In this episode, Chelsea Fox shares her 15-year journey as an assistant, from starting as an event manager in Spain to her current role as an EA supporting the CEO and leadership team at a data centre startup in London.
Some key pieces of advice and insights Chelsea offers:
- Find the industry and company culture that allows you to thrive as an assistant. In a startup, being willing to roll up your sleeves and help out wherever needed is key.
- Confidence comes from having your voice heard and your opinions valued as an assistant. Chelsea appreciates that her current company seeks her input.
- Learn to say no when needed to avoid burnout, but be ready to pitch in on a wide variety of tasks, especially in a startup environment.
- Resilience and strong communication skills with your executive are critical. Have a plan A through Z, as things rarely go perfectly according to plan.
- Being bilingual (Spanish & English for Chelsea) can open up great career opportunities, especially in European companies.
- Build relationships across the organization by being friendly, remembering personal details, and, yes, bringing in treats! People are much more willing to help out a friend.
Chelsea also shares some of her favourite productivity tools, such as Microsoft To Do, OneNote, Planner, and good old-fashioned handwritten lists. Her story illustrates the importance of adaptability, relationship-building, and being proactive in making your mark as an assistant and elevating the perception of the role.
The EA Campus