Uniquely placed and hyper-connected, today’ s EAs are using their insight and expertise to become thought leaders, driving company-wide change. Sadhbh Warren finds out how leading change can empower both EAs and their companies
Uniquely placed and hyper-connected, today’ s EAs are using their insight and expertise to become thought leaders, driving company-wide change. Sadhbh Warren finds out how leading change can empower both EAs and their companies
IN THE RIGHT HANDS, simple ideas can lead to significant changes. When Angele Taggart, EA to the Chief Financial Officer Wayne Andrews at the University of Sydney decided to organise a networking lunch, she took the first step in creating huge change for both EAs and the university.
“ When I started ten years ago was no real communication. As an EA you didn’ t get to go to meetings and network.”
Administrative staff were spread across campuses, faculties and units. As a selfprofessed social butterfly, she wanted to
Angele Taggart share knowledge and information. Her idea was simple,“ Let’ s do lunch.” Starting with a few nearby EAs the enthusiastic uptake for this simple meet-and-eat confirmed she had discovered something worth building on.
Her next event was sponsored by travel companies who provided a networking and informational lunch for a larger group of EAs and key bookers. On the day, round-the-table introductions sparked lively conversation as people put faces to names they’ d only seen on an email. The lunch was the impetus for the founding of the Administrative Network Group – ANG. It has since grown from 12 to more than 120 members and is the only networking group that crosses all areas of the university, with members in every faculty, portfolio and campus.
But it was when Angele started a new role as EA to the CFO, working on development of the five-year strategic plan, she realised the network’ s true potential for company-wide change.
“ No-one had involved an EAs opinion, although these changes would hugely affect them and be driven by them. We needed an information day for the administrative staff. And, if you wanted their buy-in, that day needed to be endorsed at the highest level.”
With the support of her manager, CFO Wayne Andrews, the event was promoted by key leaders across the university. It was a huge success, with more than 100 attendees, some flying in from remote campuses. Senior staff, including IT, procurement and HR, came to showcase, discuss and present ideas to the assembled EAs. This was the first time highranking people had come expressly to address EAs and seek their input and involvement in significant change.
Life is now very different for new EAs at the university. No longer isolated, they are usually referred to Angele and the ANG group.
Joanne Saunders, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor finds that connection can be crucial.
“ The university is such a large, physically spread-out and diverse organisation. The opportunity to connect, putting faces to names and having a‘ go to’ list of people, is essential. We’ re able to share ways to improve processes,
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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | WWW. EXECUTIVEPA. COM. AU