. 

Gantt charts can map out tasks over time, handle overlapping tasks, and provide a clear visual plan of your project’s timeline. This powerful tool not only helps in planning but also ensures that you stay on track, offering a bird’s-eye view of the project at any given moment. 

Whether you’re managing a small team or overseeing a large-scale project, this session will provide practical insights and hands-on techniques to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. Gain confidence in your project management skills and leave with a toolkit that simplifies task management and improves project outcomes. 

Learning outcomes:

• Gantt Charts – Create and understand 
• Conditional Formatting 
• Charts 

Laura Belgrado holds a bachelor’s degree in office business administration and languages and is a licensed Executive Coach (AoEC and ICF Certified). She has over 35 years of experience working in international corporate environments, including companies such as Microsoft and MARS Inc., and has extensive experience in business management, budget management, project management and operations. Laura is a true linguist and is fluent in five languages – Dutch, French, English, German and Spanish. She has vast experience of working with top global CEOs and C-Suite executives as their trusted EA and advisor.  

 One of Europe’s most sought-after speakers, Laura has now travelled around the globe speaking and coaching Executive and Personal Assistants. Laura’s innovative way of working and thinking ensures Assistants grow within their role, find their strengths, and reconnect with the significance of the role. Laura’s continuous learning mindset has allowed her to not only grow her career, but she has inspired so many to look into their skills, accomplishments and strengths allowing these individuals to thrive in their careers and personal lives. 

 Laura has made some bold moves in the past 2.5 years in her career growth and is now working for a pharmaceutical supplements company as Chief of Staff.

Enhancing Leadership Skills by learning how to use good Prompts with AI Tools

In this session, Laura will focus on the importance of learning to use Copilot for your everyday work as Assistants. You will learn how Copilot can enhance your Leadership Skills, creating visibility within your organization. You will also learn how it will increase your efficiency and help you to contribute more strategically to your Executives. 

Key Benefits: 

1. Enhanced Productivity: Effective prompt usage will allow you to automate routine tasks, such as scheduling, email management, and data entry. It will free up time for more strategic activities, Project Management, … 
2. Improved Communication: Learning how to craft precise prompts ensures that AI tools will provide more accurate and relevant information, which is essential for clear and effective communication with your Executives and other stakeholders. 
3. Adaptability: As AI Tools become more integrated into our daily workflows, being proficient in using prompts will help you stay adaptable and up-to-date with Technology advancements. 
4. Problem-Solving: Knowing how to write effective prompts will enable you to quickly find solutions to complex problems, enhancing your ability to support your Executives efficiently and to the highest level. 
5. Competitive Edge: Mastering AI Tools and prompt usage will set you apart in your current role and organization but also in the job market. Showcasing your ability to leverage technology for better performance. 
6. Lead by Example: Many of our Executives do not have the time always to test AI tools, as Assistants this is a great opportunity to practice, show them how to use it, give them ideas for powerpoint slides, help write emails, they will absolutely love it. 

Learning outcomes:

Automating Routine Tasks: 

• Use Copilot to draft emails, create reports, or generate code snippets. 
• Automate repetitive tasks like data entry or formatting documents. 

Enhancing Communication: 

• Craft precise prompts for Copilot to ensure accurate and relevant information. 
• Collaborate with Copilot to improve communication with colleagues and executives. 

Problem-Solving and Creativity: 

• Leverage Copilot for brainstorming, idea generation, and creative writing. 

• Explore its capabilities to find solutions to complex problems. 

Chi Chi Okezie is the owner / producer of SIMPLEnetworking, LLC. SN is a women-owned, black consulting firm based in Metro-Atlanta, GA, USA which specializes in business networking, diversity and inclusion and cultural awareness. SN was granted a Proclamation for Business Networking Day for 13 November.

Through SN, Chi Chi has presented keynotes, hosted events and created training programs. She has also developed workshops and curriculum to include culture, arts and entertainment to broaden the learning and development experiences. Chi Chi is trilingual and the author of 2 networking books.

Chi Chi is the recipient of several awards including Class of 40 Under 40 Connect Magazine and Rejuvenate Magazine. She is heavily involved with her alumni association and serves as Alumni Counselor to the Campus Life Committee of the Emory Board of Trustees, as well as Executive Committee Member of the Oxford College of Emory Board of Counselors.

Chi Chi holds active memberships with the FACC-ATL, ADMAG (Atlanta Diversity Management Advocacy Group), ASAP (American Society of Administrative Professionals) and Turning Point Church.

Ethical AI and Technology Management

Learn the proper protocol for handling AI with ethics and integrity. Familiarize yourself with business acumen and DEI for offering fairness and equity in your procedures and processes. As well as understand and safeguard your technology access and equipment. This session will also touch on other fundamental aspects of networking and development.

When it comes to career and professional development, Marie Herman, CAP, OM, ACS, MOSM knows how to take you from where you are, to where you want to be.

As the owner of MRH Enterprises LLC, Marie helps office professionals to advance their careers through certification and education.

