Since publishing this PA Profile Profile we have learned the sad news of a tragic passing of Anna Petrides whilst on holiday. Her employer Indurent posted the devastating update on LinkedIn, describing Anna as Anna the beating heart of the company. “Universally popular amongst her colleagues, she was an integral part of our business, in its various forms, for over…
read moreIn our recent PA Life Summer 2026 Issue we talk to Claudine Martin, a driven executive support professional who’s spent close to 17 years in the British Army, majority of this time as a soldier. She was even deployed in Iraq for 6 months before requesting to work as a PA at the MoD… Since her army days, Claudine has…
read morePA Life talks to Caroline Barnard, an outstanding EA whose impressive nomination and testimonials by her executives won her the PA Star of the Year 2025 award in November… Caroline strives in the demanding and busy environment of one of the world’s leading academic publishers, Cambridge University Press, now joined with the Assessment operation which develops and delivers trusted, world-leading…
read morePA Life discusses the fast-paced career of exceptional assistants in our quarterly magazines. The winter issue’s PA Profile of Angélique Wong reveals how this inspirational EA to C-Suite from Loughton, Essex, balances work demands with family life, enjoying travel, songwriting, and being a mom. These creative outlets fuel her energy, perspective, and drive to keep evolving… Can you tell us…
read morePA Life met up with Matthias Jahn, an experienced Executive Assistant working at a global investment bank in London… Matthias is originally from a small town just outside Berlin, where he embarked on an education at a hospitality school after his A-levels. The three-year training included a year abroad to gain work experience, which he spent in London. The city…
read moreWe interviewed Charlotte Colley, Senior EA, for PA Life’s Spring 2025 Issue’s PA Profile. Charlotte is described by her former boss as a game-changer, someone who goes above and beyond, consistently with incredible attention to detail and careful consideration. She is curious, wanting to learn, always looking for new skills and knowledge, bringing fresh ideas and energy to work and…
read morePA Life Winter Issue 2024 features Amanda Redfern, EA to Chief Executive, London Market Division, Odyssey Group as our PA Profile… Amanda has proven to be highly motivated, organised and capable of working to tight deadlines over the past ten years that she’s been in an assistant role. She thrives under pressure, yet maintains a good work/life balance – a…
read morePA Life Autumn Issue 2024 PA Profile interview features Jodie Mears who embraces and balances multiple professional opportunities. We found out how she fits it all into her busy life as a strategic career EA. Jodie has over 20 years’ of experience supporting C-Suite executives with expertise spanning senior leadership support, ethics and compliance, and also employee engagement. She is…
read moreWe interviewed Helen Haslam, the Founder of Virtually for You, for our Summer Issue’s PA Profile. Helen runs a Virtual Assistant service, based in Cumbria. She’s worked as an Executive Assistant for over 23 years, mostly within the NHS before setting up her own VA service in Cumbria. She made the move into self-employment three years ago and have built…
read moreDee Farrell, Personal Assistant, was born and raised in Sarajevo where she was a small business owner. Several years of living in multiple countries followed before she arrived in the UK with her family in 2010. She has worked as an administrative professional in several countries and industries including education, retail, and the past eight years at The Walt Disney…
read moreOur Editor met up with Shirley Ruiz, a Senior Executive Assistant at Citi, to discuss the role of an EA, her recent move from one international banking giant to another, and what career success looks like to her. What are the most important life and career choices and milestones that have led to your current role? I have been at…
read moreOur Editor had the pleasure of sitting down with Hannah Houston-Banks, an Executive Assistant at Associated British Foods, to discuss her role at a company behind many beloved British food and retail brands. The PA Profile is a core feature in each PA Life issue, and it’s a real pleasure to share the career stories of EAs, PAs, VAs and…
read moreOur Editor met with an inspiring EA to interview her for our series of PA Profiles. Mei Suen is an EA and Business Assistant at Integrella, a digital integration company. She has a huge impact on the company as she single-handedly manages all the office and business admin to help the tasks of everyone, from the junior consultants to C-Level…
read moreOur recent PA Profile interview is with Anita Payne, Assistant at Pan European Equities at Schroders. She shares her top tips and insights from her role, and discusses the rapidly changing workplace, plus the need to look after the wellbeing of you and your team. What was your journey like into your career as a PA? I’ve worked for Schroders…
read moreWe asked Ashley Archer, Personal Assistant to a Finance Director at Standard Chartered, about her career journey, the challenges, highlights and why she loves her PA role 14 years in. “My name is Ashley, I’m from Essex and have worked as a PA in London for approximately 14 years. I’m a regular gym goer and like to try new activities…
read moreIt’s not unusual for women to look for a new career path when they’ve had a baby. A switch from kids to camouflage isn’t something you hear about every day, though. But that’s exactly what happened to Claudine Martin – or Colour Sergeant Martin to give Claudine her official title. Lisa Carter visited Claudine Martin at Ministry of Defence to…
read moreWorking so closely to someone in the public eye requires a certain level of discretion, something which Abi Sangster, EA to Mary Portas, is all too familiar with. PA Life sat down with her to find out why she never planned on becoming an assistant, and how her gregarious personality has led her to achieve such a close-working relationship with…
read moreIt’s clear that the Coca-Cola brand runs through the veins of Samina Azam, EA to VP at Coca-Cola European Partners – her passion is palpable. With such a varied job role, Jade Burke visits the company’s headquarters in Uxbridge to find out why upskilling is so important to her and how she has overcome stereotypes during her career. Coca-Cola’s GB…
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