Guest
Contributors
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the guests who have contributed to our administrative support podcast chat show. Your insights and experiences have been invaluable to our listeners, and we are grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge with us.
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We have learned a great deal from our guests about the challenges and rewards of working in administrative support. We have also learned about the latest trends in the field, and how administrative professionals can stay ahead of the curve.
Marketing Coach, Entrepreneur and UK Top 10 Singer / Songwriter. Co-Founder of Marketing Agency, Hello Social Avenue.
David Coslett
Episode 13
Starting his career in marketing as a social media specialist and videographer, David quickly discovered he had a passion for coaching and building businesses with great marketing strategies. He’s passionate about real marketing that grows revenue and guiding business owners through it.
He started creating effective video marketing strategies with some of the UK’s best business coaches, after a small successful career in the music industry. David has generated over 100k streams, reached #7 in the UK singer/songwriter charts, been on European tours and grew an audience of over 10,000 followers. He now uses that experience to help businesses create raving fans.
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After becoming an award-winning marketer.
In 2023, David and his wife Abbie Coslett launched their business Hello Social Avenue, and have worked with Hammer Films, Anderson Entertainment, and ActionCOACH through to LinkedIn Top Voices, startup founders and leadership teams.
CEO & Founder of Whole Assistant | EA Trainer & Coach
Annie Croner
Bonus Episode
I've worked for over 20+ years as an assistant for boutique companies across multiple industries including accounting, marketing, nonprofit, private wealth management, and venture capital.
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Working in a variety of settings has led to a diverse understanding of the executive assistant role and the many challenges that often come with it.
I have been where you are.
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There is no other role on the planet quite like the role of executive assistant, and nobody "gets it" like another assistant.
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I'm also a certified coach, which means I'm trained to point out the limiting thoughts and beliefs that are keeping you from your highest potential.
Executive and Administrative Assistant Trainer, Founder and CEO, Author, Speaker, and Coach at Office Dynamics International
Joan Burge
Episode Eleven & Bonus Episode
Joan Burge is the pioneer of the administrative training industry and the founder of Office Dynamics International.
Joan is an accomplished author, speaker, consultant, and corporate trainer who has worked with premier clients like Cisco Systems, The Boeing Co., and Procter & Gamble.
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She started her business in 1990, overcoming the stereotypes and prejudices about administrative professionals. Joan has created numerous innovative programs and courses that inspire excellence and empower assistants to reach for the stars. She is the host of the Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence and the author of four books for administrative professionals.
Connect with Joan Burge and Office Dynamics to explore training options and learn more.
CEO & Founder of Design Training | Author & Speaker
Abigail Barnes
Episode 12
Founder and CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula and host of The Time Management Podcast.
Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 1 million people how to Become the Productive Professional using The 888 Formula by 2025.
Abigail has over 10 years’ experience in Financial Services Marketing (Investment Management, Asset Management and Hedge Funds).
She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, and is a qualified coach.
Founder of Premier Admin Services
Zoe Hill
Bonus Episode
Zoe Hill is a seasoned professional with 16 years of experience within the administration
industry, coupled with nearly 10 years of leadership experience. With a background
spanning various organisations, Zoe’s journey has been marked by excellence and
innovation.
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For 12 years, Zoe worked at JPMorgan where she held the position of Senior Assistant
Supervisor / Senior Executive Assistant. Her tenure within the company helped to shape her
into the dynamic professional she is today honing in on administrative skills, project
management skills and people management.
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Transitioning from the corporate world, Zoe thereafter assumed the role of Chief of Staff at
Arcade Media, where she has leveraged her expertise and adapted her corporate ways to
navigate the landscape of the social media world.
Driven by passion for the admin industry, Zoe has now embarked on her entrepreneur
journey and launched Premier Admin Services earlier this year. Through this venture, Zoe
looks to provide a platform for empowerment, elevation and inspiration to admin
professionals worldwide. With a keen focus on networking and collaboration, Zoe aims to
cultivate a community where individuals can thrive, learn and innovate together all while
supporting small businesses with their admin needs.
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Join Zoe Hill on her mission to redefine the administrative landscape, one empowered
professional at a time.
