For years, the conversation around the future of Executive Assistants (EAs) and those in related management support roles (Executive PAs, secretaries or Management Assistants, to name but a few) has been dominated by one topic: AI. From predictive scheduling to automated meeting notes, we’re constantly told that EAs must adapt to AI or risk becoming obsolete. That discussion is not new, of course. I spoke at EA seminars in the 1990s that focused on “There will be no more EAs by 2000”. We have alway had to upskill, get to grips with new technology or face losing our value in the job market.

But here’s the reality: AI alone is not the future of the EA profession. The skills that will make EAs indispensable in the coming years have little to do with technology and everything to do with business acumen, strategic thinking, and executive influence.

Why AI won’t replace business-savvy EAs

AI is powerful, but it has limitations. While it can automate repetitive tasks, it cannot replace judgment, leadership influence, or business insight. EAs who focus only on learning AI tools are setting themselves up for redundancy because, eventually, AI will do those tasks faster and better.

What AI can’t do is:

• Read executive dynamics and manage relationships.
• Anticipate business risks and make strategic recommendations.
• Navigate office politics and influence decision-making.
• Understand corporate financials and translate them into actionable insights.
• Act as a trusted business partner who thinks ahead of the executive.

This is where the AI-resilient EA comes in: not an assistant who competes with AI, but one who operates at a level beyond what AI can replicate. That’s our real challenge.

It’s also why I focus on this in my coaching, training, writing and speaking so much. In the late 1990s, I called it ‘Secretarial Entrepreneurship’. Today, I call it ‘The Entrepreneurial EA’. The concept is as valid today as it was all those years ago: EAs must adapt and evolve in their roles in order to thrive in an ever-changing workplace. 

Skills that technology can’t replace

If AI is taking over administrative tasks, where should EAs focus their energy? The answer lies in developing strategic, commercially valuable skills that make them indispensable.

1. Business acumen & financial fluency

Executives don’t just need help with time management – they need strategic insight. The best EAs will:

• Understand balance sheets, profit & loss statements, and financial forecasting.
• Help identify cost-saving opportunities and operational inefficiencies.
• Provide data-driven insights that support leadership decision-making.

2. Executive influence & leadership support

EAs who gain executive trust are the ones who will always be valued. That means:

• Knowing how to frame recommendations in a way that drives action.
• Mastering the art of ‘managing up’—guiding executives toward better decisions.
• Becoming the executive’s second brain, anticipating problems before they arise.

3. Communication, negotiation & relationship management

Technology can send emails, but it can’t build relationships. The future-proof EA will:

• Negotiate on behalf of executives to secure better deals and opportunities.
• Manage high-level stakeholders and key business relationships.
• Act as a trusted gatekeeper, ensuring the executive’s time is spent on high-value activities.

4. Crisis management & strategic problem-solving

AI can identify trends, but it can’t handle crises. The best EAs will:

• Stay calm under pressure and think critically in unpredictable situations.
• Help executives pivot strategies when challenges arise.
• Understand risk management and compliance, ensuring business continuity.

Why employers should invest in AI-resilient EAs

Many organisations believe that cutting EAs to ‘save costs’ is a smart move. In reality, eliminating high-level EAs forces executives to spend more time on admin and less time on business growth.

A CEO earning £500K per year who spends 20% of their time on admin tasks is effectively wasting £100K per year.

Investing in a strategic, AI-resilient EA is not an expense – it’s a business advantage. These EAs save executive time, drive productivity, and enable better decision-making.

Final thoughts: the EAs who will lead the future

The AI debate in the EA profession is distracting from the real conversation. It’s the wrong conversation. The EAs who will thrive are not the ones learning to use AI tools – they are the ones mastering executive influence, financial acumen, and strategic leadership.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about:

• How to develop the mindset of a business-savvy EA.
• Practical steps to gain financial fluency and commercial awareness.
• Why internal branding is the key to career longevity.

If you’re an EA who wants to be future-proofed – not replaced – this is the conversation you need to be part of.