In our regular PA Profile interview with an EA or PA, PA Life chats with Anna Petrides, a dedicated and dynamic professional who balances her role as an Executive Assistant with organising company events. She believes reliability, a great sense of humour, and strong team spirit are at the heart of a successful assistant career – qualities that saw her win Project Lead at the PA Life Star Awards 2025…
This PA Profile interview with Executive Assistant Anna Petrides was first published in PA Life magazine’s Autumn s2026 Issue – which is now out in print and as a digital version.
Huge congratulations for winning the Project Lead Star 2025 award.
Has this professional recognition been of benefit to you professionally?
Itโs been really nice to be recognised for something that sits slightly outside of my day-to-day role, but is still a huge part of what I do. I love organising events and leading on projects, especially when it brings people together, whether thatโs to network or push themselves out of their comfort zones.
The award definitely gave me a bit of confidence and reassurance that what Iโm doing is working which is always nice to hear!
You have progressed from a team assistant role to an EA in just five years? How did you do it?
I was really lucky to join a business that was growing quickly, which meant I got exposure to a lot early on. When I started, there were only 24 of us, so I ended up knowing pretty much everything about how the business operated โ which has been invaluable now weโre over 250 people.
I built strong relationships with senior members of the team early on and just said yes to as much as I could, which meant I was constantly learning and taking on more. Thatโs what ultimately helped me progress from a Team Assistant to an EA within five years.
What do you enjoy most in being an EA?
I love the variety โ no two days are the same, and I genuinely thrive on that. One minute Iโm organising global CEO calls, the next Iโm leading something like an office move โ it keeps you on your toes.
What really makes it though is the partnership. Iโm fortunate to have a CEO who gives me a proper seat at the table and values my input. Youโre not just keeping things ticking over, youโre actually adding value โ and thatโs when the role becomes so much more impactful.
And what are the most challenging parts of being an EA?
Control is very much an illusion in this role. Youโre constantly navigating different personalities, priorities and hierarchies, which definitely keeps you on your toes. On top of that, your day can change in a heartbeat, so youโre always reassessing what actually matters and pivoting quickly to keep things running smoothly.
Itโs a bit of organised chaos, but if you enjoy spinning plates and staying one step ahead, thatโs part of the fun!
What three qualities make you an outstanding Executive Assistant?
Interpersonal skills: I build strong relationships quickly and know how to read the room.
Proactivity: I stay one step ahead and handle things before they become problems.
Discretion: I know what needs to be shared, and what absolutely doesnโt.
What advice would you give to aspiring assistants aiming to climb the career ladder?
Donโt wait to be asked, put your hand up and get stuck into everything. Thatโs how you show your value (and make yourself slightly indispensable). The role isnโt fixed, itโs what you make of it, so donโt let yourself get pigeonโholed into one lane.
Say yes, stay curious, and back yourself, the opportunities tend to follow when people realise you just get things done.
Do you anticipate the assistant role to undergo big changes due to use of AI?
I donโt think AI is here to replace assistants, itโs here to make us faster and better at what we already do. It takes away the lowโvalue, timeโconsuming tasks, which frees us up to focus on the parts of the role that actually add valueโฆand where we make the biggest impact.
Are you concerned about any aspects of AI in your role and in business in general?
Weโve embraced AI early as a business, so Iโve never really been worried about it, if anything, itโs quite exciting! It takes away the lowโvalue tasks no one really wants to be doing anyway, but the key is not letting it take over the parts that make us good at our jobs. Because you canโt automate personality, trust or instinctโฆand thatโs exactly what makes a great assistant.
Which tools, or tech do you rely on most in your role, and how do they help you stay efficient and organised?
We use Copilot a lot, and itโs brilliant for pulling together information quickly and turning it into something actually usable, especially when youโre juggling multiple things at once.
I also love Microsoft Loop. My teamโs workspace has become our central hub, and the fact you can link things like agendas straight into meeting invites and update them live is a game changer.
That said, Iโm still a sucker for pen and paper. When everything feels a bit chaotic, writing things down gets it out of my head and onto a page without the risk of it being forgottenโฆand thereโs something very satisfying about ticking it off manually.
How would your ideal day at work look like?
A cup of tea at the breakfast bar catching up with the team before the day starts is always a good sign. A clear inbox would be ideal, although that might be slightly optimisticโฆAnd then having the time to actually plan ahead properly, rather than constantly reacting, so you feel one step ahead instead of chasing your tail all day.
Which restaurants and hotels do you favour for your execs and clients, in London or anywhere else?
Iโve got a few goโto spots I come back to again and again. Lantana is a firm favourite for breakfast at the moment, and for lunch I tend to gravitate towards places like Norma, Mortimer Street Kitchen and Lima.
For hotels, The Reach in Manchester is a great option, and The Kings Head in Cirencester is a favourite, especially for events. The Grove is always a safe bet, and Wildhive Eshott Hall was perfect for an offsite last year.
Having a handful of tried and trusted options you know wonโt let you down is key, it takes the stress out of booking and you know youโre putting people somewhere good.
If you werenโt an EA today, what would you be?
A marine biologist, 100%. Iโm a complete water baby and would be in the ocean full time if I could. Unfortunately, the not-so-good-at-science part might have been my downfallโฆ
What are the positives of being a PA Life Club member for you?
The newsletters are genuinely great, loads of useful tips and articles that actually feel relevant to what we deal with day to day. The inโperson events are a big highlight too, itโs always nice to meet people who understand the role, share a few war stories and build new connections along the way.
How important is networking for you? Any tips?
Itโs really important, I think itโs one of the most valuable things you can do in this role.
Get stuck in and get yourself to as many events as possible, even if it feels a bit out of your comfort zone at first.
It can be quite a lonely role sometimes, especially if youโre the only assistant, so having a network of people who just get it makes a huge difference. And letโs be honest, itโs always good to have people you can sanity check things with.
Whatโs the best advice youโve been given?
My dad always used to say, โyouโve got to get through the noโs to find the yesโs,โ which has definitely stuck with me.
Itโs basically just a reminder not to take things too personally, keep going, and donโt stop at the first no, thereโs usually a better answer not too far behind.
Anna on a medal podium after a triathlon
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Recently Iโve got really into the gym and strength training, which is something I never thought Iโd say. Iโve even become an early morning person, and those sessions are my bit of calm before the chaos starts.
Iโm also a keen swimmer, so Iโm in the pool whenever I canโฆ I clearly just prefer being in water.
Whatโs next for our PA Profile Anna Petrides, Executive Assistant?
Iโm really excited to see where we go as a business over the next few years, especially with how fast things like AI are moving. The journey so far has been incredible, and Iโm looking forward to growing with the business and being part of whatever comes next.
Personally, Iโm not great at sitting still, so Iโm always looking for the next challenge, whether thatโs developing my team, taking on more responsibility or pushing myself slightly out of my comfort zone. That mindset seems to follow me outside of work tooโฆ Iโm off to Fiji in August to dive with sharks.
If I can handle that, everything else should feel pretty manageable!
