In this final episode, Candice and Jessica reflect on the challenges of 2024. A year that tested resilience and revealed the hard work so many admins put in. Burnout was a common theme, and we opened up about our own journey through a year of deep reflection, learning to embrace setbacks, and growing stronger through the lessons they brought.

Looking ahead, we delve into how the admin profession is poised to evolve over the next five years in an increasingly tech-driven world. From navigating the shifting landscape to understanding the profound impact of AI on the profession, we discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future.

Here’s what we cover:

AI’s Impact on Admin Work: Automation tools are streamlining tasks like scheduling, document management, and first-line support. Entry-level admins will focus on managing tech and automation tools.

Skills for the Future: Admins need digital fluency and foundational AI skills to adapt and thrive. Training will focus on mastering automation and overseeing tech solutions.

A Shift to Strategic: Support Roles are evolving from reactive tasks to proactive operational support.

Advanced admins will handle complex scheduling, predictive analytics, and hybrid work logistics.

Opportunities for Growth:

Emphasis on project management and strategic partnerships with executives. Diverse paths for growth, whether transactional or strategic.

We believe that the admin profession is at a pivotal moment. By embracing AI and new tech, admins can enhance their roles and stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.

In this episode, we’re thrilled to share an exciting announcement: The Future Focused Admin is growing beyond the podcast! We’re bringing together The Tech Savvy Assistant Community and The Admin Collective Community under one unified parent company to create a vibrant new admin community.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come:

Podcast & Guests: Ongoing interviews with diverse experts to explore the future of admin roles. Newsletter: Launching soon, featuring podcast updates, exclusive downloads, and curated insights. Microlearning Focus: Short, interactive sessions designed for real-world application.
Global Reach: Live and recorded content tailored for admins worldwide. We’re building a forward-thinking, supportive community to help admins thrive.

Membership:

Newcomers & Career Starters: Foundational resources for newcomers.

Career Growth Hub: Access to our Knowledge Hub with tools and insights for experienced admins.

Legacy Builders: Opportunities for seasoned professionals to mentor, teach, and leave an impact. So subscribe here NOW to join us on this exciting new endeavour:

https://www.futurefocusedadmin.com/launchlist

This episode is sponsored by Admin Avenues. The Admin Avenues network is a professional and lifestyle information platform, designed to assist admin professionals in finding relevant education, tools & systems, access to admin communities and more. They provide free access and support for admin professionals no matter what stage you’re at in your admin career.

Go to https://www.adminavenues.com and join the network today.

In this episode, Candice and Jessica open up about the pivotal moments when they realized it was time to transition from their roles as Executive Assistants and explore new career paths. These decisions came after deep reflection and, in Candice's case, seeking outside counsel to confirm that her journey as an EA had come to an end. Jessica shares her perspective on how traditional office environments often present challenges for neurodiverse individuals, including those with autism or ADHD. She discusses how the pandemic created a more inclusive work-from-home environment where many thrived, and the difficulties now faced as full-time office returns are being enforced.

This honest and thought-provoking episode dives into career evolution, self-awareness, and the broader conversation around inclusivity in the workplace.

This episode is sponsored by Admin Avenues. The Admin Avenues network is a professional and lifestyle information platform, designed to assist admin professionals in finding relevant education, tools & systems, access to admin communities and more. They provide free access and support for admin professionals no matter what stage you’re at in your admin career.

Go to https://www.adminavenues.com and join the network today. Stay connected with us on our social channels for updates on new episodes. Follow us on @thefuturefocusedadmin @theburnedoutassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@thefuturefocusedadmin.com ⁠⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join our new LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-focused-admin.

In this latest episode of The Future Focused Admin Podcast, we’re diving into the world of Ageless Expertise and tackling Ageism in the Admin Profession. We sit down with Rita Gunning, Career Admin Professional, Executive Assistant, YouTuber, Founder of Executive Assistant Oasis and Author of ‘The Executive Assistant Tool Box” from Sydney, Australia and Sandria Plummer a Career Office Manager / Executive Assistant to board-level / C-Suite within the think tank, pharmaceutical, legal, education, telecoms, property, sport, finance, public, NHS and not-for-profit sectors from London, UK, to discuss the challenges faced by mature candidates in today’s job market globally!

We explore the topic of Ageless Expertise and Challenging Ageism in the Admin World and delve into their personal experiences with ageism and how they’ve navigated the challenges within the profession. The discussion expands to address the broader issue of ageism, particularly how it disproportionately affects women across industries, diminishing their contributions as they grow older. Together, we highlight the importance of valuing seasoned professionals and fostering a more inclusive, age-diverse environment for admins and women everywhere. Tune in to gain insights on how we can all challenge ageism and celebrate the expertise that comes with experience.

