In July 2007, Bob Geldof’s media company Ten Alps plc hired me to launch two news-driven web portals: Director of Finance Online and SME Web. This was on the back of my succes launching DeskDemon.com in 2000 – during the dotcom boom – and making it the UK and US market leader in the highly competitive EA sector.

Right from the start, I pointed out a potential problem: “Director of Finance Online has an Accounting channel, but I know absolutely nothing about accounting.”

Fair is fair.

Less than three months later, I managed to get brand-new startup Director of Finance Online quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Bloomberg – with a major news story on accounting standards.

Why? Because I focused my attention, did my research and worked my backside off to become an expert journalist on accounting.

Did it make me an accountant? No, obviously. But it demonstrated where determination and laser-focus can get us.

Strategic rather than task-driven

It is almost twenty years ago since I was a regular speaker and trainer at international EA events around Europe.

Does that mean I’m old hat, a hasbeen?

Far from it.

One example: The Entrepreneurial Executive Assistant is making a comeback, decades after I pioneered the concept between 1997 and 2007.

Between 1997 and 2007, I originated and promoted the concept of The Entrepreneurial EA at seminars, in EA magazines and wherever I could. It was born out of my own years as a top EA, including for the chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and office manager in the City of London.

It remains just as relevant in the AI era as it was back then. The Entrepreneurial EA back then was all about being strategic rather than task-driven. Being strategic rather than task-driven, marketing your value instead of waiting to be recognised, and not relying on a manager or recruiter to assess your worth.

Quoted back

I remember having dinner with my partner in a restaurant near my apartment in London, when I discovered that Richard Scase was at the table next to us. Professor Richard Scase is an absolute legend among UK conference speakers.

We got talking. I told him that I never forgot figures he quoted in his presentation that showed that more people are employed in the British curry industry than in mining, steel and fishery combined. “I get that quoted back to me by other speakers all the time now,” he replied. “They often don’t even realise that I originated it.”

The Future-Proof EA

I know how he feels.

Since I originated the concept of The Entrepreneurial EA back in 2007, I have evolved it continuously.

I no longer use the term ‘entrepreneurial’, not least because it has connotations of senior EAs being pushed out and replaced with cheaper ones.

Today, I call it The Future-Proof EA.

I am still laser-focused to understand what it takes to be a top EA in the AI era. And I’m determined to be relevant as a speaker and trainer again – internationally – with a message that resonates with EAs today.

Wider perspective

Whereas most EA training and speaking focuses on task-based skills – such as making the most of AI tools -, I focus on strategic skills that AI cannot replicate.

Over the decades, I have had both a wider perspective on my own time in manangement support and opportunities to refine the concept.

It’s great, but no surprise that entrepreneurial skills for EAs are making a comeback. But most speakers and trainers now promoting entrepreneurial skills for EAs miss the point. Over the next few days I will explain why. Follow me to hear it – straight from the horse’s mouth.