10 minutes

Alison Boler, currently a legal PA at ITV, always knew she wanted to work in entertainment. Once she had decided her path, nothing could dissuade her. She gained a certificate in secretarial training at 18, and immediately upon leaving university bought 100 second class stamps and sent her CV to every film and entertainment company in London. Her tenacity paid…

Usually regarded as the province of stuffy males of a certain age, cigar smoking is enjoying a growing popularity among women, who are keen to learn about the art of the aficionado, as Colette Doyle discovers I have been spending quite a lot of time outdoors recently, during the depths of the British winter. Since I used to live in…

Caroline Rush, Executive Assistant to Felix Dennis, founder and owner of Dennis Publishing.  While some corporate workplaces are bland, faceless zones, the same can hardly be said of the office of Felix Dennis, the flamboyant owner of Dennis Publishing. Taking pride of place on the wall is a print of Oz, the infamous satirical magazine that resulted in him being…

A variety of timesaving tips, apps and devices to help under-pressure PAs get things done double quick The Livescribe Echo Smartpen digitally records your notes as you write them while recording audio and synchronising the two. The result is a set of notes which you can very easily review. Perfect for avoiding those times when you can?t decipher what that…

Our choice of some of the top destinations in which to do business, how to get there, and where to stay. ShanghaiFlights Virgin Atlantic (virginatlantic.com) flies daily to Shanghai from Heathrow. Return economy fares start from £685; from £1,109 for Premium Economy. Hotels Housed in the legendary 1920s Shanghai Club on the historic Bund, the newly opened Waldorf Astoria (www.waldorfastoria.com)…