Link to the 2024 EA Salary Surveys here: https://www.easalarysurvey.com/

Link to Ivee Jobs in the UK helping women into jobs: https://ivee.jobs

Link to Rita’s new book “The Executive Assistant Toolbox”: https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Assistant-Toolbox-Rita-Gunning/dp/0645891304

This episode is sponsored by The Tech Savvy Assistant, your guide to a more relaxing work life through technology. Are you an administrative professional or freelancer? Want to stay ahead of the curve with AI, ChatGPT, and more? Tech Savvy Assistant has just what you need. Subscribe to our premium newsletter packed with exclusive insights, tips, and guides tailored to help you excel in your career. It's a must-have for anyone looking to improve their working conditions and embrace the future of tech. Go to ⁠⁠techsavvysistant.com⁠⁠, and you can sign up on Jessica's webpage. Stay connected with us on our social channels for updates on new episodes.

Follow us on @thefuturefocusedadmin @theburnedoutassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all! If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠:

hello@thefuturefocusedadmin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠⁠⁠ and our new LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-focused-admin.

In this episode of The Future Focused Admin Podcast, we’re chatting with special guests Melissa Peoples from Admin Gurus and Haefa Mansour Founder & CEO at ShareCal on the topic of “Breaking Barriers In Inclusion”. We discuss how admin professionals can lead the charge in creating more inclusive workplaces, events and communities. Don’t miss this conversation on driving change and fostering diversity in the admin profession. Link to one of the websites that shows how to design a website for the colour blind community: https://www.audioeye.com/post/8-ways-to-design-a-color-blind-friendly-website/ Link to Jessica’s video post example of how ChatGPT is bias for men and women’s job descriptions: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jlynnmcbride_executiveassistant-techsavvyassistant-activity-7257393310418247680-bCnF?utm Link to Candice’s viral LinkedIn Post to read some of the comments made: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7230195205147148288/ Thank you again to our amazing guest! To connect with Melissa Peoples and find our more about Admin Guru’s Melissa Peoples LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissapeoples/ Melissa Peoples | Admin Guru’s: https://www.melissapeoples.com/ To connect with Haefa Mansour and find out more about ShareCal: Haefa Mansour LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haefa-mansour/ ShareCal: https://sharecal.io This episode is sponsored by The Tech Savvy Assistant, your guide to a more relaxing work life through technology. Are you an administrative professional or freelancer? Want to stay ahead of the curve with AI, ChatGPT, and more? Tech Savvy Assistant has just what you need. Subscribe to our premium newsletter packed with exclusive insights, tips, and guides tailored to help you excel in your career. It's a must-have for anyone looking to improve their working conditions and embrace the future of tech. Go to ⁠⁠techsavvysistant.com⁠⁠, and you can sign up on Jessica's webpage. Stay connected with us on our social channels for updates on new episodes. Follow us on @thefuturefocusedadmin @theburnedoutassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts! Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all! If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠tffapodcast@outlook.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join our new LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-focused-admin

On Episode 2, we introduce Dominique Givens as our first ever guest. Dominique is a Chief of Staff & Executive Administrative Partner in the Technology sector.

So a bit more about our first guest - she is the result of a pre-med and computer science double major having an existential crisis and dropped out of undergrad to join the workforce. Why? She goes on to become the ultimate corporate linchpin, of course! Meet Dominique Givens, former Chief of Staff at The Adecco Group and current Executive Administrative Partner to the EVP of Aircraft Engineering at Shield AI.

Dominique has spent over 6+ years honing her skills in what she has aptly coined "C.O.A.M." (Communications, Operations, and Administrative Management)—a framework she has even trademarked! Partnering with C-level executives in the technology industry, Dominique has held tenure at tech giants like Meta and Pinterest. Now, she is leveraging her experience and skill set to help reverse engineer that success in the startup world.

In 2023, Dominique found herself the target of a prominent figure within the admin community after sharing an innocent LinkedIn post that gained some attention. Unfortunately, this led to a wave of online bullying from a fellow admin professional who should have known better. This experience prompted us to bring this important conversation to the podcast, highlighting the critical issue of online bullying in professional spaces.

In this episode, we dive into the emotional, psychological, and career-related impacts of online bullying, particularly focusing on its disproportionate effects on marginalized communities. Dominique courageously shares her personal experience, opening up about the emotional toll and the challenges she faced both personally and professionally. We explore how she managed the situation, the actions she took, and the invaluable support she received from the admin community.

Tune in as we discuss the importance of recognizing and addressing online bullying, and how we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone in the professional world.

To connect with Dominique - join her on her LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-givens441/

If you are struggling with online bullying or need to talk to someone about online bullying, please reach out for help at charities like https://www.stopbullying.gov or https://www.cybersmile.org.

This episode is sponsored by The Tech Savvy Assistant, your guide to a more relaxing work life through technology. Are you an administrative professional or freelancer? Want to stay ahead of the curve with AI, ChatGPT, and more? Tech Savvy Assistant has just what you need. Subscribe to our premium newsletter packed with exclusive insights, tips, and guides tailored to help you excel in your career. It's a must-have for anyone looking to improve their working conditions and embrace the future of tech. Go to ⁠⁠techsavvysistant.com⁠⁠, and you can sign up on Jessica's webpage.

