Stop Being Underpaid: Introducing the ROI Calculator
Release Date: 12/31/2025
Executive Business Partner to the CEO of Zapier - Cortney Hickey (only Audio)
Executive Office Insights
213: Cortney Hickey is the Executive Business Partner to Wade Foster, the CEO and co-founder of Zapier. In this episode of The Leader Assistant Podcast, Cortney talks about remotely supporting a CEO who lives across the country, the definition of a strategic partner, and how to scale your impact as an executive assistant by using automation and AI. Show Notes -> -- It’s the last day of the offsite and it was exactly what the team needed. The CEO pulls you aside to say, “Thank you. This was next level.” Your secret? You used Offsite. They handled the venues, negotiations, and...
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Executive Office Insights
212: Was macht eine Stimme unverwechselbar, und warum kann echte Präsenz nicht einfach durch KI ersetzt werden? In dieser Folge des Executive Office Podcasts spricht Diana Brandl mit Dietmar Wunder über die Kraft der menschlichen Stimme, authentische Kommunikation und die Kunst, Menschen wirklich zu erreichen. Es geht darum, warum wir gerade in wichtigen Situationen häufig zu schnell sprechen, welche Wirkung bewusst gesetzte Pausen haben und weshalb unsere Stimme weit mehr transportiert als nur Worte. Dietmar gibt Einblicke in sein Handwerk und zeigt, was Führungskräfte und Menschen, die...
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Why AI Won't Replace Executive Assistants
Executive Office Insights
211: What does it really take to become a trusted strategic partner in today's executive world - and where does AI fit into that future? In this episode, Diana Brandl welcomes Clara Nakagawa for an insightful conversation about the evolving role of Executive Assistants in an AI-driven workplace. Together, they explore why trust, judgment, and human connection remain essential, even as technology transforms the way executives and assistants work together. Clara shares her thoughts on adopting AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, embracing continuous learning, earning professional certifications,...
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Mobbing unter Assistenzen? Warnsignale, Ursachen und Lösungen
Executive Office Insights
210: Konflikte gehören zum Berufsalltag – doch wann wird daraus Mobbing? In dieser Podcastfolge sprechen wir offen über Konflikte, Mobbing und schwierige Dynamiken im Assistenzbereich. Gemeinsam beleuchten wir, woran sich systematisches Mobbing erkennen lässt, welche Warnsignale Führungskräfte und HR ernst nehmen sollten und warum klare Rollen, transparente Kommunikation und aktives Zuhören entscheidend für eine gesunde Zusammenarbeit sind. Anhand realer Erfahrungen aus Recruiting, Mediation und Konfliktbegleitung geht es um typische Warnsignale, Prävention, die Verantwortung von...
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Halbzeit 2026 und deine Weiterbildung
Executive Office Insights
209: Diana läutet den Sommer ein und macht auf neue Weiterbildungsformate aufmerksam. Sollten euch die Themen interessieren, geht es hier entlang für mehr Infos: On Demand Projektmanagement Kurs mit Christine Maurer Trailer: Anmeldung und weitere Infos: Speak Up Live Seminar mit Margit Lieverz am 11. Dezember in Frankfurt Anmeldung und weitere Infos: memox KI Roadshow 2026: Wer den monatlichen Newsletter noch nicht kennt: Und zum Schluss freuen wir uns über eine 5-Sterne-Bewertung des Podcasts. Danke für die Treue!
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Upskilling and community building in Ghana (Audio only)
Executive Office Insights
208: In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Afful to explore how the Executive Assistant profession is evolving. We discuss how Executive Assistants can take ownership of their careers, develop a powerful mindset, and build the skills needed to thrive in the future of work. In this episode, you'll discover: - How professional communities accelerate career growth - Why mindset is the foundation of a successful Executive Assistant career - How AI is reshaping the administrative profession - How the Global Skills Matrix supports long-term career development - The importance of networking,...