Chief Value Office – Cohesive Group
David Philp
Episode One
With over 30 years in the construction industry David is a Chartered Construction Manager by background. He has previously worked as a director with major organisations including Balfour Beatty, Mace and AECOM.
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As CVO he is responsible for driving customer-centricity and creating sustainable value for our clients across their asset lifecycle and portfolios. He is also lucky enough to work with Jodie who he know is the real boss of the outfit
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David has been Involved in delivering innovative projects, digital change strategies and digital asset management strategies across the globe from UK, Hong-Kong, Singapore, Australia and the Baltics and has therefore worked with many EAs and PAs in his time and sees the value in remaining one step ahead by CPD.
Sales Director
Flow Hancox
Episode Three
Twenty-three years after falling into the events and hospitality industry, Flow is still as passionate and excited by the challenges and opportunities it holds.
From starting off in an association conference and events team, Flow has steadily moved through her career experiencing both operational and sales roles at venues and event management agencies. Three years ago, whilst furloughed and fearing the worst for her beloved events industry she came across a Sales manager role for Autograph Events and the rest as they say is history.
Now, as Sales Director, following a promotion last year, Flow’s passion is to build meaningful, genuine relationships with Autograph’s clients and suppliers to ensure the best possible service and creative, memorable events are achieved for all. As a self-confessed Venue Geek she is always looking out for the next new space for her clients; even if that means getting the family involved in a sneaky peak into hotels when passing by!
Flow is mum to three and loves nothing more than a good book, a glass of red wine or a 5K run! (not necessarily in that order!)
The MS Office Maestro
Shelley Fishel
Episode Two
Known as The MS Office Maestro, Shelley has been a Microsoft Office trainer for over 20 years, delivering face to face training sessions, presenting at events and training people remotely with various online tools.
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Helping Assistants keep up to date with Microsoft Office is her passion. Shelley does this via her Virtual Live training sessions, webinars and her suite of self-paced courses – Essential Office for The Savvy Assistant.
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Shelley is a Fellow of The Learning and Performance Institute and holds the COLF (Certified Online Learning Facilitator) and CDOL (Certified Designer of Online Learning) qualifications from The LPI.
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Over the last several years Shelley has spoken or presented at a variety of events specifically aimed at PAs, EAs and VAs helping them to improve the way they work. Events include The PA Show, ESTech, Hemsley Fraser, PA Forum Conference, Practically Perfect PA, Miss Jones PA
Virtual Assistant
Amy Lester
Episode One
Virtual Assistant (VA) + Business Builder
I can show you how to start your first side hustle I do the boring admin + marketing tasks you don’t want to
Entertainment, Video Production + Recruitment.
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Steve Hutson
Episode Three
Discover the remarkable journey of Steven Hutson, Founder of Superstars, a disrupter and innovator in recruitment and Talent Attractions, Steven has met over 12,500 amazing talents and assisted hundreds of clients globally in filling challenging roles. Learn how Superstars is revolutionizing the industry with its commitment to real diversity, trust and making a positive impact.
Founder & Franchisor of Alchemy
Virtual Assistance
The award-winning, family-run, professional Virtual Assistant team
Suzy Sanders
Episode Five
Suzy has since self-published a book, ‘The Alchemy of Virtual Assistance: creating a successful virtual assistant business around your family’ and continues to explore and advocate the importance and value in developing meaningful relationships in business.
Suzy holds the belief that this focus will enable her to amplify her business success, create more meaningful impact and value to her team and achieve her ultimate ambitious vision – for Alchemy to become the VA company of choice in the UK.
Executive Assistant
Karen Smith
Episode Two
Karen Smith is a successful Executive Assistant to the directors of Rectella International Ltd. She has been with the company for over 10 years and has a proven track record of providing outstanding administrative support. Karen is highly organized and efficient, and she is always able to meet deadlines. She is also a skilled communicator and is able to build strong relationships with her colleagues.
Executive Assitant
Erica Picton
Episode Four
An innotive, self-motivated and diligent Senior Executive Assistant with over 20 years experience in the provision of full executive suppot to assist senior management with particular expertise in directing and enhancing administrative operations.
Lifestyle and Mindset Coach
Laura Smith
Episode Four
Lifestyle and mindset coach, helping women regain their energy, time and their life back through the “Take Back Control Programme.