REACH - A Podcast for Executive Assistants
94 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 105 ratingsREACH is for the Executive Assistant who hustles hard, strives for excellence and is committed to seeking out life’s “aha moments” to help you reach the next stage in your development and career. In each episode, expect to gain invaluable insight from our personal network of Executive Assistants whose careers span the Fortune 500, Silicon Valley Venture Capital firms and your favorite tech companies and start-ups. Hosted by Maven Recruiting Group’s Founder and CEO, Jessica Vann, this is your opportunity to participate in the solidarity of listening to people who “get it.” REACH is designed to inspire your workday, guide you through pivotal moments in your career and transform you into the Executive Assistant you’ve always wanted to be. REACH is brought to you by Maven Recruiting Group who specializes in placing Executive Assistants and support staff to the Bay Area’s most prominent Executives and companies. You can learn more about Maven at www.mavenrec.com.
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Episodes
Happy Admin Day! Bonus Episode to Celebrate Our Administrative Superheroes
April 21, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 59.5 MBHappy Administrative Professionals Day! In this bonus episode of REACH, we’re celebrating the often-unsung heroes and backbones of our companies. Our mission at Maven Recruiting Group and through our podcast is to elevate the support role and give it the props and appreciation it rightfully deserves. Gillian Lopez, Director of Accounts and Growth at Maven Recruiting Group, joins Jessica and together they highlight all of the problems EAs solve, all of the ways they save the day, all of the a...
How to Standout in the Interview Process + How to Assess Fit with a Company and Executive
April 12, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 63.5 MBIf you’re feeling lost among the shuffle of applicants, you’re not sure what to ask or how to assess fit in the interview process, or you’re looking for tips on how to spice up your LinkedIn game, this episode is for you. In this episode, Katie Thomas, Senior Executive Business Partner at Uber, talks about how to stand out and position yourself for success in the interview process, as well as how to assess fit with a potential company and executive. And if there’s anyone who knows how to net...
Bored in Your Role? How to Ask to Take on Special Projects and Expand Your Role Outside of Your Job Description
March 29, 2021 12:00 - 39 minutes - 72.4 MBToday’s episode is geared to those Executive Assistants who may be feeling bored, apathetic, unmotivated, or simply burnt out in their role. Parke Davis, Executive Assistant to the SVP, Products, Cortex, at Palo Alto Networks offers ideas for how to expand your role to create new learning opportunities and a renewed sense of excitement. We’re talking video editing, voice-over recording, event planning, culture building, you name it! In this episode, you will learn how and when to approach yo...
Reimagining Your Remote Workspace: Advice from a Designer on How to Create a Productive and Beautiful Home Office
March 15, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBWith remote work being the ongoing and possibly indefinite reality for many of us, we thought it would be both fun and practical to call in a design expert to talk about how we can equip our work from home environments to be both functional and beautiful. In this episode, Michael Guidry offers his tips and tricks for establishing a comfortable, productive, and aesthetically pleasing home office space. Michael has designed a variety of spaces including Maven Recruiting Group’s HQ and Jessica’...
From Working at the Bio-Pharma Behemoth Genentech to Scrappy Startup Grail: Everything You Need to Know About Being an Executive Assistant in Biotech
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this episode, Stacy Green, Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO of Grail, sheds light on the biotech industry from an EA’s perspective. She discusses everything from the challenges and rewards of the field, what it’s like to work with a bunch of scientists and PhDs and what to expect if you’re thinking of joining a biotech company, whether big or small. Prior to her role at Grail, a company committed to saving lives by detecting cancer early on when it has a better chance of being cured,...
From Facebook to Roblox: When to Take the Leap to a New Role
February 16, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 68.5 MBAfter supporting the Global Chief Diversity Officer at Facebook for six years, Pari McIntyre, made the leap to Roblox supporting the General Counsel. In this episode, Pari shares her thoughts on when it’s time to change roles or companies, something she recently decided to do. If you’re like Pari and you’ve recently accepted a new role during this time, we have no doubt you will benefit from hearing Pari’s tips on how to acclimate. Or, if you are thinking of making a move, we hope hearing Pa...
