PA Life Winter Issue 2024 features Amanda Redfern, EA to Chief Executive, London Market Division, Odyssey Group as our PA Profile… Amanda has proven to be highly motivated, organised and capable of working to tight deadlines over the past ten years that she’s been in an assistant role. She thrives under pressure, yet maintains a […]

PA Life Autumn Issue 2024 PA Profile interview features Jodie Mears who embraces and balances multiple professional opportunities. We found out how she fits it all into her busy life as a strategic career EA. Jodie has over 20 years’ of experience supporting C-Suite executives with expertise spanning senior leadership support, ethics and compliance, and […]

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 […]

Our 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 […]

Our 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 […]

Our 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 […]

We 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 […]

Our 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 […]

We 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 […]

This 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 […]

Eighteen 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 […]

Suzy 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? […]

Having 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… […]

Communication 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 […]

Currently 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 […]

Monica 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 […]

It’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 […]

Corina 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 […]