Being Indispensable

Amy Crumley learned the intricacies and nuances of the Executive Support profession from her mother and grandmother, who rendered their support to high-level executives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Denver, Colorado in the United States. Amy's own career path has followed a diversified route, traversing the foundation of owning a cabinet company, owning a staffing company, traveling around Europe, and teaching English as a second language. Returning to the United States, Amy pursued a remote working dynamic, managing a bookstore and cocktailing while deliberated about her future endeavors. Eventually, she secured a part-time remote executive assistant position that sparked her passion for the field once again and never looked back. In part two of our interview, listen to Amy explain her approach to being not just efficient but effective as an Executive Assistant supporting the C-Suite leaders at Samba TV. Amy talks about the importance of putting yourself in the shoes of your executive and managing them the way T

Amy Crumley learned the intricacies and nuances of the Executive Support profession from her mother and grandmother, who rendered their support to high-level executives in Atlanta, Georgia, and Denver, Colorado in the United States. Amy's own career path has followed a diversified route, traversing the foundation of owning a cabinet company, owning a staffing company, traveling around Europe, and teaching English as a second language. Returning to the United States, Amy pursued a remote working dynamic, managing a bookstore and cocktailing while deliberated about her future endeavors. Eventually, she secured a part-time remote executive assistant position that sparked her passion for the field once again and never looked back. In this first in our two-part interview, join your host Liz Van Vliet as she interviews Amy to explore Amy's journey to becoming a lifetime EA and her role now remotely supporting the dynamic C-Suite leaders at Samba TV. Connect with Amy here Check out the new and updated website for T

Join your host Liz Van Vliet as she gives you an overview of what will be covered in her upcoming webinar designed to help you build your strength in the area of strategic thinking! We discuss the 4 areas that Liz will be outlining that all contribute to you being able to show up as a more strategic assistant. The four focus areas are: Know Think Speak Act If you like the sound of Liz's strategic thinking 'workout', register for the webinar to be held on July 12, 2023 12:30 PM AEST. The recording will be made available to those who register but cannot attend live. You can register here or by going to bit.ly/linchpinsarestrategic Check out the new and updated website for The Linchpin Assistant Connect with Liz on Instagram or LinkedIn

Nikki-Lee Prismall is an extremely busy woman. She is EA to the Enterprise COO for KPMG Australia and also National Manager Business Support at KPMG Australia.  In Part Two of this episode pair, your host Liz Van Vliet explores Nikki's EA role supporting the Enterprise Chief Operating Officer for KPMG Australia and how an invitation to contribute to a project team exploring ways of more efficiently leveraging the Administrative Support Function across the enterprise opened up a new and exciting path for Nikki.  We discuss the impact of Covid and being intentional around your communication and how assistants can lead by being ambassadors within their teams and for their managers.  Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-lee-prismall/ Make sure to catch up on Part One of Nikki's story in Episode 176 if you haven't already! Learn more about Liz and how she can support you through training, coaching or speaking to your team by visiting the website - The Linchpin Assistant Connect wi

Nikki-Lee Prismall is an extremely busy woman. She is EA to the Enterprise COO for KPMG Australia and also National Manager Business Support at KPMG Australia.  In this two part series, Liz Van Vliet uncovers Nikki's early career experiences and the transferable skills she developed and brought across into her EA role with KPMG.  We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and self insight, self belief and confidence.  Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-lee-prismall/ Make sure to join us for Part Two of Nikki's story next week. The new and updated website for The Linchpin Assistant Connect with Liz on Instagram or LinkedIn      

In this weeks solo episode your host Liz Van Vliet shares five tips that Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants and Administrative Assistants can implement that will ensure they are seen as more than transactional and reactive and instead be perceived as strategic, big-picture thinkers. The new and updated website for The Linchpin Assistant Connect with Liz on Instagram or LinkedIn

Description: In this solo episode, we explore how AI and ChatGPT are changing the administrative profession and whether they pose an opportunity or threat for you as an administrative professional. We discuss a recent experiment conducted by the New York Times and share insights on how AI can help you in your daily tasks while also emphasizing the importance of adaptability and staying ahead of the curve. Show Notes: Introduction Discussion about the recent New York Times article on ChatGPT and Bard as executive assistants Results of the experiment and the implications for human executive assistants Adapting to AI and ChatGPT The importance of embracing new technology in the administrative profession Historical examples of technological advancements, such as the electric typewriter and early PCs The need for adaptability, flexibility, and curiosity Insights from Toby Walsh, chief scientist at UNSW's AI Institute AI taking over the four Ds of work: dirty, dull, difficult, and dangerous tasks The lim

Liz is sharing some big news in this weeks podcast episode relating to her business. Listen to this episode to hear the what, when and the why! Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn and make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter to be the first to hear when my exciting new program launches.