How to Pivot from Personal Support to the Corporate World: Advice from PA Turned Airbnb EA
February 01, 2021 09:00 - 38 minutes - 68 MBAlexis’ journey to the Executive Assistant role begins with her previous role as a Personal Assistant to a high-profile executive and entrepreneur and her family. In this episode, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the Personal Assistant role first to understand what it’s all about and how to do it well, followed by Alexis’ discussion of how and why she transitioned her career to the corporate space. Join us as we chat about both the similarities and differences of personal support and executi...
Part Two: How to Navigate Stress in the Workplace: Advice from Miraval Resort’s Wellness Counselor
January 18, 2021 17:00 - 25 minutes - 44.7 MBIn this episode, Wellness Counselor at Miraval Arizona, Anne Parker, continues the discussion around how to navigate and manage stress in the workplace. With workplace stress costing companies approximately $300 billion dollars annually according to the American Institute of Stress, it’s safe to say there’s a lot of stressed-out people out there. So, whether you’re an executive assistant, an executive, an executive assistant listening on behalf of your stressed-out exec, or just a human bein...
Part Two: How to Navigate Stress in the Workplace: Advice from Miraval Resort’s Wellness Counselor
January 18, 2021 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBIn this episode, Wellness Counselor at Miraval Arizona, Anne Parker, continues the discussion around how to navigate and manage stress in the workplace. With workplace stress costing companies approximately $300 billion dollars annually according to the American Institute of Stress, it’s safe to say there’s a lot of stressed-out people out there. So, whether you’re an executive assistant, an executive, an executive assistant listening on behalf of your stressed-out exec, or just a human bein...
Part One: How to Navigate Stress in the Workplace: Advice from Miraval Resort’s Wellness Counselor
January 04, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBIn this episode, Wellness Counselor at Miraval Arizona, Anne Parker, leads us in a discussion around how to navigate and manage stress in the workplace. With workplace stress costing companies approximately $300 billion dollars annually according to the American Institute of Stress, it’s safe to say there’s a lot of stressed-out people out there. So, whether you’re an executive assistant, an executive, an executive assistant listening on behalf of your stressed-out exec, or just a human bein...
Advice from a Fellow Executive Assistant on Job Searching during a Global Pandemic
December 21, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode, former Executive Assistant at Piper Jaffray, Chantal Perez, shares her experience and tips for job searching as an Executive Assistant in the midst of a global pandemic. We know this is sensitive and apropos considering our current climate, so we are grateful to Chantal for stepping up to the plate to tackle what is probably the single hottest topic right now. The purpose of this conversation is to demonstrate the collective reality that many job seekers are facing right no...
A Fresh Perspective on the Inherent Challenges of Being a Sole Executive Assistant
December 07, 2020 16:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this episode, we interview Joy Caves, Executive Assistant to the Head of Cloud Engineering at Atlassian. While Joy works for a company with over 45 administrative professionals, 28 being Executive Assistants, Joy is no stranger to feeling like an island as she was the sole Executive Assistant in prior jobs. So, whether you’re feeling isolated in your role because of COVID and working remotely, or you’re the only EA on your team, this episode is for you! Join us as Joy shares a fresh persp...
Part Two: Learning Executive Coaching Techniques to Become More Effective as an Executive Assistant
November 23, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBJoin us for part two of our discussion with Executive Leadership Coach, Jonathan Hoyt, as he continues to share his strategies and best practices for guiding executives toward their highest selves. You as executive assistants and he as an executive coach are dealing with the same end-user and have the same fundamental challenge – how to most effectively access an executive’s desires and help them realize their goals. If you’ve ever struggled with how to “get through” to your executive or imp...
