In 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 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 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 moreWelcome to our autumn issue! It’s been particularly rewarding for us to work on this issue with sustainability as the common theme in every article and feature, where possible. We are very grateful for all our contributors and advertisers for sharing their sustainability efforts and plans, and demonstrating that they have not had to compromise the quality of their products…
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 moreBusiness travel remains a vital part of how organisations build relationships, drive growth and collaborate globally. But behind every seamless trip is an EA or PA juggling rising costs, complex itineraries, last-minute changes and increasing expectations from stakeholders. What EAs & PAs want from business travel support is their own designated travel expert… On top of all this, the pressure…
read morePA Life talks to Suzanna Reid Barreiro da Silva, Managing Director at Unique Venues Birmingham, a collective of community focused spaces that are a great choice for corporate events… How does your collective model enhance visibility, credibility, and choice for corporate bookers, compared to engaging individual venues directly? Launched in 2017, Unique Venues Birmingham (UVB) exists to explore mutually advantageous…
read moreIn an era where technology and workplace expectations are rapidly evolving, career empowerment has never been more essential. Especially for executive and personal assistants navigating increasingly strategic roles. To explore how professionals can strengthen their personal brand and stay ahead of change, we spoke with Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at LiveCareer. Jasmine shares her insights on how EAs and PAs…
read moreOver five billion people use the internet daily, making a well-managed website an essential digital point of contact. If your company’s site is outdated, hard to navigate, or poorly maintained, it can damage its professional reputation just as much as a missed meeting or typo-filled report. We discuss reasons for why PAs should manage their company’s website… As a professional…
read moreJanuary is a time when many of us look for new opportunities. To make the most of your plans there is one key skill we all need and that’s Emotional intelligence. We look at how important EI is for Executive Assistants (EAs) as their role has evolved fast over the recent years and far beyond traditional administrative tasks. Today’s EAs…
read morePersonal Assistants and Executive Assistants are dedicated professionals, who are always seeking ways to enhance their skills, increase their job satisfaction and advance their careers. With 27 October marking National Mentoring Day, now is an ideal time to explore the role that both mentoring and coaching can play in the professional development of administrative and business support professionals, particularly those…
read moreThe EA and PA profession is rapidly evolving, and it can be challenging to break into, and keep up with these ever evolving roles. The rise of technology and AI has further increased the pace at which the industry is developing. Joah Freeman, a journalism student at University of Brighton spoke to our PA Life Club mentors to ask for…
read moreAs Assistants, versatility, awareness, and adaptability are key attributes that produce valuable insights in this period of change with technology and new ways of working. Jodie Mears, FInstAM, C-Suite Strategic Executive Assistant and a Co-host of The Crodie Files Podcast for all Administrative Professionals, shares invaluable advice on how to move forward in your Assistant career. While some Assistants may…
read moreIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many professionals found themselves at a crossroads in their careers. One individual who seized this opportunity for change is former law firm employee Emilie Ashwood, who transformed her knack for supporting overwhelmed colleagues into a successful virtual assistant business. And that’s not all – she has already won the National “VA of the…
read moreA Personal Assistant plays a vital role in the smooth operations of an organisation. A PA has many responsibilities ranging from managing administrative tasks, scheduling appointments, organising meetings and events, and communicating with clients and stakeholders. To stand out as a PA, you need to possess certain skills and qualities, and to excel in your duties. Natalie Richardson, an Executive…
read moreThe day-to-day role of a Personal Assistant increasingly varies from its original job description. In some cases, this might mean going the extra mile and PAs getting involved in property searches, whether it’s for their executives’ rental, sale or investment properties. As the challenge to find the right property can prove both complex and time-consuming, PAs are now in a…
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