Ever since my book, The Leader Assistant came out, people have asked me why I chose to use an image of a climbing rope and carabiner for the book's cover. Well, I'm glad you asked. In this episode, I share a recording from my book (The Leader Assistant) launch party where I walk through the multiple meanings of the rope and carabiner image. I [...]
In 2002, Ann Hiatt was fresh out of college, starting her first post-university job supporting Jeff Bezos’ at Amazon in Seattle. This position, one she would hold for the next three years, would change the trajectory of her whole life. It would also entirely shift her understanding of the scope and potential of the executive assistant role, a topic that now plays a big [...]
This episode is special because my friend Meagan Strout (CEO of Tack Advisors - the leading provider of management consulting and recruitment for administrative professionals) agreed to share the recording of one of their recent webinars called "Admin Leader in Action!" Meagan hosts an engaging conversation with Tack Advisors' Executive Business Partner, Alexa Gundermann and Alissa Stearman, Executive Business Partner to the CEO and [...]
An honest look at how being an assistant can be lonely and dehumanizing at times. Plus some encouragement to learn from my mistakes.
Ann Hiatt is a Silicon Valley veteran with 15 years of experience as the Executive Business Partner for Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon, and as Chief of Staff for Eric Schmidt, CEO/Executive Chairman of Google. In this episode of The Leader Assistant Podcast, Ann shares the story of how she landed the job supporting Jeff Bezos at Amazon (after a 9 month [...]
Conor Sweeney is Principal and Chief of Staff to the Cofounder and CFO at Box, Inc. (BOX) where he oversees business operations, executive communications, and strategic program management across the Global Finance & Operations organization. In this episode, Conor shares one of the best overviews I've ever heard on what a Chief of Staff actually does. He also shares a bit of his story [...]
After nearly a decade as the Executive Assistant, Producer, and “Chief of Simon Sinek,” New York Times Best-Selling author and TED celebrity, Monique Helstrom has had unparalleled experiences and gained unique perspectives from thought leaders, executives, celebrities, educators, military, and the general workforce that this world depends on. This bonus episode is from one of our weekly Leader Assistant Zoom Chats where Monique joined [...]
Tara Sims is Sr. Manager of Administrative Services at Comcast. She supports the newly named President of Xfinity and Central Division President, and leads a team of administrative professionals that support the Central Division Office. In this fun and engaging conversation, I chat with Tara about confidence, leading an administrative team, building community through consistency, and paying attention to leaders around you. LEADERSHIP QUOTE [...]
Jennifer Brown is an award-winning entrepreneur, dynamic speaker and diversity and inclusion expert. In this episode, Jennifer talks about working with a fully remote team, email management from the executive's perspective, and how executive assistants can help cultivate an inclusive workplace. Enjoy the episode and be sure to take Jennifer's free inclusive leader assessment here! LEADERSHIP QUOTE I tell my students, "When you get [...]
Vanessa Nieman is a career administrative professional with over 25 years of experience. She worked her way from being a student assistant in her college years, to C-level support at larger organizations. Vanessa's career as an assistant chose her and then she came to embrace the role fully, but even more so in recent years as the support systems and networks for assistants have [...]