Samantha Cox, former EA to Sir Richard Branson – one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs – is now confirmed to host a headline Keynote Q&A at office* 2016.
Ms Cox will be taking part in an exclusive interview hosted by Lucy Brazier, Publisher of Executive Secretary Magazine, on Thursday, 12 May, the second day of office* – the award-winning business event for executive office support professionals, which takes place at the new venue of ExCeL London.
British-born Samantha Cox, currently Corporate Director of VIP Services for Florida-based Seminole Gaming, has lived and travelled all over the world. Her impressive background includes more than 16 years’ experience in executive assistant roles for high-profile clients such as Sir Richard Branson.
“Sir Richard Branson played a very large role in influencing my career and allowing me to believe the world is my oyster,” she says.
In 1998, she was turned down for a job as a member of the Virgin cabin crew team and received a letter from Branson encouraging her to reapply in the future. A decade later, while working for Virgin Australia she ended up taking a prestigious offer to be his executive assistant at his private Caribbean home on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.
She cites dealing with the aftermath of the “massive fire” on that island in 2011 as one of the biggest challenges of her career. Highlights, meanwhile, include the opportunity to travel the world at Branson’s side. During her four-year tenure as Branson’s EA she also became involved with his philanthropic endeavour Virgin Unite, as well as The Elders organisation, an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights, founded by the late Nelson Mandela.
To read an exclusive Q&A with Samantha ahead of her office* Keynote appearance, please visit officeshow.co.uk/Keynote-QA-Samantha-Cox.
Other new names to join the 2016 Keynote line-up are Bianca Miller – an award-winning entrepreneur and 2014 finalist on the BBC’s The Apprentice. She will be sharing her insights into improving personal branding (in association with WeAreTheCity). Inspirational speaker Ania Lichota will be discussing the self-awareness and attitude evolution required to progress up the leadership path and the ‘true value of extreme adventure’.
Ms Lichota, who left Poland in 1996 on a bus with one bag to study at the London School of Economics, has since travelled to 67 countries, lived in nine and worked in 17 at senior executive levels in financial services (including MACE, GE Capital, and UBS). Other achievements include speaking at TEDx in Warsaw and Barcelona, climbing the highest peak on every continent (including Mount Everest) and completing Marathon des Sables (a 256km race across the Sahara).
The full office* Keynote programme will be unveiled over the next few weeks. The show, which annually attracts over 4,000 attendees, will also feature eight free office management and virtual assistant specific training sessions, eight free hot topic group discussions, 36 CPD accredited seminars, and 150 sector leading exhibitors.
Free registration for office* 2016
The next edition of office* will take place at ExCeL London on 11-12 May. Admission to the Keynote programme is non-bookable and included with free show entry. For further information and to register, please visit officeshow.co.uk and quote priority code DVIS14.
