Beyond “Just be more strategic”: why most executive assistant career development training misses the point
Executive assistant career development has been stuck in the ‘strategic partnership’ narrative for decades. Discover why this model fails EAs.
The traditional executive
assistant role is dead.
And that is brilliant news.
''I've seen technology change the executive support profession for decades. What really matters is how you respond to our evolving roles"
For four decades, I’ve watched how organisations simultaneously devalued management support while becoming utterly dependent on it. I don’t offer technological solutions or vague advice about becoming ‘more strategic’. I provide frameworks for navigating the profound contradictions at the heart of our profession.
Adrie van der Luijt
Founder of Workplace Insights
latest insights
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The AI reality gap: what’s really happening with AI in the workplace
AI in the workplace promises revolutionary transformation, yet management support professionals are caught in a reality gap, simultaneously told AI mastery is essential whilst facing substantial organisational barriers that prevent actual adoption.
Who really owns your skills? A wake-up call for executive support professionals
Skills disruption in the coming years won’t be gentle or fair. Your ability to evolve your capabilities might be the only job security you’ve got.
The invisible 3%: navigating life as a male Executive Assistant
Male Executive Assistant roles are still rare in the management support profession, which remains stubbornly gendered despite evolving roles.
EA role transformation beyond the AI panic: What Executive Assistants are really afraid of
EA role transformation in an AI-driven world is hampered by a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes a management support professional valuable in this transformative era.
When AI meets workplace investigations: the management support professionals new territory
Workplace investigations have always been part of the management support landscape. What’s changing now is how these investigations are conducted.
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Welcome to the Future-Proof EA mindset
Here's what I Do
Since 1997, I’ve supported executives at the highest levels—including as PA to the Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and managing offices in the City of London. Now I help Executive Assistants, Management Assistants, Personal Assistants, Chiefs of Staff and others in the support profession transform from task-takers into genuine business partners.
The workplace needs thoughtful professionals who understand business strategy. Through coaching, training and speaking, I share what two decades in the trenches and years as a business journalist have taught me about the skills that truly matter—the ones AI will never replicate.
Workplace coaching
The Executive Assistant role has evolved dramatically. Today you’re expected to be a trusted advisor, a decision-maker and a strategic thinker. It’s no longer about managing diaries but managing influence. I coach support professionals through this transition with practical guidance drawn from real experience, not theoretical frameworks.
Workplace training
Let’s be honest: most EA training is dreadfully dull. Mine isn’t. I create sessions that address your actual challenges, not generic scenarios. They’re interactive, challenging and immediately useful. We focus on developing the strategic thinking, leadership presence and business acumen that transforms your position within the organisation.
Workplace speaking
I won’t waste your time with motivational fluff or recycled anecdotes. When I speak at conferences or deliver keynotes, I bring insights from both sides of the desk: as an EA who worked at the highest levels and as a journalist who’s analysed workplace trends for major publications. My sessions blend hard truths with practical solutions, always grounded in the reality of your day-to-day work.
Workplace writing
Clear writing reflects clear thinking. As someone who’s business writing was quoted by the Wall Street Journal and other respected publications, I bring journalistic rigour to discussions about the support profession. Whether unpacking complex workplace trends or providing practical guides, my writing cuts through the noise to deliver content that acknowledges your intelligence and experience. Real insights, from a unique perspective.
explore my work
The gap between what most organisations say they want from their EAs and what they actually support is often vast. Having navigated this disconnect myself, from managing high-profile executives to reporting on workplace dynamics as a journalist, I understand the unique pressures of your position. This dual perspective shapes everything I do.
Contact Me
Want straight talk about your career?
I coach and train Executive Assistants across the UK and internationally, both online and in-person. My approach is shaped by years at the coalface of executive support and my subsequent work as a business journalist examining workplace trends.
If you’re tired of platitudes and want someone who genuinely understands your challenges, let’s chat.
Looking for a speaker who will challenge,
inspire and deliver real insights? Let's talk.
Book me