Joelle Paban 
In today’s fast-paced business environment, executives are expected to juggle an overwhelming number of priorities and responsibilities ranging from strategic planning to client meetings, risk assessments to crisis management and the basic bottom line of the company. It’s surprising, though, that many executives overlook their most underutilized asset that is quite literally sitting in front … Read more
This year marks EA Direct Connect’s fifth-annual luncheon, where we honor Central Florida’s administrative professionals with exceptional food, drinks, camaraderie and swag. At EA Direct Connect, we deliver the best experience because we understand, as former administrative professionals, that executive and administrative assistants often “eat last.” Once again, we will return to The Tampa Club. … Read more
As a recruiter, my first go-to candidate is someone who has depth, personality and has navigated some real-life experiences. Many times though, they have little-to-no college experience. This begs the question: Should a job requirement for an executive assistant be a college degree? It’s crazy to me that so many job descriptions read like this: … Read more
Aril is the fourth month of the year and the month when Administrative Appreciation Day is celebrated. This year, National Administrative Professionals’ Day falls on April 24, 2024. That’s a whole lot of fours. This made me think about the meaning of the number four. Here’s what Google says: the number four is related … Read more
Underdogs are highly regarded, and celebrated, throughout history and sports. Think JK Rowling, Robin Hood and King Arthur. The “Cinderella team”— Miracle on Ice. Underdogs are legendary because they defy the odds, and the naysayers, and are, generally, quite unassuming. Something grips them in the moment, where they are faced with either success or failure, … Read more
Have you ever found yourself pondering, “Do I need a strategic partner or is my executive assistant ready to level up and become the MVP in strategic moves?” Let’s ditch the formality, grab a virtual pinky promise and dive into what sets a strategic partner apart from a traditional executive assistant. In my experience, a … Read more
Depending who you ask, the term “executive assistant” can take on different meanings. For instance, like many of today’s traditional corporate roles, the EA position has greatly evolved, over the last few years. The EA is no longer a “politically correct” name for the “back-in-the-day secretary” whose primary focus, and function, was fetching coffee and … Read more
