Libsyn Directory

Microsoft Insights: Executive Support & Career Secrets

Release Date: 09/10/2025

Microsoft Insights: Executive Support & Career Secrets

Executive Office Insights

185: Go behind the scenes of Microsoft Germany’s CEO Office with two inspiring women: Andrea (Executive Assistant) and Svetlana (Chief of Staff). In this candid conversation, they share what it really takes to support a top executive, manage complex schedules, and keep leadership moving at full speed. Discover: ✅ The difference between an Executive Assistant and a Chief of Staff ✅ How to manage the CEO Office of Microsoft Germany ✅ Career insights and skills for assistants and chiefs of staff ✅ Tools and strategies that keep leadership effective ✅ Why collaboration and trust are...

Karriere-Neustart mit 50+: Cornelias inspirierende Erfolgsgeschichte

Executive Office Insights

184: Wie schafft man es, mit Ende 50 noch einmal beruflich neu durchzustarten? In dieser Folge erfährst du, wie Cornelia Bahr den Mut gefunden hat, einen kompletten Jobwechsel anzugehen – und welche Strategien, Netzwerke und Weiterbildungen ihr geholfen haben. ✨ Du bekommst praxisnahe Tipps für berufliche Veränderung im Alter, erfährst, wie man den eigenen Marktwert erkennt, neue Chancen nutzt und auch in einem völlig neuen Umfeld schnell ankommt. Diese Episode ist vollgepackt mit Motivation, echten Karriere-Erfahrungen und klaren Schritten für alle, die sagen: „Es ist nie zu...

Former EA to Sir Richard Branson and Hospitality Expert - Samantha Cox [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

183/124: Samantha Cox's career journey is indeed impressive and diverse, showcasing her expertise in Executive Assistant, Hospitality, and VIP Guest Services roles. Her extensive experience, spanning over 20 years, has involved working with high-profile clients and in various locations around the world. One notable highlight is her time working for Sir Richard Branson, the Founder of the Virgin Group. During her tenure, she not only served as an executive assistant but also became part of a select group managing personal affairs, budgets, charitable initiatives, and coordinating celebrity...

New Work & Diversity: Inklusion und Karrierewege neu gedacht [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

182/149: Entdecke, wie Diversität und „New Work“ die Arbeitswelt verändern und was moderne Unternehmen tun, um ein inklusives Arbeitsumfeld zu schaffen! Begleite mich in diesem aufschlussreichen Gespräch mit Dominique Jäger, in dem wir über die Bedeutung von Diversität und Inklusion im heutigen Arbeitsumfeld sprechen, die Zukunft der Führung beleuchten und wie flexible Arbeitsmodelle unseren Ansatz zur Produktivität und Work-Life-Balance verändern. Dominique teilt ihren Weg von ihren ersten Rollen in der Beratung bis hin zur Führung von Diversity-Initiativen bei der DKB und gibt...

Former Madonna Family Assistant, Entrepreneur and Lifestyle Specialist Donata Boston [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

181/135: Donata Boston is a premier lifestyle support specialist for ultra-high net worth individuals who offers unparalleled, personalized service through meticulous matchmaking, onboarding, and ongoing coaching. Unlike traditional staffing agencies, she creates cohesive, high-performing teams that align with her clients' unique needs and lifestyles. She advocates for her candidates, coaching them on their holistic career trajectories. Her career started working as an assistant to prominent figures like Madonna across various industries. Donata transitioned into entrepreneurship and now sets...

Burnout vermeiden: Work-Life-Balance meistern - Swantje Allmers [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

180/154: In diesem Video, welches wir beim Norddeutschen Rundfunk live aufgenommen haben, erzählt Swantje Allmers von ihrer persönlichen Reise als Workaholic. Erfahre, wie sie die Warnzeichen von Burnout ignorierte, welche körperlichen und emotionalen Konsequenzen das hatte und wie sie schließlich den Weg zurück zu einem gesunden Gleichgewicht fand. Dieses Gespräch ist für alle, die sich zwischen Karriere und Selbstfürsorge verlieren, und zeigt eindrucksvoll, warum Work-Life-Balance mehr als nur ein Trend ist. Hört in diese Folge, wenn ihr nach Tipps sucht, um Überarbeitung und...

