EA PROFILE
1835i
1835i is the external innovation and venture capital partner to ANZ Bank . It invests in , builds and partners with businesses that are transforming financial services .
1835i . com
( productivity and quality outcomes over the number of days in the office or hours worked per day ), and very give and take so it ’ s up to individuals to create balance , whatever that may look like for them . In true EA spirit , I live in my calendar so I make sure lots of personal development , rest and friend / family time is scheduled . I am lucky to live by the water so watching the sunrise by the beach as part of a morning walk is a non-negotiable for me . I don ’ t have children so I ’ m lucky to have the luxury of a little more time to myself – I aim to try one new restaurant , one new cafe and get to a concert or show each month . This also helps me keep up to date on venues I may need to use for events professionally .
To what extent do you invest in training and development ? I have a degree in event management , and I ’ ve done numerous training courses in business administration and project management , as well as soft skills like emotional intelligence and strategic conversations . I also participate in at least one EA-related webinar per week , which has actually been the most valuable to me over time . And I ’ ve been incredibly lucky to have access to and work with the very best career coaches and organisational psychologists over the last 10 years . Next up : a mini-MBA , hopefully !
What advice do you wish you could have got earlier on in life ? I wish my high school career advisor had suggested the EA role as a career path . It ’ s often looked at as a stepping stone to something else – which it can be , but it can also be a fulfilling career in itself .
What has surprised you most about the role of EA ? Overall , how diverse the role is . If you ’ re part of the right organisation working for the right exec ( for you ), you really can get involved or upskill in as much as you like across the full scope of the business . I ’ m also surprised by how well the exec / EA relationship has worked in a hybrid environment . I started my career in a world ( as did many ) where you went into the office five days per week and followed your executive around 10 + hours per day to ensure everything ran smoothly . Fifteen years ago , I couldn ’ t imagine a world where work / life balance was something CEOs strived for and EAs could ask for .
What will an EA be like in 25 years ’ time ? Overall , the role will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of organisations and executives – be that now , or in five years or 25 years ’ time . Automation and AI is , and should be , giving rise to more strategic partnerships between EAs and their bosses . I think ‘ greater specialisation ’ will become key with EAs in terms of how we work , the executives we align with and how we market ourselves . Companies are becoming more diverse and complex so I believe EAs will need to specialise in specific areas like finance , legal , project management , etc ., to better support their teams . Most EAs I know have an area of interest something they ’ re really good at and / or enjoy , so it ’ s about honing those skills and passions , and making it your superpower . S
Winter Issue 2023 | Executive PA 51