Stay connected with us on our YouTube and social channels for updates on new episodes, and exclusive content. Follow us on @techsavvyassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you prefer to watch your podcasts and/or want to see the full version of our chats (bloopers and all), you can watch our episodes via our YouTube channel here at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@TheFutureFocusedAdmin-kx6rx⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome back to ‘The Future Focused Admin’! In our Season 2 premiere, we dive into a topic that's been sparking widespread conversation - saying goodbye to the title "Assistant." Inspired by a LinkedIn post from Candice that blew up with over 700,000 impressions, we explore why change is always hard, the mixed reactions to this shift, and what it means for the future of administrative roles. Change is inevitable, and with it comes a range of opinions and emotions. We couldn't wait to jump into this discussion, and we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts, comments, and opinions with us. We love engaging with our community as we navigate these evolving trends together. Tune in and join the conversation!

Link to Candice’s viral LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7230195205147148288/Link to the Global Skills Matrix: https://globalskillsmatrix.com/

Link to the Title Recalibration Initiative: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dvUKho0nxTh8E_jaSieycOzjUQh01QB0?usp=drive_link

Link to Victoria Wratten’s article about The Great EA Retirement: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/great-ea-retirement-victoria-wratten-n050e/?trackingId=8HTXD62FI2uSFLCnZZHrpg%3D%3D

This episode is sponsored by Admin Avenues. The Admin Avenues network is a professional and lifestyle information platform, designed to assist admin professionals in finding relevant education, tools & systems, access to admin communities and more. They provide free access and support for admin professionals no matter what stage you’re at in your admin career. Go to ⁠https://adminavenues.com⁠ and join the network today.

Stay connected with us on our YouTube and social channels for updates on new episodes, and exclusive content. Follow us on @techsavvyassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you prefer to watch your podcasts and/or want to see the full version of our chats (bloopers and all), you can watch our episodes via our YouTube channel here at: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@TheFutureFocusedAdmin-kx6rx⁠⁠.

If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠tffapodcast@outlook.com⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram here: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠.

Thank you so very much for joining us for Season 1 of ‘The Future Focused Admin’ Podcast. We have had a ball recording this first season, and we hope you’ve enjoyed listening.

Be sure to join Jessica’s Tech Savvy Assistant newsletter to be kept informed of her upcoming courses: https://www.techsavvyassistant.com.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their funny / horror stories of what they have been asked to do in their admin career. We only had time to sample a few but we hope to do some more next season.

If you’re keen for us to come back for Season 2, please let us know by liking the Podcast, giving us a 5 star rating, writing a review and all the usual things for both the Podcast and on our YouTube channel. We would love your ideas for Season 2. Would you like us to interview people, or should we keep it just Jessica and Candice against the world? Should we switch up the format? Should we do it bi-weekly? We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Stay connected with us on our YouTube and social channels for updates on new episodes, and exclusive content. Follow us on @techsavvyassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you prefer to watch your podcasts and/or want to see the full version of our chats (bloopers and all), you can watch our episodes via our YouTube channel here at: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@TheFutureFocusedAdmin-kx6rx⁠⁠.

If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠tffapodcast@outlook.com⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram here: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠.

Thank you for all your support during our first season of The Future Focused Admin. Chat with you all next year!

Big love, Jessica and Candice.

Advocating for yourself as an admin is about being able to advocate for your value.

We have Learning and Development (L&D) business case templates available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w7B4GZ9uXOyKxhTpwT_ozlJeiFKQibEstxqwR46BtcA/edit?usp=sharing

and here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wY5pCL1WcR8n5xrAQjJ8GD_v1vmdh06jM-ePUT2wDv4/edit?usp=sharing.

If you get denied an L&D request, make a date in your diary to ask again. If they say “maybe in 6 months or later in the year” – diarise it. Don’t let it go. You’re entitled to use your L&D budget. Learning and development is part of your job as an admin.

If you don’t feel you’ve found your voice to advocate for yourself – find a mentor, get a coach, join an admin community but don’t sit in silence. You will be surprised how many people are here to help!

The ‘No Club’ book that Jessica referred to is: https://www.thenoclub.com.

Want to see what a business case for an admin department looks like? Check out this one here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O4YDLZ6gkJmX4_wXXvJQPtIi13PCRUGFEkRu4XrW99g/edit?usp=sharing

This episode is sponsored by Admin Avenues. The Admin Avenues network is a professional and lifestyle information platform, designed to assist admin professionals in finding relevant education, tools & systems, access to admin communities and more. They provide free access and support for admin professionals no matter what stage you’re at in your admin career. Go to ⁠https://adminavenues.com⁠ and join the network today.

Stay connected with us on our YouTube and social channels for updates on new episodes, and exclusive content. Follow us on @techsavvyassistant @adminavenues and @candice_burningham to join our growing global communities of admin enthusiasts!

Remember, this podcast is all about admins, so let's have some fun, maybe learn something, and grow in our careers together! Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you prefer to watch your podcasts and/or want to see the full version of our chats (bloopers and all), you can watch our episodes via our YouTube channel here at: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@TheFutureFocusedAdmin-kx6rx⁠⁠.

If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠tffapodcast@outlook.com⁠⁠ and join us on Instagram here: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin⁠⁠.