• The future of the profession with Melba J. Duncan
    2025/05/21

    171: Melba J. Duncan is the Founder and President of The Duncan Group Inc., a retained search and consulting firm. Since 1985, the firm has been advising CEOs and other corporate leaders regarding specialized senior management support resources. Ms. Duncan was Assistant to The Hon. Peter G. Peterson, Founder of The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Chairman Emeritus and Co-Founder of The Blackstone Group, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated, and former Secretary of Commerce.

    In her prior position, she was Assistant to Sanford C. Bernstein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., a New York Stock Exchange member firm, where she was elected Corporate Secretary and became a stockholder.

    Ms. Duncan is an experienced public speaker. She has served as keynote speaker at the American Management Association’s Annual Conference for Executive Secretaries & Administrative Assistants. Ms. Duncan has served as chairperson for the Marcus Evans Executaries Forums, held in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Toronto, and Montreal. Ms. Duncan has delivered the keynote address to the EA&PA Congress Series in Sydney, Australia, and Adelaide, Australia, respectively and served as Keynote for the EA/PA Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

    Ms. Duncan has served as Keynote and Conference Host for the Bermuda Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals and has served as a presenter at the World Bank, Washington DC, responding to the topic “Shaping your future: Maintaining Your Competitiveness.”

    Articles and Video:​

    Indispensability and Legacy: Interview – Melba Duncan and Lucy Brazier OBE: https://lnkd.in/eQigh3iU

    Harvard Business Review: The Secret Weapon of Great Leaders (HBR Video): https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-secret-weapon-of-great-lea

    The Essential Assistant: Secretariado Master Class (São Paulo, Brazil) (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCgs2yFxyyg

    Harvard Business Review: What Executive Assistants Know About Managing Up: https://hbr.org/2014/12/what-executive-assistants-know-about-managing-up

    Harvard Business Review: May 2011: The Case for Executive Assistants: http://hbr.org/2011/05/the-case-for-executive-assistants/ar/1

    Books by Melba J. Duncan:

    - Indispensability: Administrative Intelligence - The Importance of the Other AI (Centenary University Press, June 2025)

    - EQ/IQ Developing Emotional Intelligence for Effective Executive Support (Open Hand Press, 2021)

    - The New Executive Assistant: Advice for Succeeding as an Executive or Administrative Assistant (McGraw Hill, 1997)

    - How To Succeed in Business As An Executive Assistant (Collier Books, 1990)

    More about the podcast:

    Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    36 分
  • Assistenz, Moderation und Ausbildung zum Chief of Staff mit Jägermeister EA Chantal Thyes
    2025/05/07

    170: Chantal Thyes ist eine erfahrene Vorstandsassistentin mit fundiertem Hintergrund in strategischem Executive Support, Unternehmenskommunikation und Office Management. Aktuell unterstützt sie seit 2022 den Vorstand der MAST-Jägermeister SE in organisatorischen und kommunikativen Belangen.

    Zuvor war sie u. a. als Referentin für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit beim vedec e.V. sowie mehrere Jahre als Assistenz der Geschäftsführung tätig. Parallel engagiert sie sich seit 2020 als freie Rednerin für persönliche Zeremonien. Akademisch verfügt sie über einen Masterabschluss in Human Resource Management sowie einen Bachelor in Wirtschaftspsychologie (FOM Hochschule) und bildet sich derzeit zum zertifizierten Chief of Staff (Haufe Akademie & Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Management) fort.

    Ihre Arbeitsweise ist geprägt von hoher Professionalität, Kommunikationsstärke und Organisationstalent auf Top-Level.

    Chief of Staff Ausbildung: https://www.haufe-akademie.de/41675

    Links zu Chantal:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantal-thyes-484513199/
    https://www.instagram.com/unforgettablemomentsbychantalt/

    Weitere Links:

    🔴 Folge auf YouTube anschauen: https://youtu.be/E19iHjCSvwI

    Diana auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    42 分
  • ADHD and an assistant career by accident
    2025/04/23

    169: Jodie Mears is a strategic C-Suite Executive Assistant, a respected thought leader in the administrative profession, and LinkedIn Top Voice, recognised with the Blue Badge for her industry expertise. With over 20+ years of experience spanning aviation, energy, and digital sectors, she currently supports C-Suite executives at Bentley Systems, combining high-level executive support with operational excellence and strategic business partnerships.

