Serena Williams Former Chief of Staff on Leadership, Aviation & Strategy
Release Date: 06/26/2025
How Sona Movsesian Became Conan O’Brien’s Assistant
Executive Office Insights
196: You think assistants just “support” leaders? Think again; they’re the reason everything works. We are doing something special! I have partnered with my friend Jeremy Burrows, host of The Leader Assistant Podcast, to exchange some of your favorite episodes. Together, we are bringing you conversations with incredible guests who share insights, stories, and strategies to empower assistants and leaders alike. Tune in, enjoy the lineup, and don’t forget to connect with both Jeremy and our featured guests, you will find inspiration and practical takeaways to elevate your work and...
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6 years of Executive Office Insights podcast
Executive Office Insights
195: Celebrating six years of Executive Office Insights, Diana welcomes Helen Monument for a special anniversary conversation that looks back at the podcast’s remarkable journey. Together they revisit the very first moments that sparked this series, recalling the energy of launching a platform dedicated to executive excellence and support leadership. From those early recordings to the diverse lineup of inspiring guests who have shared their wisdom, this episode is both a tribute and a celebration. It honors the voices that shaped the dialogue, the lessons learned along the way, and the...
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Stop Being Underpaid: Introducing the ROI Calculator
Executive Office Insights
194: How Executive Assistants can turn daily support work into hard numbers that lead to real raises. In this conversation, Elizabeth Sutkowska (based in Gdańsk, Poland) breaks down a practical way to negotiate your EA salary with data, using an EA ROI Calculator that tracks time saved, cost avoided, and the business impact leaders actually understand. If you’ve ever heard “your salary is fair,” this is the exact mindset (and method) that flips the script. We also go beyond compensation and dig into the bigger picture of modern Executive Support: - From Au Pair → Hospitality →...
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Karriereweg: Executive Assistant, Teamleiterin, Unternehmerin
Executive Office Insights
193: Was braucht es wirklich für eine erfolgreiche Karriere in der Assistenz? In dieser Folge spricht Evelyne Moser über ihren persönlichen Karriereweg als Executive Assistant mit Führungsverantwortung. Sie teilt Erfahrungen aus ihrer beruflichen Entwicklung, zentrale Entscheidungen und die Kompetenzen, die sie auf diesem Weg geprägt haben. Evelyne erzählt, wie sich die Rolle der Assistenz im Laufe der Zeit verändert hat, welche Anforderungen heute damit verbunden sind und was es bedeutet, Verantwortung zu übernehmen – fachlich, menschlich und organisatorisch. In dieser Episode...
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Inside the EA Role at Tetra Pak: Career Growth & Insights
Executive Office Insights
192: How a Technician Became a Top Executive Assistant at Tetra Pak! In this inspiring and honest conversation, we meet Niklas, a former technician who made an unconventional leap into the world of executive assistance. From managing machines to managing people, he shares how his technical background, team leadership, and passion for connection made him thrive in his new role at Tetra Pak. We talk about: - The evolving assistant profession- Remote leadership and collaboration across countries - Being a male EA in a female-dominated field...
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How Working Out Loud Transforms Careers, Confidence & Connection - John Stepper
Executive Office Insights
191: What if the key to growth isn’t working harder — but working together? In this inspiring long-form conversation, Working Out Loud founder John Stepper reveals how peer-to-peer development, shared learning, and authentic human connection can transform not only careers but entire organizational cultures. John shares the origin story of Working Out Loud (WOL), now used in more than 100 global organizations, and explains why meaningful relationships, psychological safety, and generosity are at the heart of effective personal development. We explore how WOL circles spark confidence,...
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Formula One Lessons for Executive Support
Executive Office Insights
190: What does Formula One teach us about being an exceptional executive assistant and strategic partner at the top level? In this inspiring episode, Nicole Bearne shares her journey from supporting one of Formula One’s most respected leaders to becoming a communications expert and business founder. She takes us behind the paddock doors to reveal what it’s really like to work alongside Ross Brawn, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton—where every second counts and preparation is everything. You’ll discover how executive support plays a crucial role in leadership success, team...
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Berufsbild Assistenz im Wandel: Netzwerken, Community Mindset und lebenslanges Lernen
Executive Office Insights
189: Assistenz ist keine Nebenrolle, sie ist das Rückgrat moderner Unternehmensführung. In dieser inspirierenden Podcastfolge sprechen wir mit Nadine Götz von der DVAG (Deutsche Vermögensberatung) über das neue Berufsbild Assistenz – zwischen Digitalisierung, Künstlicher Intelligenz und Netzwerkkompetenz. Nadine gibt uns spannende Einblicke in ihre Rolle, ihren Weg in der Assistenzwelt und wie sie aktiv die Veränderung ihres Berufsbildes mitgestaltet. 📌 Was dich erwartet: – Warum moderne Assistenzen mehr sind als Kalender und Reiseplanung – Wie bei der DVAG interne Netzwerke...
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AI, Tech & ADHD: How Executive Assistants Can Thrive
Executive Office Insights
188: What if your biggest distraction could become your greatest productivity superpower? 💡 In this inspiring and practical talk, Lauren Bradley, founder of The Officials, reveals how AI, tech, and ADHD can combine to help executive assistants, office managers, and admin professionals not just survive—but thrive in today’s fast-changing digital world. Discover how to harness AI tools like Notion, Microsoft Lists, and Power Automate, create smart workflows, and build confidence through automation, mentorship, and community. Lauren also opens up about living and...
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Chief of Staff, Leadership and Faith with Concetta Green
Executive Office Insights
187: What does it really take to be Chief of Staff at Harvard Business Publishing? I sit down with Concetta Green, Chief of Staff at Harvard Business Publishing, for an inspiring deep dive into leadership, career growth, and purpose-driven success. From her journey as an assistant to becoming a trusted executive partner, Concetta reveals why purpose matters more than titles, how mentorship and kindness shape real leadership, and why administrators are the unseen backbone of business. She also shares how faith and grace help her navigate challenges and create...
info_outline175: Ever wondered what it’s like to support a global icon like Serena Williams while managing billion-dollar operations behind the scenes? Grant Firestone reveals how he navigated the high-stakes world of elite sports, entertainment, and major infrastructure — without a traditional roadmap.
In this inspiring episode, we explore his path from Chief of Staff to Serena to leading innovation at LAX and Schneider Electric. Packed with honest stories, leadership insights, and career-changing advice, this is a must-watch for aspiring executives, aviation enthusiasts, and curious minds alike.
🎙️ What You’ll learn:
- The real challenges of working with a world-class athlete
- How aviation became an unexpected career passion
- The power of relationships in career building
- Lessons from managing high-pressure environments
- Why unplanned paths often lead to the best destinations
Grant Firestone is a dynamic leader in aviation management and transportation strategy, with a career that bridges the entertainment industry, government, and global aviation. He specializes in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, advising senior leadership, and cross-functional program execution. Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Grant held leadership roles at Los Angeles International Airport, served as Chief of Staff to Serena Williams, and worked at a Beverly Hills talent agency.
Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Grant studied French and pre-med at Haverford College, where he played men’s lacrosse and earned NCAA All-American honors. He continues to compete with the Beverly Hills Lacrosse Club.
A Los Angeles resident for 13 years, Grant lives with his wife, Olivia, and they are expecting their first child in July. He is fluent in French and is a frequent collaborator in global aviation innovation forums.
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🔴 Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3ifST-Mjxc0
Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/
Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter
Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS
Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661