In this episode of Assist With Impact, Liz’s guest is Dr. Kirstin Ferguson AM an author, columnist and company director. Liz talks with Kirstin about her experience navigating the career ‘climbing frame’ and her latest book, Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership. Kirstin shares some pivotal moments in her career, including when she was debating whether to become a journalist or join the military after leaving school. She ultimately chose the military, but her love for writing and journalism remained. She shares that she often suffers from imposter syndrome, but has learned to say yes anyway and trust herself. Listen to the podcast to hear Kirstin discuss what readers can expect from Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership and why it is different to the many other leadership books that  have been published. Kirstin explains that the book is unlike any other book on leadership because it combines her own research and experience with interviews of a diverse range of people, not just corporate lea

There seems to be a real push on for assistants to aspire to more.    Even the term 'assistant' is apparently uncool!   On the one hand, you're being told that you're more than 'just an assistant' and then seeing programs that promote you to aim to be more than just an assistant.   I don't know about you, but I'm confused.   In this solo episode I share my perspective on the realities of the assistant career. What it looks like to be an assistant for a 'reason, a season or a lifetime' and why no one path is right for everyone.   I also share why I believe that:   - You are valuable and of value as an assistant   - You can expand the boundaries of your role as an assistant    - You are not your job and you are not tied to the manager or leader you support       And why I encourage you to:   - Get clear on your value   - Get clear on your values   - Build your confidence and your competence The Boston Consulting Group I reference can be found here: h

In this episode, Liz shares a simple yet effective framework for assistants to build and maintain their understanding of their manager's needs and priorities. She talks about how managing different needs and priorities across different executives can cause stress and anxiety and contribute to overwhelm. Liz introduces the 3 Ps - Preferences, Priorities, and Pet Peeves - and explains how they can be used to set up new relationships for success and reset existing relationships. She emphasizes that assistants are not mind readers and need information, insight, and experience to manage their manager's needs and preferences effectively. Liz breaks down each of the three Ps and provides examples of how assistants can gather information about them, including asking their manager directly. Liz also emphasizes the importance of ongoing dialogue and structured approaches to checking in with managers as priorities are constantly changing. She suggests documenting the three Ps for managers and keeping the list hand

Liz’s guest is Ruth Kilah, Founder & CEO of Hoxton Hyde. She is an Australian based, International Executive Assistant Coach + Mentor and International Speaker. Ruth provides one to one and group coaching program for Assistants. Ruth specialises in helping assistants become strategic thinkers and operators. As a former Senior Executive Assistant and Project Manager, Ruth has over 13 years’ experience in managing time for C-Suite Executives in Australia and in the United Kingdom, predominantly for large global corporations.   Listen to this interview to hear Ruth share her background and her experience navigating the career Spider Frame. Ruth also outlines her approach to working with assistants, what motivated her to establish Hoxton Hyde (and the origins of her business name).   Ruth also shares three top tips for upping your effectiveness when it comes to being a strategic partner to your business leader.   Ruth also shares a bonus tip that is pure gold…so make sure you listen right to the end!   Connec

All good things are worth waiting for, including Liz's word for 2023! In this episode Liz shares the word that she has decided aptly describes her outlook for 2023. If you want to stay across all the upcoming announcements around Power Skills for Linchpin Assistants, make sure you're following Liz on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lizveevee/ Liz also invites you to connect on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizvanvliettrainerspeakercoach/

A solo episode encouraging assistants to embrace their inner 'slinky' and reflect on the Power Skills that enable Linchpin Assistants to stay in that impactful zone.  Episode 107 - Why Assistants Are The Human Equivalent Of A Slinky can be found below: https://myeacareer.com/podcasts/107-why-executive-assistants-are-the-human-equivalent-of-a-slinky/ The following are two blog posts I wrote on the same topic: https://myeacareer.com/why-executive-assistants-need-to-adopt-a-slinky-mindset/ https://myeacareer.com/how-executive-assistants-can-manage-expectations/ Connect with Liz on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lizveevee/ Connect with Liz on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizvanvliettrainerspeakercoach/

My interview today is with Jessica Davies. Operations Manager for Dr. Peter Fuda, based in Sydney, Australia. Jess has worked with Peter for over four years now. Commencing in an EA capacity and subsequently moving into the role of Operations Manager early in 2022.  In that capacity, Jess partners with Peter across three key streams; his consultancy; The Alignment Partnership, his leadership app; Enixa and any speaking engagements he undertakes.  In the Operations Manage role, Jess works across account management, project management, marketing and content creation, always with the intention to amplify Peter’s work.  Prior to TAP, Jess worked at a Fintech start-up in London as the EA to the CEO, and has held a number of executive assistant and team assistant roles prior to that. I met Jess Davies when I reached out via LinkedIn to connect with Peter Fuda.   I was immediately impressed with her professionalism and communication skills. In my interactions with Jess, it was clear that Peter placed enormous value

For two decades, Dr. Peter Fuda has been a Sherpa to leaders, teams and organizations across the globe as a consultant, coach, author, researcher, speaker and professor of management. Andy Penn, the former CEO of Telstra (Australia’s pre-eminent telecommunications company has said of Peter “If I can only spend an hour with one person, I choose to spend it with Peter.” Most recently, Peter has been driven by a mission to democratize leadership, via an innovative digital product. It’s called Enixa. I am a huge fan girl of Peter’s having first come across his thought-leadership when I was an EA.   I will also say that as a proud Aussie, it brings me enormous pleasure to be bringing Peter to you, my lovely listeners who are spread across the globe and who more than likely are unfamiliar with his work. It is so wonderful for me to be able to share such a brilliant and innovative leadership expert like Peter with you. As you know, I’m a strong believer that as an assistant you have the ability to lead from where yo

It’s a delight to bring you my interview with Candice Burningham, the Founder of Admin Avenues and a former Executive Assistant to some of the biggest names in media.  Leaders Candice has supported include the President of NBC News International, Managing Director of Channel 9 and CEO of SBS. Candice is the Founder of Admin Avenues, an online platform specialising in administrative roles. Launched in late April 2022, it is fast becoming the go–to place for matching candidates with recruiters and employers in the Australian marketplace. At the time of launch Candice stated that “After 20 years in the industry, I could see a gap in the market for a place where Australian admin job seekers could find great roles and where employers could find qualified admin candidates,” In our chat we talk about the vision Candice has for Admin Avenues to become a “one stop shop” for all admin roles. It comes to market with the ambition to provide a more curated jobs portal from the established employment platforms. We also dis

Episode 163 is my interview with Jeanette Botha. Jeanette is an experienced business leader and currently VP of Sales Development for a multi-national based in Bonn, Germany.  Her main responsibility is leading all Sales initiatives, programs and initiatives with the 40 EU countries to deliver their revenue targets.  Jeanette is also an ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited coach with a specific focus on empowering professionals with the presentation skills to ensure they are visible in their organisation. Jeanette says: "Your work doesn't have vocal cords, my friend. It can't speak for itself." In this wide-ranging interview we cover: - Navigating career spider frame, moving from South Africa to Germany.  - How in her experience, “the next best step is not always up” - Shares her experience of believing that simply being great at her job would make her visible and promotable and the hard lessons she can share in this area where she had to push herself out of her comfort zone and make herself vis

This week's solo episode is a 'love letter' to the committed and concerted efforts of the delegates, members and observers that attended Week 1 of the WA-Summit this past weekend. If you aren't already aware of the tireless work being undertaken by this global coalition of administrative networks and associations then I encourage you to familiarise yourself with it. https://wa-alliance.com/home/ If you want evidence of the outcomes that this group of volunteers have delivered, look no further than the Global Skills Matrix which you can find details of here: https://wa-alliance.com/home/global-skills-matrix/ I'd love to connect with you if we haven't already done so. You can find me on Instagram and LinkedIn https://www.instagram.com/lizveevee/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizvanvliettrainerspeakercoach/

Episode 161 is a solo episode sharing an article I recently read in the Harvard Business Review by Liz Wiseman, author of Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact.   https://hbr.org/2022/09/should-you-really-be-indispensable-at-work   I shared a book review in Episode 145 that you should listen to if you’d like an overview of the book and the valuable research Liz shares. You can find the episode here:   https://beingindispensable.libsyn.com/145-book-recommendation-impact-players-by-liz-wiseman   The other authors that I’ve interviewed on the podcast and feel you should definitely listen to if you haven’t already are Jo Miller, author of Woman of Influence: 9 Steps to Build Your Brand, Establish Your Legacy, and Thrive and Andrea Clarke, author of Future Fit: How to Stay Relevant and Competitive in the Future of Work.   You can find the links to these episodes below: https://myeacareer.com/podcasts/121/ https://myeacareer.com/podcasts/122-interview-with-jo-miller-part-2/ h