Prior to launching her incredibly successful training business, Marie supported the Chief Technology Officer of the Fermi National Accelerator Lab and Chairman Emeritus of ServiceMaster.

Marie, an author, mentor and subject matter expert, holds multiple certifications and can help you become better trained as well.

Her articles in Executive Support magazine have proven perennially popular. She has more than two decades of experience as an administrative professional and efficiency consultant.

Marie teaches webinars and seminars on various technology and professional development topics and also provides highly-respected online certification study groups for the Microsoft Office Specialist and Certified Administrative Professional exams.

Dynamic Formulas in Microsoft Excel

This session will focus on some of the new Functions and Dynamic Formulas in Microsoft Excel 2021/Office 365. Discover how some of these newer features added to excel will save you all kinds of time and effort, helping you to summarize your data better!

Attendees will:

• Explore some of the new functionality added in Office 365/Excel 2021, including XLOOKUP.
• Discover the new dynamic array formulas (including FILTER, SORT, SORTBY, UNIQUE and more) that fluidly update as you change your data and learn why you will definitely want to use them!
• Better understand some of the error messages you may encounter when working with these formulas and what you can do to fix them.

Melanie Grefsheim, the founding Product Marketer at TROOP, boasts over a decade of experience in product marketing and strategy. Her passion for storytelling and solving business challenges drives her to connect the dots effectively. At TROOP, Melanie is dedicated to enhancing meeting management solutions for Executive Assistants and Meeting Planners. Her extensive experience as a world traveler and former event tech professional uniquely positions her to drive innovative perspectives and solutions.

Stand Out with Successful Meetings: Insights from Planning Experts

Planning in-person meetings can be daunting, especially when dealing with remote or dispersed teams. This webinar is designed to empower Executive Assistants with strategies and tools to master this critical task. Learn how to streamline the planning process, enhance attendee experience, and achieve meeting objectives efficiently. This session is crucial for meeting planners aiming to elevate their skills, create exceptional meeting experiences, and become a go-to expert within their organization. Join us to gain actionable insights from accomplished planners and ensure your next in-person meeting is a resounding success.

Learning Outcomes:

• How to define meeting goals and align them with the right location and activities
• Best practices for managing travel logistics, including cost, travel time, and safety considerations
• Effective budget management strategies to stay within budget while accommodating unexpected costs
• Methods for conducting post-mortems to track costs, evaluate success, and use insights for future meetings and career advancement

Molly spent 22 years as an administrative specialist in the US Air Force. Following her retirement from military Service, she started a one-woman business providing virtual administrative support to independent consultants in the defense industry.

During the COVID shutdown, she watched businesses struggle with navigating a remote workforce. She took the lessons learned from her years as a virtual assistant and turned them into a new business model for hiring virtual administrative professionals. She believes in future we will see an increase in the number of virtual workers and created VEXA Services.

In addition, she saw a need for resources designed specifically for administrative professionals. With the fast-paced growth of today’s technology, the resources and tools available to the administrative field have not kept pace. She then created VEXA Software to help fill that gap. VEXA Software designs software for the unique and varied needs of the administrative profession.

VAST: Productivity Software for Executive Assistants

Looking for tools specifically designed for administrative professionals? Supercharge your communication and workflow.

VAST is a software created FOR admin professionals BY an admin professional.

In this presentation we will walk through the main functionality of VAST and uncover some unexpected hidden gems designed to enhance daily communication with your principal.

Organize details and save time!

Learning Outcomes: 

• Use the template library to create calendar events with organized details
• Use VAST to create private notes even on shared invites and recurring series events
• Organize personal information in our enhanced Contact function
• Learn VAST’s meeting request/social invitation workflow

Nikki Jarvis-Jones is a creative designer and creative director of agency, DMD Design & Marketing.

DMD Design & Marketing help businesses stand out using Creative Common Sense. Focussing on subjects such as:

• Branding & Brand Strategy
• Brochure Design
• Web Design
• Exhibition Design
• Canva Templates
• Canva Workshops

DMD want to make great design accessible to all size companies and employees with a creative flare.

With a great team of creatives, from copywriters to graphic designers, DMD help businesses reach their target markets and create brand strategies to help businesses grow.

Nikki has recently started helping businesses and their in-house teams with Canva templates and workshops. Giving them the tools to create great designs and marketing campaigns on a budget.

Canva and Design Basics: How to create great designs in Canva that are on brand

Struggling to use Canva in a time efficient and effective way?

In this session we will talk through the navigation of Canva, go through best practices to keep your templates filed correctly and then talk about how to keep your templates on brand.

We will show you how to create a new template and how to make it look great whilst staying on brand.

However, it doesn’t end there. We will then show you how to create the right output whether you want to send your design to print or put it on social media. We will be covering output for both web and print!

Learning Outcomes: 

• Learn how to navigate Canva with ease
• Learn best practices for saving your templates
• Be able to create a template from scratch
• 10 top tips for designing like a professional
• Choosing the correct output for web and print