Part One: Learning Executive Coaching Techniques to Become More Effective as an Executive Assistant
November 09, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBIn this episode, Executive Leadership Coach, Jonathan Hoyt, shares the strategies and best practices he’s developed to guide executives toward their highest selves and outcomes and achieve meaningful breakthroughs, something you as executive assistants are ultimately working toward as well. You as executive assistants and he as an executive coach and advisor are dealing with the same end-user and have the same fundamental challenge – how to most effectively access an executive’s desires an...
How to Break Down Barriers and Find the Common Ground Between You and Your Colleagues
October 05, 2020 09:00 - 34 minutes - 61.3 MBIn this episode of REACH, LaChristian Taylor, Executive Assistant at Exabeam, shares her story of how she’s been able to break down barriers and find the common ground between herself and her colleagues/executives in order to allow true collaboration to happen. LaChristian knows what it feels like to be the new kid on the block. As a woman of color who supports at the highest level, she has often found herself to be the only minority in the room. And as an executive assistant who joined a st...
How to Take Care of Yourself When Working in a Stressful Environment
September 29, 2020 11:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBIn this episode of REACH, Clarivel Barajas speaks about the emotional demands and challenges of the Executive Assistant role and provides tips for how to avoid burnout when working in a demanding role. We hope Clarivel’s raw, relatable, and deeply personal story motivate you to establish healthy boundaries and practice self-care so you can avoid some of the hard lessons Clarivel learned in her career. This episode takes an unexpectedly emotional turn and is well worth the listen!
Chief of Staff Turned Marketing Manager
September 15, 2020 15:00 - 36 minutes - 64.1 MBStarting at Expanse, Curtis Casella served as the Chief of Staff to the Founder and CEO there and was eventually promoted to Event Marketing Manager and ultimately, Senior Event Marketing Manager. In this episode, Curtis shares how his role as an Executive Assistant allowed him to explore and discover opportunities in marketing. From chasing a whim that led him to two, career-defining years in South Africa to angling his EA role toward field marketing, listen in to hear how Curtis has used t...
How to Set-up and Run an Office of the CEO
August 14, 2020 17:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBIn this episode, we hear from Kristen Quint, Director of the Office of the CEO for Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe. Kristen points out the distinction between what it means to support a CEO versus what it means to oversee the Office of the CEO as well as when it’s necessary to build out a more robust infrastructure to support your CEO effectively. Kristen walks us through the challenges she set out to solve, her thought process, the various organizational models she’s tried along the way and w...
Temp Glory Story: How One EA Turned a Contract Role into a Career Opportunity
August 04, 2020 11:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBIn this episode, Brandon Bailey, Executive Assistant to the SVP of People of Postmates, shares his temp glory story! Prior to joining Postmates, Brandon made the conscious choice to contract for a few years, while doing some simultaneous soul-searching. Through his commitment to adding value and treating every open door as an opportunity, Brandon was able to successfully convert one of his contract positions into a meaningful and lucrative full-time role. In this episode, he shares how he di...
From Ticketfly to Eventbrite: What It’s Like to Go Through an Acquisition (Or Two!)
July 20, 2020 17:00 - 43 minutes - 76.9 MBIn this episode, Melissa Silva shares her story of supporting Andrew Dreskin, the CEO of Ticketfly, through two acquisitions! Melissa gives REACH listeners a peek behind the curtain as to what it’s like to support someone through such intense periods of change and how she adjusted from being the sole admin in a scrappy startup to part of a broader admin team at Pandora and later, Eventbrite. If you’re wondering what it’s like to transition from a small startup to an established organization,...
The Role an Executive Assistant Plays in a Crisis
July 06, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 68.6 MBAs Executive Assistants, being prepared for any situation, whether it’s a minor crisis like a missed connection or something much harrier, is essential to your craft. We did a podcast swap! In this episode, Jeremy Burrows, Executive Assistant to the CEO of Capacity and host of The Leader Assistant Podcast, discusses the role an Executive Assistant plays in a crisis whether it be a PR crisis, a global pandemic, or whatever else gets tossed your way. Drawing on his years of experience as an Ex...
