Dee 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. We invite Senior EAs and PAs such as Hannah to feature in our PA Profile. What life and career choices and milestones have led to your current…
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 moreWe spoke to Danielle Francis, Executive Assistant at Ankura Consulting, about her role that extends to mentoring other PAs and EAs and also to organising work social and charity activities. I’ve been in my role for 3 years and support the Chairman for EMEA & APAC, Head of People and 2 Senior Managing Directors. I have worked in the Business…
read moreWe sat down with Juliet Tolley, PA at the Home Office, Digital Data and Technology department, with over 30 years of experience within the Government, to uncover what her dream job looks like. How did you come to be a Personal Assistant? I always wanted to be a secretary! I was born organised and really enjoy helping make other people’s…
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 moreThis month we sat down with Gemma Elnaugh, EA to the CEO at Women in Games, to talk about working at a not-for-profit organisation, the challenges and rewards of organising virtual events, and the importance of community… Tell us about your journey to become Executive Assistant at Women in Games. I started working as a PA part time for a…
read moreEighteen months ago no-one could have foreseen the profound changes a global pandemic would inflict on our working and home lives. Orlaith O’Brien, EA to five executives at tech giant Endava, recounts how she has adapted… Tell us about your role. I work for a company called Endava, an information technology and services provider. My role is Executive Assistant to…
read moreSuzy Sanders quit the 9-5 when she fell pregnant and wanted to spend more time at home. She became a Virtual Assistant, realised she could help others looking to do the same and then set up the Alchemy VA franchise. She tells all to PA Life… Why did you choose to become a Virtual Assistant? My little boy is my…
read moreHaving started as a PA 15 years ago, Terri Leary transitioned into a Virtual Assistant after a travelling break in South East Asia. This new role has given her the freedom to work from home or a beach in Bali. PA Life asks about her career and her top tips for PAs, EAs and VAs… Tell us how you became…
read moreCommunication is key to being a great assistant, especially if you’re a PA to three Directors in the Group Communications department at the UK’s biggest retail chain. PA Life visited Tesco HQ in Welwyn Garden City to discover how Marie Bliss has honed her skills over 14 years… How did you become an Assistant? I stumbled into it 14 years…
read moreCurrently EA at Spotify, Stuart Martin began his career some 13 years ago when very few males were given PA or EA roles. He talks to PA Life about breaking down industry perceptions, challenging bosses and achieving the work/life balance thanks to his employer’s focus on staff wellbeing… How did you become an Assistant? I worked through the summer of…
read moreMonica Lien is the PA for the broadcaster Pat Sharp. Under her married name of Monica Sharp, she’s also his wife. PA Life speaks to her about the peculiarities of working for a man within the media industry – who is also her spouse… How did you meet Pat? It was at a nightclub in Norway, I was visiting a…
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 the Ministry of Defence to talk to…
read moreCorina Dumitrascu had finished studying Law in her home country of Romania when she made the snap decision to follow some of her family to the UK. Using many transferable skills (organisation and diplomacy, for starters), she has forged a career as a PA, rising to her current role as Senior PA & Head of the PA team at Clarion…
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…
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