As PA Life marks its 15th anniversary, we’re shining a spotlight on the exceptional professionals who make the UK’s assistant community into the inspiring, ever evolving professionals they are today. ‘Amazing Assistants’ is a celebration of the Executive Assistants and other executive support professionals who elevate businesses, support leaders, and keep organisations moving forward—often behind the scenes and always with remarkable skill. We are delighted to talk to Charlene Parkin, Business Manager at Delfin Private Office, and a PA Life Club member, about her experiences and memories of PA Life…
Through this series, we share the stories, insights and experiences of assistants who have shaped their careers with the support of PA Life and the PA Life Club. From transformative events and fam trips to mentoring, exclusive offers and practical learning, their journeys highlight the power of a strong peer network in a constantly evolving profession.
How did you first discover PA Life, and in what ways has it supported you throughout your career?
I first became aware of PA Life through the online magazine and conversations with other assistants, shortly after moving from the agri-food technology sector into a family office advisory firm. My role as an EA had already broadened into an evolving range of responsibilities, but the transition into Family Office and Wealth Advisory brought a different level of complexity and a more relationship-driven environment.
Since then, in my role at Delfin, where I continue to support senior leadership whilst also taking on broader responsibilities across operations and internal coordination, PA Life has provided a helpful perspective on how the role is evolving. The networking events have been particularly valuable, offering the opportunity to connect with peers, exchange experiences and gain practical insight into how others are approaching similar challenges.
Looking back over your time in the profession, what role has a peer network—such as the PA Life Club—played in your personal and professional development?
The peer networking events have provided an important external perspective in my development. The EA role often sits across multiple areas of a business, but without direct equivalents internally, so there is real value in being able to share experiences with others who understand the position.
As my role has expanded beyond executive support into operations, systems and broader business responsibilities, that network has helped me understand that this progression is part of a wider shift within the profession. It has provided both reassurance and practical insight into how others are structuring their roles and contributing at a more strategic level.
It has also helped build my confidence. Listening to how others have approached similar challenges, or stepped into new areas of responsibility, makes it easier to recognise where I can do the same. That shared experience has been important in giving me the confidence to take on a broader remit and to see that development as a natural extension of the role.
Over the past fifteen years, the assistant role has evolved significantly. It is now far more closely aligned to the operational and strategic functioning of a business, rather than being seen purely as administrative support.
Platforms such as PA Life have played an important role in supporting that shift by highlighting the breadth of the profession and showcasing how roles can develop over time. From my own experience, having started in a more traditional PA/EA capacity and seeing my responsibilities naturally broaden into areas such as operations and internal coordination, and now extending further into a more general business management remit, it is clear that this progression is becoming more widely recognised.
By giving visibility to these evolving roles, PA Life has helped shape a more modern understanding of what the position can be, and where it can lead over time.
You’ve likely attended PA Life events, fam trips, or training sessions—can you share a standout experience and why it was valuable to you in your role?
The most valuable aspect of the events has been the opportunity for open and practical conversations. The networking element, in particular, allows for more candid discussions, often moving beyond traditional EA responsibilities into areas such as systems, processes and business operations.
That has been particularly relevant in my role at Delfin, where I sit across both executive support and broader business coordination. As a family office advisory firm working across multiple advisers and jurisdictions, being able to draw on the experiences of others has helped shape how I approach the operational side of my role.
Alongside this, the PA Life online magazine has been a useful resource. It provides a regular overview of how the profession is evolving, as well as practical insights that can be applied in day-to-day work. Combined with the events, it creates a balance between staying informed and learning through direct experience.
How has having access to free resources—such as exclusive offers, mentoring, and training—helped you stay ahead as an executive support professional?
As the role expands, so too does the range of knowledge required. Access to resources and training helps support that transition, particularly when moving into areas that sit outside traditional executive support. In a fast-paced family office advisory environment, where priorities can shift quickly, that ability to stay informed and adapt is particularly important.
In my role, that has included implementing systems, supporting business development processes and exploring new technologies such as AI-supported tools and a CRM. Having access to shared knowledge and practical guidance makes it easier to approach these areas with greater structure and confidence, rather than starting from first principles.
What do you think sets PA Life and the PA Life Club apart from other industry networks for executive support professionals?
What sets PA Life apart is how closely it reflects the reality of the role and it is much more aligned to what assistants are actually dealing with day to day.
There is a clear understanding that the role often extends beyond traditional executive support into broader business involvement, and that comes through in both the content and the conversations. It feels relevant, which is important, as it makes it easier to take something away and apply it in practice.
The strength of the network is also a key part of it. It gives you access to people who understand the role in a similar way, which makes the conversations more useful and, ultimately, more impactful.
For assistants who haven’t yet joined the PA Life Club, what would you say to them about the importance of connecting with peers and accessing a supportive professional community?
I would say it is a very valuable resource. The role can be quite internal to the business, so it is easy to lose sight of how it is evolving more broadly. Being connected to a wider network gives you a better sense of how others are working and how their roles are developing. Over time, that can shape how you approach your role and where you see you can add further value.
You can connect with Charlene in LinkedIn.