Board Relations: The Invaluable Skill Every EA Needs in their Toolkit
June 23, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBWe can’t tell you how many times a client of ours comes to us looking for an Executive Assistant with board relations experience under their belt. In this episode, Danielle Hill, Chief Administrative Officer at Knox Lane, speaks about the value of Board Relations experience when it comes to the Executive Assistant career path and how getting that experience on her resume opened up doors to opportunities she never would have dreamed of. Listen in as Danielle digs into all that goes into coord...
Board Relations: The Invaluable Skill Every EA Needs in Their Toolkit
June 23, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBWe can’t tell you how many times a client of ours comes to us looking for an Executive Assistant with board relations experience under their belt. In this episode, Danielle Hill, Chief Administrative Officer at Knox Lane, speaks about the value of Board Relations experience when it comes to the Executive Assistant career path and how getting that experience on her resume opened up doors to opportunities she never would have dreamed of. Listen in as Danielle digs into all that goes into coord...
Making It: How Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard Became the EA to the CEO of Airbnb
June 09, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 73.5 MBIn this episode, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, Senior Executive Assistant to the Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, shares her story of “making it.” Jordan walks us through her career path from supporting notable political figures in DC (she was an even an appointee on the Obama Administration!) to landing a job for one of the world’s most recognizable tech brands, Airbnb. Listen in as Jordan discusses the pivotal moments in her career that led her to where she is today. And if you’re an...
How to Best Leverage an Executive Assistant: An Episode You’ll Want to Share with Your Executive
May 20, 2020 15:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBLauren Richards, Executive Assistant to the CEO and CPO/Co-Founder of Webflow, joins us for a conversation you’ll definitely want to share with your executive! In this candid and thoughtful dialogue, Lauren shares her advice for executives about everything from how to nail the hiring process and find the right person to how to structure an effective and enduring partnership rooted in mutual respect and regard for one another. Whether you’re an executive wanting to understand how best to iden...
Pulling off a Virtual Event: Advice from an Event Planning Expert
May 05, 2020 10:00 - 26 minutes - 46.8 MBThis is part one of our two-part series with Heather Keenan, President and CEO of Key Events. With this series, we’re pivoting the conversation by inviting some of the most distinguished resources, companies and service providers we think it’s vital for you to know about. In this episode, event planner extraordinaire, Heather Keenan, gifts us with her wisdom and advice around carrying out a successful virtual event. As many of us are sheltering in place, virtual business events have become o...
What It Means to be a Tenacious EA and How to Combat Workplace Challenges
April 21, 2020 15:00 - 43 minutes - 78 MBMany EAs would say their relationship to their executive is a core contributor to overall job satisfaction in the EA role. In this episode, Rowe Hoffer, Senior Executive Assistant to the Co-Founder and Chairwoman of Mozilla (who she’s supported for almost 9 years!), talks to us about what it means to be a tenacious EA when combating workplace challenges. More specifically, Rowe speaks to working relationships that may not be “ideal” or considered the “perfect match” in nature and how to game...
How to Stay Relevant as an EA during COVID-19 (Plus Tips on Job Searching)
April 06, 2020 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBIn this episode, we’re tackling your COVID19-related questions and concerns, Q&A style and guerilla-style. Yes, kids may interrupt, doorbells may ring, tea kettles may whistle, but our priority here was to address your very relevant and legitimate questions in a timely manner even if that means raw and un-cut. Whether you were recently laid off or you’re feeling vulnerable right now to a potential lay-off, or simply want to provide the best level of support and service you can to your execut...
Part Two: The Ins and Outs of Remote Support and How to Get it Right
March 10, 2020 18:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBWith the increasing popularity and buzz surrounding remote EA work, we decided it was time to get some real insight from a remote Executive Assistant in our network. In this episode, we interview LJ Cohen, remote Executive Assistant to the Partners of Uncork Capital (formerly known as SoftTech VC). In this episode, LJ addresses everything from the importance of asking the right questions in the interview process to ensure success in a remote role to setting up boundaries within her personal ...
