PROFILE
with Maragaret Thatcher and with the UK. The Brexit vote
happened in 2016—we’re not going to get political—but
whether you were on the remain or leave side, in the largest
national referendum the people of the UK voted to leave
the EU. Three years later we were seeing that the will of the
people had still not been listened to. If this happened in
Cuba or Zimbabwe or other places in the world there would
be global outrage. ‘Why aren’t we adhering to the will of the
people?’”
Peggy and a group of others decided that they needed
The President’s ambassador
to shine a light on the issue, and started the advocacy
President Raegan was known as ‘The Great Communicator’
organisation World for Brexit, promoting the need for the UK
for good reason. His messages were diplomatic, his
intentions were clear and delivered with endless charm. But, government to respect the result of the referendum.
At first glance, planning and executing a strategy to
in today’s political world things are less diplomatic and more
persuade a government in a foreign country seems like a
personal. Peggy’s experience representing Raegan as his EA
totally different ball park to the one
has given her insights into how one of
that EAs traditionally play in. But,
the world’s greatest communicators
after some thought I wondered, does
kept the personal separate from the
Peggy’s experience in both the EA
political, and how EAs can help reflect
role and as a political advocate share
that in their role.
similarities? Peggy’s unique blend of
“Ronald Reagan was a beautiful
advocate and EA has lessons for those
blend, someone that we saw was strong
looking to gain more influence in their
and successful, but also had an element
workplace. According to Peggy, EAs
of kindness, civility, warmth and
shouldn’t take a direct leadership role,
charm. He was a man of principle and
after all, the boss is still the boss.
strength, but he also had a graciousness
“You’re in partnership with your
about him. I knew that 99 out of 100
executive, but the boss at the end of
people that called the office or wanted
the day bears the responsibility and
to talk to him, spoke to me. What did
the risk. It’s important to feel a sense
they think of him because of their
of ownership, and approach issues
interaction with me? Did they feel
PEGGY GRANDE
with a leadership mindset. I feel like
like they had been treated with the
Peggy was EA to President Ronald Reagan from 1989
EAs should always act empowered and
same graciousness that he would have
to 1999 and is the author of The President Will See You
should not act on an emotional level,
treated them with? I always had to be
Now. She is Chair of World for Brexit and serves on the
you’ve got a mindset, you’ve got things
mindful of protecting and preserving
National Board of the Royal Commonwealth Society
of the USA. Peggy is an international keynote speaker,
to accomplish and you’re going to get
the legacy he had built over a lifetime
media commentator and opinion writer.
those done.”
of kindness and diplomacy.”
By reflecting his personality and
peggygrande.com
Work-life presence, not blanace
communication style, Peggy developed
As our conversation drew to a close, I
her own definition of the EA role.
ask Peggy if there’s something she’d like to leave with our
“I never saw my job as a ‘gatekeeper’. I never really liked
readers, a message to end our conversation on. Peggy leaves
that term. Instead I’ve always seen my role as a ‘gateway’. I
me with her strategy for having a healthy career and a happy
wanted people to know that the best and most efficient way
family life.
to get anything done was through me, not around me.”
“There’s this misnomer about work-life balance. In our
Knowing what Raegen’s priorities were and what
role, especially if you’re doing travel, working for a high-
required his attention, Peggy’s ‘gateway’ strategy highlights
profile individual or if you’re on call 24/7, you will never
a mode of working that is fast becoming the norm for EAs in
have balance. Rather than feeling out of balance all the time,
the corporate world. But the ‘gateway’ model isn’t the only
or feeling guilty, I’ve started subscribing to the mental idea
strategy that Peggy’s experience working with the President
of work-life presence.”
has produced.
“I asked myself, ‘Was I fully present at my job?’ In the
hours that I was there, in the time that I have devoted to it.
Stepping into the spotlight
When I went home I put on a different mindset, ‘Could I be
After writing her memoir, The President Will See You Now ,
fully invested and connected to the people that I love and I
Peggy began to step out from her behind-the-scenes EA
care for?’”
life and into the spotlight. Ever the student of politics and
Instead of trying to strike a balance, Peggy’s idea of
taking after Reagan, Peggy began working with several
presence seems like a much more achievable goal. Being
organisations and initiatives that placed her in a much more
present at home and at the workplace is the best any of us
forward-facing role.
can do, and considering Peggy’s success, it’s a formula that
“World for Brexit was one of those opportunities that
has proven to work. S
came up. Ronald Reagan had a very special relationship
in the way of understanding what seeing Reagan in the flesh
meant to people.
“How could I help create and foster that memorable
moment for somebody who had never had a chance to
interact with him before? I was always mindful that—even
though this was my everyday—for most people this was a
once in a lifetime experience. So, how do you make that
special, meaningful and memorable?”
Issue 1 2020 | Chief of Staff 29