Shows
The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Seven - Interview with Fiona Young of CarveFiona Young is a breath of fresh air to the assistant profession in terms of professional development! She is a former EA turned digital learning leader. Carve is building the next generation of AI-powered executive assistants. They offer exciting new AI courses for assistants | We touch on numerous points: · Growing up with technologist parents and the positive impact of this · Undertaking a degree in economics, the lack of jobs but the positive outcome to this · From admin professional to learning and development professional - building start up programmes for global...2023-11-281h 01The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Seven - Interview with Fiona Young of CarveFiona Young is a breath of fresh air to the assistant profession in terms of professional development! She is a former EA turned digital learning leader.Carve is building the next generation of AI-powered executive assistants. They offer exciting new AI courses for assistants | We touch on numerous points: Growing up with technologist parents and the positive impact of this Undertaking a degree in economics, the lack of jobs but the positive outcome to this From admin professional to learning and development professional - building start up programmes for global corporates L&D: Fi...2023-11-241h 01The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Six - Interview with Ruth Kilah, Executive Coach & Mentor - CEO of Hoxton Hyde ConsultingWe are excited to welcome international trainer, coach and mentor - Ruth Kilah of Hoxton Hyde. We talk about a LOT of different topics and Ruth's views are refreshing and innovative. Ruth's career journey and some very shrewd career moves Working internationally and what she learned Taking what many would consider a step down, but was actually a step up The 7 year itch! Redundancy and how this led to the next positive step Why the Chief of Staff role isn't the next step for every assistantSelling and marketing your value How niching makes you a formidable force! H...2023-11-131h 24The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Five - Interview with Jess Gardiner of The Assistant RoomAfter a summer break, we are back and delighted to welcome Jess Gardiner, Founder of The Assistant Room. Our discussion is varied and may be considered controversial at times: Executive Energy Toxic Loyalty How to be a good quitterWhy the EA/PA industry is 'wash, rinse and repeat' and needs to change Evolution vs revolution of the assistant roles Awards for Assistants Lessons learnedThis is an episode not to be missed! The Assistant Room is an exclusive global lifestyle and professional development platform dedicated to improving the lives and develo...2023-09-181h 09The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Four - Interview with Natasha Broomfield-Reid, Founder of Diverse MattersEDI is a top priority for most leadership teams, but how many are really driving through culture change? This weeks interview discusses exactly this and all things EDI and why is should matter to every business and executive support professional. Natasha is the founder and Director of Diverse Matters. She is responsible for the overall running of the company and for the design and delivery of a range of diversity and inclusion solutions for clients across the voluntary, public, third and private sectors.Natasha has over 25 years’ experience of working within the diversity and...2023-07-251h 02The Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Three - Interview with Alex Leigh of Sport EnglandAlex Leigh is a new addition to the board of EPAA and an ambitious millennial Executive Assistant, with over 13 years experience under her belt. A former quantitative market researcher focusing on fast-moving consumer goods, Alex’s love for sport and excellent administration brought her to the sport sector nearly 14 years ago, and the start of her administrative career. We of course discuss Alex's career change and her learnings from this, as well as her huge appetite for learning and development and why this matters. Alex's current employer is Sport England. Sport England are an ar...2023-07-0359 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Twenty Two - Interview with Sarah Howson, Director of Strategic PA Recruitment & Strategic PA NetworkThis weeks interview is with the incredible Sarah Howson. Sarah is Co Founder and Director of The Strategic PA Network & Strategic PA Recruitment. We chat to Sarah about her career story with a big chunk of her early childhood spent living in the USA , before coming back to the UK and continuing her education. Sarah talks through her journey as an assistant and what she learned along the way. In addition to setting up a PA network, which has grown to include awards. Making the leap to business owner which launched at t...2023-06-2345 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Twenty One - Interview with Dalya Perry-Bernstein, Carter Gem Properties & EPAA's new ChairDalya is an award-winning Executive Assistant with over 15 years of progressive experience within the EA/PA industry and also EPAA's new chair. She has been EA to a high profile/high net worth Entrepreneur & Philanthropist since 2010 and has since been promoted to Director.In 2013, she was 1st runner up in the Executive PA Magazine PA of the Year Awards and in 2014 won the Pitman Training Super Achievers PA of the Year Award. This has allowed Dalya to be invited as a guest speaker for many PA networking and training events throughout t...2023-06-1253 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Twenty - Interview with Vanessa Vallely OBE, Managing Director of WeAreTheCity2023-05-2859 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Nineteen - Interview with Emily Broadbent of Pregnant then ScrewedThis weeks episode is with incredible Emily Broadbent of the UK charity Pregnant then Screwed. Pregnant then Screwed was set up in 2015 by Joeli Brearley. Two days after she informed her employer that she was pregnant with her first child, Joeli Brearley was sacked from her job by voicemail. She was four months pregnant and unemployed with bills to pay. She knew this wasn't a unique experience. The charity is dedicated to ending the motherhood penalty, supporting tens of thousands of women each year, and successfully campaigning for change.Emily is the S...2023-05-1941 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Eighteen - Interview with Clare Hall, Manager at ArupWelcome to this next episode of the show! This weeks guest is the incredible Clare Hall, who currently works for Arup. Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world.We discuss Clare's entire career and life along the way. Leaving school and making a move into the travel industry Making a life changing decision to leave the UK and...2023-05-0556 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Seventeen - Interview with Julie Perrine, Founder & CEO of All Things AdminJulie Perrine is an executive assistant turned CEO and the founder of All Things Admin. She is also an enthusiastic trainer, author, Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Administrator, perpetual planner, longtime thimble collector, and adoring aunt.As an advocate of the administrative profession, Julie encourages admins to be prepared, hone their skills, and always keep their minds open to new career opportunities. This is another action packed interview covering an incredible amount! Julie's first role as a farmers daughter and transitioning from farm to office! Her career journey through the office sphere Working in a toxi...2023-04-201h 00The Assistant LabEpisode Sixteen - Interview with Daniel Skermer, Founder of The West Midlands PA ForumThis is a hugely inspiring and motivating interview with the incredible Daniel Skermer, Founder of the West Midlands PA Forum. We cover a LOT! This episode is packed with a mammoth story of hard graft, being completely unapologetic and your authentic self. Daniel's schooling years and what happened when he first left school Staying in Turkey after a holiday and becoming an au pair His career in the travel industry and the different challenges he faced A love of Egypt! His return to the UK and the different direction his career took Working for Park Reg...2023-03-241h 31The Assistant LabEpisode Fifteen - Interview with Nick Fewings, Ngagement WorksNgagementworks was created by Nick, based on over 20 years experience of leading and working with teams throughout the world. Nick is passionate about helping both individuals and teams achieve the success they deserve and do this, by facilitating engaging workshops and delivering motivational presentations at conferences.In this episode we take Nick back to when he left school at 16 and landed at Barclays Bank, where he eventually became a Director of Change. We discuss his journey of working with a Personal Assistant and how much impact this had on his careerLaunching Ngagement Works a...2023-03-231h 01The Assistant LabEpisode Fourteen - Interview with Mairi McHaffie, Founder of SceneChangeMairi is a Personal Impact Expert and CEO of Scene Change Creative Consultants Ltd, global providers of bespoke people development initiatives across the sectors. Founder of the UK Houses of Parliament cross sector Mentoring Programme, Storytelling Expert for the European Women In Leadership Programme at Coca Cola and founder of the Graduate Professional Consultant Programme for Oracle.Mairi specialises in face to face and online coaching sessions on Communication Skills, Resilience, Confidence and Body Language, Impact and Influencing, Presentation Skills, Coaching, Managing People Through Change, Unconscious Bias, Emotional Intelligence and delivers high level role-play sessions on Client...2023-03-061h 03The Assistant LabEpisode Thirteen - Interview with Ben Stevenson, Chief of Staff at BloomWe are excited to be joined by Ben Stevenson on this episode of The Assistant Lab. Ben is Chief of Staff at North East Headquartered Bloom Procurement Services. Over the last 10 years, he has built an exciting career in operational and C-Suite support roles than have allowed him to live and work in all four corners of the UK and embed the unique skills and experiences from each into his role today. Driven by Bloom’s purpose, Ben is motivated to make the company’s strategic goals and objectives by doing whatever it takes t...2023-03-061h 03The Assistant LabEpisode Twelve - Interview with Leeanne Adu, Award Winning Executive Assistant and Founder of LAVAWe are super excited to release this episode of The Assistant Lab, with one of the UK's most inspiring assistants! Big words, but 100% the truth. Leeanne Adu is a former Executive Assistant, who is award winning and spent most of her career in the UK Third Sector. She has achieved a huge amount, under really challenging and exceptional circumstances. Special Lee (you will find out more in the podcast why she had this nickname) doesn't hold back during this interview and is completely honest about what worked and hasn't during her professi...2023-02-011h 20The Assistant LabEpisode Eleven - Interview with Abigail Langridge of Poppins PAWe are delighted to welcome Abigail Langridge to this weeks episode. Abigail is the Founder and Owner of Poppins PA. A private Personal Assistant company which supports business people and their families. They work with you & not for you. Being on your side, making suggestions, using our initiative & judgement to help you succeed & flourish in your world.We alleviate that ‘noise’ that you carry around with you, all those things that keep you awake at night. Abigail didn't intend to become an assistant. Indeed, she was in the middle of a law degr...2023-01-201h 08The Assistant LabEpisode Ten - Interview with Gill Quirk, Former EA at the Ministry of DefenceWhat can we say about the amazing Gill Quirk!?! Gill has recently retired after a 40 year career at the Ministry of Defence and arguably one of the most famous Assistants to come out of the UK Civil Service! Born in the Isle