Part One: The Ins and Outs of Remote Support and How to Get it Right
March 02, 2020 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBWith the increasing popularity and buzz surrounding remote EA work, we decided it was time to get some real insight from a remote Executive Assistant in our network. In this episode, we interview LJ Cohen, remote Executive Assistant to the Partners of Uncork Capital (formerly known as SoftTech VC). In this episode, LJ addresses everything from the importance of asking the right questions in the interview process to ensure success in a remote role to setting up boundaries within her personal ...
Growth Through Adversity
February 14, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 64.6 MBIn this episode our guest, Carina Ruggiero, reflects on some of the challenges she’s faced and how she has not only triumphed, but also used them as a catalyst for career growth and personal evolution. In this episode, Carina talks about how she made a significant mental shift from achieving to serving. Her inspiration? The one and only Tony Robbins. She encourages us to stop taking ourselves so seriously as she puts it, “Sh*t happens, bounce back!” Carina also shares her ninety-nine-year-ol...
From the Streets of Los Angeles to Capitol Hill: Hear One EA’s Personal Story of Making It
February 03, 2020 12:00 - 34 minutes - 60.2 MBIn this episode, the oh so relatable and authentic Anh Castro shares the story of her childhood as a daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant, who grew up in the working-class neighborhoods of Los Angeles and later became an established Executive Assistant and Personal Assistant who supported prominent women like Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris and Danielle Steel, and some major figures in the venture capital world. Despite Anh’s humble roots, her will-power, drive and perseverance have allowed he...
Best Practices for Getting Off on the Right Foot with Your Executive
January 20, 2020 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBSuccess in an Executive Assistant role is predicated on establishing the right practices and behaviors with your executive from the outset, boundary setting, mutual respect and open dialogue. Ligaya Fieler, Senior Executive Assistant at SurveyMonkey, walks us through how she’s personally accomplished these things with her Executives over the years – one story includes how she earned the respect of a traditionally “grumpy” Exec! In this episode, you too will learn how to set the tone for a pr...
The Art of Finding Your Voice and Pushing Back (with Finesse)
January 06, 2020 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBIn a service-oriented role, sometimes it can be a challenge to strike a balance between being helpful and supportive of others and their needs while also ensuring you don’t take on too much. We all know that sometimes we need to be able to “manage up” and push back. Chances are, this is probably something that you’re already doing on a daily basis. However, the act of managing up is truly an art, and one that can always be worked on and perfected, and it comes more naturally to some than oth...
The Change-Maker: How One Admin Manager Evolved the EA Role within Okta
December 19, 2019 13:00 - 37 minutes - 66 MBTanya has always had a passion for leading and mentoring Executive Assistants, starting first with her role as a Staff Supervisor at Merrill Lynch and ultimately landing in a hybrid Admin Manager / EA to CEO role at Okta. In this episode, Tanya shares the history of how she evolved and elevated the EA function within Okta and ultimately created a world-class EA team. From leading by example to teaching more junior EAs how to own the room and exude confidence to bringing in outside coaches to...
The Change-Maker: How One Admin Manager Evolved the EA Role Within Okta
December 16, 2019 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBTanya has always had a passion for leading and mentoring Executive Assistants, starting first with her role as a Staff Supervisor at Merrill Lynch and ultimately landing in a hybrid Admin Manager / EA to CEO role at Okta. In this episode, Tanya shares the history of how she evolved and elevated the EA function within Okta and ultimately created a world-class EA team. From leading by example to teaching more junior EAs how to own the room and exude confidence to bringing in outside coaches to...