    As the co-host of “The Crodie Files” podcast and an Advisory Board Member for The PA Show-UK, Jodie is passionate about elevating the administrative profession. Her highly sought-after mentoring and coaching program, which maintains a waitlist into 2025, offers a unique bespoke six-session approach to helping administrative professionals transform their existing talents into career-advancing strengths.

    A certified Mental Health First Aider and Regional Wellness Lead, Jodie regularly shares her insights through speaking engagements, her monthly newsletter “The Assist List,” and industry publications.

    Connect with Jodie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiemears or visit http://craigandjodie.com/.

    ⬇️ Offer from Jodie:

    From Overlooked to Empowered – £50 Off Podcast Listeners Aspire & Achieve by Jodie Mears

    I know what it feels like to be overlooked, to work tirelessly behind the scenes and wonder if my contributions were truly valued. For years, I played it safe, staying in the background until I realised that visibility isn’t about shouting the loudest, it’s about owning your value.
    That realisation changed everything. I built my personal brand, stepped into strategic conversations, and transformed my career, and now, I help others do the same.
    That’s why I created https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/special-edition-newsletter-jodie-mears-finstam-aqage/, a mentoring & coaching program designed for assistants ready to move from support to strategic partner.
    What past participants say:

    💬 “I could not have got to where I am without your help. You were instrumental in helping me navigate my next move.”
    💬 “Your session reignited my passion for personal branding, something I had let slip this year. I’m excited to get back into it!”

    💬 “The way you combine enthusiasm with practical, relatable advice made such a difference. I’ve already started implementing the learning!”

    Executive Office Insights podcast followers: get £50 off this 6-session programme
    If you’re ready to step up, be seen, and grow your career, connect with Jodie to book a FREE 30-minute intro call. Let’s make your next move your best one yet!

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    🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eqyb9NIh3uQ

    Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    41 分
  • Strategic Partner in the Executive Suite with Anne Marie Otanez
    2025/04/09

    168: Anne Marie Otañez is an accomplished Chief of Staff and author of The Chief of Staff: An Insider's Guide to Becoming a Strategic Partner in the Executive Suite. With over 20 years of leadership experience, including a tenure at Microsoft, Anne Marie has navigated the complexities of executive roles with resilience and grace. As a Black woman and daughter of immigrants, she brings a unique and empathetic perspective to leadership, emphasizing the importance of organizational alignment, team trust, and personal well-being. She is the Founder of Own Your Power with Anne Marie, an organization focused on Executive Coaching with an eye to the Chief of Staff domain as well as the creator of The Chief of Staff Academy.

    🔴 Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xfqaRusLauE

    Find her at :

    Website: http://www.annemarieotanez.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieotanez/

    Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ownyourpowerwithannemarie/

    Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/thechiefofstaff.bsky.social

    Buy her book at

    IngramSpark: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=TdSItQBD9yVM8a31YkRLXvTkLz3lwIjhwLbdN2Np1UV

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJX2RBH?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

    ---

    Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    52 分
  • Natural Leading: Moderne Führung – Natur, Achtsamkeit & Resilienz
    2025/03/26

    167: In dieser Folge spreche ich mit den erfahrenen Expertinnen und Coaches Alexandra und Bea. Sie geben uns Einblicke in ihre Arbeit und insbesondere in ihr neues Seminar Format “Natural Leading”.

    Die Welt dreht sich immer schneller, Anforderungen steigen, Erwartungen wachsen – von außen und von dir selbst. Als Führungskraft bist du ständig präsent, triffst Entscheidungen, motivierst, hältst zusammen und gehst voran. Doch reicht es wirklich aus, einfach nur durchzuhalten?

    Im Seminar "Natural Leading" geht es um mehr als das. Es geht darum, aus der Endlosschleife auszubrechen, bewusst durchzuatmen und den Blick für das Wesentliche zu schärfen. Es geht um Resilienz statt Dauerstress, um Stabilität und Klarheit, um nachhaltige Führung, die nicht auf Hektik basiert, sondern auf Weitblick.

    Ein wichtiges Format, das Alexandra und Bea hier geschaffen haben.

