
The AI-resilient EA
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.
Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Organisations love to pretend they’re rational entities, but they’re actually complex human systems with all the messiness that implies. After working with everything from tiny startups to vast government departments, I’ve learned that what’s written in the org chart rarely reflects how things actually work.
The invisible networks of influence, unspoken cultural norms and shadow hierarchies often matter more than formal reporting lines. These posts explore how to navigate the reality of organisational life rather than the sanitised version in the employee handbook.
You’ll find practical approaches to understanding power dynamics, managing stakeholder relationships and getting things done in environments where the official process is often the least effective route.
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.
Authencity is key for Executive Assistants in an AI-driven world. Executives don’t want a flawless automaton. They want someone who understands the unspoken context, who can read the room, who knows when to push back and when to step in. They want someone real.
We’re witnessing the end of the traditional mid-tier knowledge worker career. It’s an opportunity to redefine professional value in more uniquely human terms.
AI in the workplace promises revolutionary transformation, yet management support professionals are caught in a reality gap, simultaneously told AI mastery is essential whilst facing substantial organisational barriers that prevent actual adoption.
I’ve spent decades navigating organisational dysfunction so your teams don’t have to. My keynotes cut through corporate nonsense with practical insights on everything from digital transformation to workplace mental health. I bring humour, brutal honesty and actual solutions rather than motivational platitudes. Audiences leave with tangible approaches they can implement immediately.
My training sessions blend thirty years of hard-won experience with evidence-based techniques that actually work in messy real-world organisations. Whether it’s content design, leadership communication or AI integration, I focus on practical skills your team can apply immediately. No theoretical frameworks or pointless role plays, just honest guidance on navigating complex workplace challenges.
Sometimes you need someone who tells you the uncomfortable truths about your organisation or career that colleagues won’t. My in-person and online coaching for teams and individuals combines supportive guidance with the direct feedback often missing in professional development. I’ve helped executives, rising leaders and teams break through entrenched patterns and develop strategies that acknowledge workplace realities rather than ignoring them.
After crafting everything from government digital strategies to sensitive communications during organisational crises, I bring technical expertise and emotional intelligence to writing projects for intranets, newsletters and in-house magazines. I specialise in transforming complex information into clear, accessible content that connects with actual humans. No corporate jargon or empty phrases, just writing that achieves your objectives.