The Change-Maker: How One Admin Manager Evolved the EA Role Within Okta
December 16, 2019 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBTanya has always had a passion for leading and mentoring Executive Assistants, starting first with her role as a Staff Supervisor at Merrill Lynch and ultimately landing in a hybrid Admin Manager / EA to CEO role at Okta. In this episode, Tanya shares the history of how she evolved and elevated the EA function within Okta and ultimately created a world-class EA team. From leading by example to teaching more junior EAs how to own the room and exude confidence to bringing in outside coaches to...
Executive Assistants vs Robots: How Technology is Changing the Landscape of Support
December 02, 2019 13:00 - 35 minutes - 62.2 MBMeg George, former Executive Assistant to the Founder of Coinbase and Paradigm and currently the Events, Facilities and Operations Manager at Even, discusses the role of technology within the executive support and office support roles. Living in Silicon Valley, the hub of technology innovation, we see technology platforms gobbling up an increasing number of functions that used to be handled by humans. We wanted to ask the question, how much, if any of the Executive Assistant and Office Manag...
Setting Your Executive up for Success When You’re on Maternity Leave
October 28, 2019 18:00 - 34 minutes - 60.7 MBAnn Borja, Executive Business Partner to the CEO and Co-Founder of Lyft, talks to us about what a pivotal year it’s been for her – from carrying a child to going through an IPO and navigating all of that change within a highly visible role at a rocket-ship startup. In this episode, Ann offers advice to other Executive Assistants as a woman with a noteworthy and demanding EA career on the cusp of becoming a first-time mom. While Ann is fortunate to have a very supportive executive, she also o...
From Tactical Assistant to Strategic Partner: How to Provide Transformative Support to Your Executive
October 14, 2019 18:00 - 38 minutes - 67.4 MBEditor in Chief turned Critical Care Nurse turned Executive Business Partner, Paige Zeigler sheds light on how you as an Executive Assistant can be a strategic asset to your company and Executive by discussing her own thought process and behaviors. As the Executive Business Partner to Eric Gundersen, CEO of Mapbox, Paige spends her days spearheading projects and driving new initiatives in order to propel the business forward, rightfully garnering massive cred as a “transformative Executive A...
So You Work for a Pre-IPO Startup: How to Budget for the Marathon, Not the Sprint
October 08, 2019 16:00 - 41 minutes - 74 MBFrom Livefyre to Elf to Juul, Kristin Beatham talks about what it’s like to work as an Executive Assistant at a high-growth startup, specifically what to expect, how it’s different than a non-startup company, how to pace yourself for the marathon and the importance of practicing gratitude, while also laughing over some of the more novel start-up perks (hint: glitter bombs, donuts and break dancers!). Kristin has spent the better part of her career working for multiple high-growth startups an...
Journeys from the Executive Assistant Role and Beyond
October 08, 2019 16:00 - 37 minutes - 65.6 MBFormer Disneyland Paris Princess to Executive Assistant to Max Levchin, Lia Ballard talks about her journey to becoming the Executive Support Manager & Founder of the Employee Resource Group (ERG) Black @ Affirm. From highlighting the thought process that led her to a career as an Executive Assistant to discussing her promotional path to becoming the Executive Support Manager, Lia takes us through a review of her career highlights and shares her advice for how others can strategically positi...
Diversity and Inclusion Within the Executive Assistant Role
October 08, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBDiversity and Inclusion is a hot topic. There are a lot of people who feel passionately about D&I as a value and a virtue but aren’t really sure how to activate that within their role or career, other than it being a personal and ethical priority. Lauren Pelusi, Executive Assistant at Instacart, talks to us about the ways in which she has used the Executive Assistant role as a platform to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in doing so, walks us through her experiences at Su...
Diversity and Inclusion within the Executive Assistant Role
October 08, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 58.5 MBDiversity and Inclusion is a hot topic. There are a lot of people who feel passionately about D&I as a value and a virtue but aren’t really sure how to activate that within their role or career, other than it being a personal and ethical priority. Lauren Pelusi, Executive Assistant at Instacart, talks to us about the ways in which she has used the Executive Assistant role as a platform to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in doing so, walks us through her experiences at Su...