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Executive Office Insights
207: What does it take to move beyond managing calendars and become a trusted business partner? In this episode, we explore the future of the Executive Assistant profession and the mindset shift required to create strategic impact. Debbie shares powerful lessons on executive presence, communication, leadership, and why soft skills remain essential in the age of AI. From building trust with leaders to using data to drive better decisions, this conversation offers practical insights for Executive Assistants, Administrative Professionals, and Chiefs of Staff who want to think beyond tasks and...
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KI & Copilot: So verändert sich die Assistenzrolle (nur Audio)
Executive Office Insights
206: Wird KI die Assistenz ersetzen, oder ihre Rolle sogar stärken? In dieser Podcast-Folge sprechen wir über die praktische Nutzung von Microsoft Copilot, den Einsatz von KI im Arbeitsalltag und die Veränderungen, die aktuell in Unternehmen stattfinden. Warum haben manche Organisationen KI bereits fest in ihrer Arbeitsweise verankert, während andere noch ganz am Anfang stehen? Welche Aufgaben lassen sich heute schon automatisieren – und wo bleibt der Mensch unverzichtbar? Außerdem geht es um typische Anwendungsfälle für Assistenzen, den Umgang mit Datenschutz, die Bedeutung von...
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Inside the Modern Chief of Staff Role (only audio)
Executive Office Insights
205: What does a Chief of Staff actually do — and why are more CEOs hiring them than ever before? In this episode, Clara Ma breaks down the real role of a Chief of Staff inside fast-growing startups and modern leadership teams. From executive strategy and hiring to AI, remote work, and scaling companies, this conversation explores why the Chief of Staff role is evolving so quickly. We talk about: - Chief of Staff vs Executive Assistant - How CEOs hire the right strategic partner - Startup leadership and operations - AI tools and AI literacy for Chiefs of Staff - Emotional intelligence in...
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Krisenmanagement auf Geschäftsreise: Executive Assistant strandet in Doha
Executive Office Insights
204: Eine internationale Geschäftsreise. Ein gesperrter Luftraum. Und plötzlich werden aus wenigen Stunden ganze elf Tage im Ausnahmezustand. In dieser Podcastfolge erzählt Tanja Donislreiter von einer Reise, die völlig anders endete als geplant: Nach einem Meeting in Indien strandet sie gemeinsam mit einem Kollegen in Doha – mitten in einer geopolitischen Krisensituation. Was folgt, sind Tage voller Unsicherheit, Alarmmeldungen, spontaner Entscheidungen und emotionaler Momente. Wir sprechen über: - Krisenmanagement unter extremen Bedingungen - mentale Stärke und Resilienz -...
info_outline194: 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 → Corporate EA: how a non-linear career path builds the real skills top executives need (pressure handling, service excellence, business instincts, communication).
- Executive Assistant in Poland: why the role is often underestimated, how stereotypes still shape expectations, and what needs to change for stronger recognition and career growth.
- EA vs Chief of Staff: an honest take on titles, responsibilities, and why many EAs already do “CoS-level” work, without the label.
- Community & visibility: why Elizabeth founded the Assistologist to elevate the profession through representation, education, and a “Polish roots, global mindset” approach.
- Plus a few human moments (work-life balance, habits, and the funny IKEA/Swedish candy confession).
This episode is packed with tools, perspective, and confidence boosts you can apply immediately.
Drop a comment: Have you ever been told your salary is “fair”? What did you do next?
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About Elizabeth Sutkowska:
Elizabeth is an experienced Executive Assistant with international expertise supporting leaders in fast-paced corporate and startup environments. Her career spans Poland, Cyprus, the USA, and Italy, and she has studied at five universities in fields such as international relations, corporate communication, business psychology, media, and marketing.
Elizabeth is the founder of Assistologist, a Poland-based association aimed at elevating the Executive Assistant’s role through global best practices and strategic collaboration. She is passionate about healthy living, mindfulness, and exploring the world.
LINKS:
🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P-MIubR-NbQ
Assistologist, Association of Executive Assistants in Poland: https://www.assistologist.com/
Elizabeth Sutkowska on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-sutkowska/
Diana Brandl 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 on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS
Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661
Elizabeth's song: Adele - Rolling in the deep
🎵 Listen to the Executive Office Insights Spotify-Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3QH8HL8oWIC0HzHWvb5KLd