A chat with Founder & CEO Douglas R. Conant plus team Conant Leadership [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

179/113: Founder & CEO: Douglas R. Conant is an internationally renowned business leader, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and social media influencer with over 40 years of leadership experience at world-class global companies. For the past 20 years of his leadership journey, he has honed his leadership craft at the most senior levels—first as President of the Nabisco Foods Company, then as CEO of Campbell Soup Company (), and finally as Chairman of Avon Products. In 2011, he founded ConantLeadership—a mission-driven community of leaders and learners who...

Linklaters LLP, COO Germany & EE Astrid Altmann Forbes [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

178/136: Als Chief Operating Officer (COO) Germany und Eastern Europe in einer der weltweit größten Wirtschaftskanzleien spielt Astrid Altmann Forbes eine zentrale Rolle in der Führung und strategischen Ausrichtung des Unternehmens. In ihrer Rolle als COO arbeitet sie Hand in Hand mit dem Senior Partner und dem German Executive Team zusammen, um die langfristige Vision und das kontinuierliche Wachstum der Kanzlei voranzutreiben. Darüber hinaus ist sie verantwortlich für die Leitung und Koordination von mehr als 250 Business Team Mitgliedern in Deutschland. Die Business Teams umfassen...

Working with Michelle Obama: A chat with Chynna Clayton [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

177/143: Empathetic, strategic, and meticulous about the details, Chynna Clayton has built a career enabling some of the world’s most influential leaders to excel in high stress environments. Chynna is the founder and CEO of Matriarch Made Development, a consulting firm that centers around helping companies and organizations develop high performing administrative teams, identify and address overall operating structure and event logistics inefficiencies and further cultivate assistant’s talents. Named in honor of the four generations of maternal women who have paved the way for her to...

Selbstliebe, Karriere & Familie: Angelina Kirsch [Summer Edition]

Executive Office Insights

176/142: Angelina Kirsch – ein wahres Rollenmodell, das mit Authentizität und Vielseitigkeit begeistert. Sie hat als erfolgreiche Markenbotschafterin, Autorin und Model ihren Weg gefunden. Sie teilt ihre bewegende Geschichte über den Umgang mit ihrer halbseitigen Gesichtslähmung und wie sie diese Herausforderung gemeistert hat. Angelina spricht offen über Body Positivity und Selbstliebe und gibt wertvolle Einblicke, wie sie ihre Follower dazu ermutigt, sich selbst zu akzeptieren. Zudem erhältst du exklusive Einblicke in ihre neueste Modekollektion und ihre kreativen Zukunftspläne. Lass...

More Episodes

Discover:
✅ The difference between an Executive Assistant and a Chief of Staff
✅ How to manage the CEO Office of Microsoft Germany
✅ Career insights and skills for assistants and chiefs of staff
✅ Tools and strategies that keep leadership effective
✅ Why collaboration and trust are the key to success

This episode is packed with career tips, leadership insights, and behind-the-scenes stories from the fast-paced world of Microsoft. Perfect for aspiring Executive Assistants, future Chiefs of Staff, or anyone curious about leadership support at the highest level.

Svetlana Barsova has been with Microsoft for over 14 years, spending most of that time working at Microsoft in Russia. Since 2023, she has served as Chief of Staff to Agnes Heftberger, CVP & CEO of Microsoft Germany & Austria. Svetlana enjoys engaging with other CEO Offices from our customers and is passionate about sharing how we shape our own CEO Office, foster open and transparent communication, and integrate Copilot into our daily work.

Andrea Bross has been with Microsoft Germany for over 6 years and, since July 2024, has been the Executive Assistant to Agnes Heftberger, CVP & CEO of Microsoft Germany & Austria. She supports executive assistants in customer and partner organizations on their journey toward a modern and digital workplace. For the past year and a half, Copilot has become an indispensable part of Andrea’s daily work—she’s happy to demonstrate in customer workshops when and where it can be used in the assistant role. Beyond that, she’s deeply passionate about Diversity & Inclusion topics; she led the Families at Microsoft group for over 3 years and remains an active board member of the group.

LINKS:

🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nTPbeu2IM78

Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/
Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter
Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects
Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS
Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

Playlist songs:
Andrea: Sugar by Robin Schulz
Svetlana: -

🎵 Listen to the Executive Office Insights Spotify-Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3QH8HL8oWIC0HzHWvb5KLd

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