Picture this: You're an Executive Assistant who received a task unfamiliar to you. You try to figure it out on your own, yet you still have no idea how to accomplish it. On top of that, you have emails to draft, meetings to attend, and phone calls to make. Long story short: You're starting to feel overwhelmed.
This feeling of dread and cluelessness is exactly what we want to avoid at Athena. As partners to top-level executives and founders, we go to great lengths to make sure that our Executive Assistants feel empowered and confident to accomplish any job that comes their way.
As our Head of Operations, Leica Chang, put it, "The tasks that EAs do can be particularly complex. No two EAs are doing the same thing. So it's vital as an EA to know that there's someone there behind you and cheering you on, especially when you need to be confident with the way you approach tasks."
From managing calendars and planning dinner parties to even producing a client's podcast or managing a social media account, the job of an EA is incredibly varied, and receiving a task you haven't encountered before is to be expected.
We want to avoid that feeling of the unknown when conquering a new task alone – which is why Executive Assistants here at Athena are looked out for in all areas of their lives, from daily support to career development and mental wellness.
Here are five ways Executive Assistants get incredible support at Athena.
Lean on Me Channel
Executive Assistants are introduced to the Lean on Me group channel as early as their first day. Every Athena EA is a member of this virtual space and is encouraged to ask questions and seek help from each other. It gives EAs an avenue to assist each other and offer their expertise to someone new or in need.
EA Migs cited this group chat as a big help when working with his client. "The Lean On Me channel has been really helpful for me, especially during my first month with my client. During that time, I was asked to get a list of investors. I didn't know where to start; I didn't know where to get that list of investors. I reached out to Lean On Me channel. And fortunately, two other EAS had done this kind of task before and they provided me a list of websites where I can get sources. I was able to gather a list of over 80 investors, and my client was happy about it."
Regular Training Sessions and Learning Modules
Learning continues even after your first few weeks. We at Athena believe that being a Top 1% Executive Assistant means embodying a growth mindset and constantly learning new skills. From courses on calendar management to proofreading, Athena provides regular training sessions to help Executive Assistants achieve a more comprehensive skill set and help them progress in their careers. EAs also get access to our Athena Knowledge Hub, where our Learning Experience team prepares learning modules and playbooks.
One of the many EAs who benefited from these learning resources is Anj, who finished courses that helped her serve her client better. "The Learning Experience team creates amazing courses that EAs have to take in order for us to be able to grow and not be stagnant in our careers. From time to time, I look back at these courses and they’re a great help to me."
Operations Managers
Another way that Executive Assistants get support at Athena is by having an Operations Manager (OM) who acts as their coach. Once an EA is successfully matched with a client, an OM will be assigned to help them in their journey and regularly check up on their status.
Zen, one of the Operations Managers at Athena, shares how they try to make a difference in Executive Assistants' lives. "We have a genuine care for our EAs. That's why we don't only coach them with what they're doing for their clients, but also how they are personally. We have one-on-one sessions every week, and we make sure that after we discuss their performance with their clients, we also check if they're doing fine at home and if their welfare is okay."
Mental Wellness Coach
Our mental health and wellness affect all areas of our life, especially our work performance. Through our Mental Wellness Coach, Executive Assistants get access to wellness programs and consultation services.
For EA Elle, having a mental wellness coach is one of her favorite things about being an Athena EA. "I am happy to work at Athena because I know that it gives importance to our mental health. They provide us a wellness coach that we can talk to in case we need someone and having your company to support you in that way is different to other organizations."
Community of EAs
While working remotely has its perks, it's no secret that it can be lonely and sometimes feel isolating. EA Migs shared how virtually bonding with his fellow EAs gives him a sense of belonging. "I have a few friends within our team. And sometimes we co-work together. We also do voice and video calls together so that we don't feel alone when working because that's one struggle with working from home. I'm glad that I have other people to share my time with while working with a client because it makes me feel like I belong in the community." Athena's monthly hands-on meetings and weekly sync also help strengthen the community despite the challenges of remote work.
Our supportive community is one of the things we take pride in at Athena. Each Executive Assistant may be working with a different client and accomplishing various tasks, but behind the scenes, our team of EAs and the rest of the organization rally together to support and empower one another.