    🔴 Folge auf YouTube anschauen: https://youtu.be/DkUYI8W28vc

    Link zum Seminar: https://www.coachingraum-karlsbad.com/deutsch/seminaranmeldung-natural-leading-1/

    Mehr zu Alexandra:
    Website: https://www.coachingraum-karlsbad.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-gebhardt/

    Mehr zu Bea:
    Webseite: https://auszeitnatur.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beate-von-borcke-968079205/

    ---
    Diana auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    46 分
  • Executive Partnership & Career Growth: A Success Story
    2025/03/19

    166: Want to know how certifications, mentorship, and leadership can transform your career? In this episode, Mia Lane shares her incredible journey from customer service to becoming a senior executive assistant and leader. She reveals the secrets to career growth, the power of mentorship, and how investing in certifications shaped her success.

    Mia also opens up about balancing personal and professional life, lessons from her father, and why self-care is non-negotiable.

    🔹 How mentorship can change your career
    🔹 The importance of certifications in professional growth
    🔹 Leadership lessons and managing a team
    🔹 Balancing work, family, and self-care

    Mia’s background spans three decades of experience in executive support, including at the C-suite level. As a certified professional, she is dedicated to driving business excellence. She excels in building strategic partnerships, optimizing workflows, and enabling transparent communication to support executives in achieving their objectives. In Mia’s current capacity, she holds a dual role: supporting an executive and managing a team of executive assistants.

    As Manager of Executive and Administration, Mia leads her team with a focus on fostering efficiency, communication, and collaboration. Her management approach is centered on the belief that every team member’s contribution is vital to collective success, and she strives to create an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, valued, and respected.

    A guiding principle in Mia’s leadership approach is ensuring individuals recognize their inherent worth - a lesson instilled by her father, whose words she often shares: “You are somebody!”

    LinkedIn Profile:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/miamlane/

    Below are the links and details of the organizations associated with my certifications:

    International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
    Website: https://www.iaap-hq.org/
    Membership: https://www.iaap-hq.org/general/register_member_type.asp
    Certified Administrative Professional (CAP): https://www.iaap-hq.org/page/CAP_Certification
    Certified Administrative Professional (Expert): https://www.iaap-capstone.org/

    American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP)

    Website: https://www.asaporg.com/
    Membership: https://www.asaporg.com/join
    Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE): https://www.asaporg.com/pace


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    Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vt3r7wduMuM

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    48 分
  • AI won’t take your job, people using AI will - IT Professor Hoisington
    2025/03/12

    165: Travel. AI. Career Growth. This video is packed with insights on how global experiences shape perspectives, how AI is revolutionizing work, and how personal growth can change your life.

    100+ Countries & Lessons Learned: Discover why exposing children and professionals to different cultures fosters creativity and adaptability.

    AI in the Workplace: Learn about AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot. Find out how to use AI safely in business and why 90% of employers now look for AI skills.

    From Assistant to AI Trainer: A true success story—how one career pivot led to global opportunities and writing 45+ textbooks.

    ---

    Corinne promises to make you love Microsoft a little more again. You will discover how to produce amazing professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and with the use of breath-taking shortcuts, it needn’t take you hours!

    Corinne Hoisington is a full-time Professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, VA training our future Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, and Admins.

    Corinne also travels over 200,000 miles a year providing keynote motivational topics and training to corporations, small businesses, admin conferences in over 70 worldwide cities this year for such customers as the Microsoft Corporation, Executive Assistant Live London/Johannesburg/Sydney/Wellington, Prague World Economic Forum, Cengage Learning, the international South by Southwest event, APC Conference, Capital One World Admins day, and many others.

    Professor Hoisington is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Business and Computing. Corinne presently has authored over thirty textbooks with Cengage Learning/National Geographic such as the Microsoft Outlook 365, Office 365, Windows 10, Technology Now, and Visual Basic with App Development.

    Website: https://professorcorinne.com/

    App recommendation by Corinne: https://mindtrip.ai/

    AI course: https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/unlocking-the-ai-revolution-earn-your-microsoft-ai-certification-badge/

    ---

    🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ca9l87GRTp4

    Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter

    Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS

    Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

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    38 分
  • Hinter den Kulissen des modernen Office
    2025/03/07

    Willkommen bei Executive Office Insights! In diesem Trailer stellt Host Diana Brandl den Podcast vor – eine Plattform für alle, die das moderne Office der Zukunft mitgestalten. Erfahre, worauf du dich freuen kannst: inspirierende Gespräche mit Top-Executives, Celebrity Assistenzen und Branchenexpert:innen aus der ganzen Welt. Leadership, Executive Support und echte Erfolgsgeschichten – kompakt in einem Podcast. Jetzt reinhören!

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    1 分