NEWS
CAREER Professional development tips for executive-level PAs
THE FINAL WORD FROM A CHIEF OF STAFF
JO JONES
My best bosses
Let me introduce you to two extraordinary people … Mike Stratton , director at Wellcome Sanger Institute and Kate Shasha , chief of staff and director of strategy at Institute and Faculty of Actuaries . They don ’ t know one another but have two things in common . Firstly , they both know me and secondly , they are two of the most amazing bosses .
EAs , I ’ m sure I ’ m not alone here when I say that when you take on a new role you never really can tell what your new boss is going to be like ?
His ‘ right hand ’ in the truest sense I knew of Mike from when I was a temp . He was so inspiring that I announced to my then line manager : “ I ’ m going to work for him one day ”. A year later , I was being interviewed to be his EA . He asked whether I was up for the challenge of managing his time ( which he ’ s terrible at ) and I accepted the challenge . I went on to support him 24 / 7 for more than eight years and what a ride ! I suppose it took about a year for Mike to truly trust me . Let ’ s not forget that 24 / 7 meant that I supported him personally and professionally , so I had access to his bank accounts and keys to his home . When the trust was built , the role took off .
Mike treated me as a peer and I was his ‘ right hand ’ in the truest sense . He trusted me with his life , quite literally . In turn , he churned out work at a pace and volume like nothing I had ever encountered , and I had two choices – sink or swim . I swam , every day . Supporting someone like Mike is almost indescribable ; he has a unique approach to work and is truly amazing . He always approached our day with good grace , dignity , charm and humour , and always said ‘ thank you ’.
Like cogs in a machine My current boss , Kate , has such a special talent of line management that she could make a fortune tutoring those less desirable managers ( we all know a few , right ?) in how to succeed .
Kate is , without fail , always a million steps ahead of everyone . She retains such vast knowledge , never forgets anything and keeps the entire organisation on track and to task – but does it in a way that you want to be like her , work hard for her and achieve everything . Kate does not keep all of this to herself – she ’ s encouraging , nurturing , wants you to do well and be the best you can be . This style of line management is not only motivating but it gives me the confidence to take a leap just to see what I am capable of .
Kate and I haven ’ t worked together as long as Mike and I did – in fact we ’ ve just turned two years old ! She is , without a shadow of a doubt , my trusted partner . We feed off one another and are in sync so much so it ’ s like cogs in a machine where one cannot survive without the other . It ’ s wonderfully weird .
As you ’ ll know being in the EA or chief of staff role you have so many fingers in so many pies and there is so much to learn . Kate ’ s stewardship of our organisation is a sight to behold . Her conduct makes me want to do better – I want to be the ambassador she is and I have the best teacher .
With both Kate and Mike , I ’ m now their friend , sounding board , peer and trusted advisor . I thank my lucky stars every day that I was fortunate to be part of Mike ’ s world and I am now hitched to Kate ’ s . I can ’ t wait to see where it takes me . S
Jo Jones is deputy chief of staff at Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
66 Executive PA | Summer Issue 2023