REACH - A Podcast for Executive Assistants

Happy Admin Day! Bonus Episode to Celebrate Our Administrative Superheroes

Happy 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 areas they provide leverage to their executives and companies. Plus, stay tuned for a special treat at the end... a few of our clients wrote in personal notes of appreciation for their admins and you just might receive a special shout out from your exec! We hope this episode reminds you how valuable you are, how critical your role is to your organization and how much we appreciate all that you do behind the scenes. 

How to Standout in the Interview Process + How to Assess Fit with a Company and Executive

If 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 network, stand out on LinkedIn and make a lasting first impression, it’s Katie! Spoiler alert: Katie received two job offers by simply making a memorable first impression. PS: If networking isn’t really your thing, this episode is still relevant! Katie, an introvert at heart, views networking in a non-traditional light and offers tips for how others can step outside their comfort zone and make meaningful connections even via Zoom. 

Bored in Your Role? How to Ask to Take on Special Projects and Expand Your Role Outside of Your Job Description

Today’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 your executive as well as all of the work you need to do in advance to ensure you get a strong “yes” at the end of your conversation. If you feel like you can do your job backwards and forwards with your eyes closed, and you’re just going through the motions every day, this episode is for you!

Reimagining Your Remote Workspace: Advice from a Designer on How to Create a Productive and Beautiful Home Office

With 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’s home office space. Not only does he have an incredible design vision, but also a ruthless pragmatism, resourcefulness, and appreciation for functionality and frugality that make him a really unique designer and someone who can find the happy place between Gucci and Target. This is both a fun and practical episode that you won’t want to miss!

From Working at the Bio-Pharma Behemoth Genentech to Scrappy Startup Grail: Everything You Need to Know About Being an Executive Assistant in Biotech

In 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, Stacy worked as an EA at the biopharma behemoth, Genentech, for over 10 years. If there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to be an Executive Assistant in the biotech industry, it’s this gal!

From Facebook to Roblox: When to Take the Leap to a New Role

After 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 Pari’s discussion of what prompted her will give you additional food for thought. This episode promises feelings of empowerment, independence and confidence – qualities Pari models well.

How to Pivot from Personal Support to the Corporate World: Advice from PA Turned Airbnb EA

Alexis’ 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 executive support, the importance of confidentiality, how to effectively set boundaries and what it takes to pivot career paths. Whether you’re a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant or Estate Manager, you are sure to relate to and benefit from Alexis’ story and advice.

Part Two: How to Navigate Stress in the Workplace: Advice from Miraval Resort’s Wellness Counselor

In 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 being in general, this episode of REACH promises to give you some expert advice on how to improve your wellbeing. You won’t want to miss Anne’s tips for daily rejuvenation, how to set expectations around stress and stress management and finding a healthy balance. Plus, stay tuned for a special promotion offered only to REACH listeners!

Part One: How to Navigate Stress in the Workplace: Advice from Miraval Resort’s Wellness Counselor

In 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 being in general, this episode of REACH promises to give you some expert advice on how to improve your wellbeing. You won’t want to miss Anne’s tips for daily rejuvenation, how to set expectations around stress and stress management and finding a healthy balance. Plus, stay tuned for a special promotion offered only to REACH listeners!

Advice from a Fellow Executive Assistant on Job Searching during a Global Pandemic

In 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 now and offer some encouragement and ideas for how to prevail while job searching during COVID. Disclaimer: When it comes to job searching, there’s no “one size fits all” approach, so cast a wide net!