of Man, Gill started her career there with local government, before making the bold move to London and commencing what was to be an awe inspiring career with the MoD. Gill's career as an assistant at the Mod meant she got the opportunity work in Cairo, New Delhi, Athens and Kula Lum...2023-01-101h 31The Assistant LabEpisode Nine - Interview with Kam Vara, Katie Bard Recruitment (Angela Mortimer Group)Welcome to the next episode of The Assistant Lab. We invited top recruiter, Kam Vara from Katie Bard Recruitment to come and talk all things recruitment. We discussed her background from completing a law degree to finding her perfect profession in recruitment. Kam has been at Katie Bard Recruitment for over 20 years. Katie Bard is based in Birmingham. They recruit permanent and temporary staff across the Midlands for a full range of office support and executive roles. We cover a multitude of topics within this lively discussion: Why s...2022-11-291h 07
The Assistant LabEpisode Eight - Interview with award winning EA Shirwyn WeberWelcome to the next episode of The Assistant Lab! Wow - is one word to describe this amazing interview with Shirwyn. Shirwyn talks us through his extraordinary career to date, which included being the first man and first person of colour to win the South African PA of the Year award in 2019. We also discuss the impact of the Not Just a Girls Job campaign, an EPAA UK campaign to look at the gender split between male vs females in the roles. As someone who has moved from South Africa to the...2022-11-201h 14The Assistant LabEpisode Seven - Interview with Fiona Shea, EA to Sir Nigel Wilson, Group CEO of Legal & GeneralWelcome to another episode of The Assistant Lab! This time we are joined by Fiona Shea, EA to Sir Nigel Wilson, Group CEO of Legal & General. Legal & General are a leading UK financial services provider, offering life insurance, pensions, retirement and investment services. Fiona has had such an interesting career to date. We chatted through her entire journey, including being an assistant at Enron when they collapsed and made worldwide business news! A short period of being out of work followed, before making her next move to PWC, which provided amble oppo...2022-09-2852 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Six - Interview with Julie Burns, Head of Vice Chancellors Office, Glasgow Caledonian UniversityJulie Burns has had a really interesting career, starting as an Office Junior in 1988, to her current role at Glasgow Caledonian University. We talk to Julie about her career journey and why she made some of the decisions she made, to what makes her really tick at work and in life. Julie also gives her thoughts on what we need to do as a profession to attract the younger generations, recruitment and confidence for those already in a business support role. This is a seriously inspiring interview, from someone who has made good car...2022-09-231h 03
The Assistant LabEpisode Five - Interview with Rosemary McLennan, Founder of the Scottish PA NetworkWe really had the opportunity of a lifetime to get to know the backstory, from someone who very much prefers to be behind the scenes.This woman has zero ego and quietly goes about her work. She has worked ferociously hard for the profession and it was our opportunity to really thank her for this! A lot of ground is covered in this episode, from her dreams aged 8 of working in TV, to working as a PA and now leading SPAN.You will enjoy this! You can listen to The...2022-09-011h 06The Assistant LabEpisode Four - Interview with Ayca Ilcen, EA to CEO of Trust for LondonAyca Ilcen is one of those gems in the UK EA/PA industry and we are so pleased to be able to share her career story! Ayca currently works as EA to the CEO of Trust for London, a charity which works on some of London's most pressing social issues, aiming to improve the lives of Londoners by increasing pay, reducing costs of living and supporting community groups to thrive. Find out more about them here. Ayca had an interesting start to her career after completing her University degree and has spent most of her car...2022-08-231h 00The Assistant LabEpisode Three - Interview with Hannah Gough, Executive Assistant at HollisIn this epidsode we talk to the remarkable Hannah Gough. An incredible journey with lots of lessons along the way and many pearls of wisdom to share.We talk about people management, interviews, temp positions and so much more.Thank you Hannah for a superb interviewTo find out more about the co-hosts please visit our respective websitesVictoria Wratten of EPAA - https://epaa.org.uk/ Anel Martin - http://www.anelmartin.co.za/If you enjoyed this episode please help us spread the word to your network an...2022-08-1854 minThe Assistant LabEpisode Two: Economic turmoil and your assistant careerIn this episode we discuss the recent news from the Bank of England, that the UK is due to go into recession in the latter part of this year. We talk tough on the practical realities of charging your career through tough economic times. The difficult times some will be facing with inevitable layoffs that will happen in some sectors and how to start building some mental resilience to charge through this tricky period. With some hard hitting tips on being more strategic and savvy, and why assistants need to start to get a bit m...2022-08-0538 minThe Assistant LabEpisode One - Interview with Katie McEwan, Business Affairs & Communications Manager, Ann Summers (plus Chair of EPAA)In this first episode we interview the lovely Katie McEwan about her incredible career journey to date and she shares some wonderful advice on career and mindset.From an interesting start of her working career, over 10 years as Jacqueline Gold’s Assistant, then transitioning to Business Affairs and Communications Manager, (still for Ann Summers). She shares how being an EA prepared her for her current role and has great insights into the behaviours of a top tier assistant.We hope you will enjoy this episodePlease remember to subscribe to our podcast and sh...2022-07-2837 min