Executive Support Magazine

21/08/2026

Each issue, we hear from an Executive Assistant in a different sector about what unique features shape their role, and those which are universal; in this issue, Lisa Buss shares the joys and challenges of being an EA in the Outward Bound Trust.

Lisa Buss shares the joys and challenges of being an EA in the Outward Bound Trust.

21/08/2026

Working in the charity sector can bring a unique sense of purpose to the EA role. For Lisa Buss, supporting the CEO of Outward Bound is about far more than managing a diary. It means contributing to strategy, supporting staff culture, navigating difficult decisions and helping an organisation make a meaningful difference to young people.
In this article, Lisa shares the joys, challenges and unexpected moments of life as a charity-sector EA, from the importance of believing in your organisation’s purpose to the skills needed to thrive in a demanding environment.
Read the full article to discover what life behind the scenes of executive support in the charity sector really looks like.
PurposeDriven Leadership CareerDevelopment

21/08/2026

🎤 ES Tech 2026 Speaker Announcement

Are your digital skills keeping up with the workplace?

We're excited to welcome Ulrika Hedlund, tech entrepreneur, productivity storyteller and Microsoft 365 digital workplace expert, to the ES Tech 2026 speaker line-up.

In Are You Digitally Savvy Using Microsoft 365 and Copilot?, Ulrika will challenge you to look beyond simply knowing how to use the tools and ask a bigger question: Are you truly digitally ready?

Through her interactive Digital Skills Navigator, you'll assess your strengths, uncover potential skill gaps and discover the capabilities that matter most in today's digital workplace.

Ulrika will also share practical Microsoft 365 and Copilot tips you can put into action immediately, alongside insights into the skills that will become increasingly important as AI continues to transform how we work.

This is your opportunity to understand where you are now, identify where you need to grow and make sure your digital skills are ready for what's next.

📅 10 - 11 September 2026

Join Ulrika Hedlund and an exceptional line-up of global technology experts at ES Tech 2026.

Plus, when you join Executive Support Summer School, you’ll receive a $100 training voucher to use towards ES Tech or another eligible Executive Support Media programme. Voucher must be used by 31 August.

Secure your place today: https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/es-tech-2026/

20/08/2026

Administrative professionals are increasingly responsible for managing projects, coordinating initiatives and maintaining delivery across teams.

According to our latest global research, more than 60% of assistants now manage projects as part of their role, yet many have never received formal training in project leadership.

Taking place on 8 and 15 October 2026, this live virtual programme combines practical project management with the intelligent use of AI.

Participants will learn how to:

• Define project scope and objectives
• Build clear project plans and timelines
• Coordinate stakeholders across different teams
• Track decisions, responsibilities and deadlines
• Maintain accountability and momentum
• Use AI for planning, research and project documentation
• Improve project reporting and stakeholder communication
• Reduce time spent on repetitive project administration

The course is delivered by Ayanna Castro and Professor Corinne Hoisington.

Participants will also receive a Microsoft AI Prompting Certification Badge.

🎁 Plus, when you join Executive Support Summer School, you'll receive a $100 training voucher to use towards Project Management and AI for Administrative Professionals course or another eligible Executive Support Media training programme. It's the perfect way to continue your learning while saving on your next course.

Explore the course - https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/project-management-and-ai/

19/08/2026

🎤 ES Tech 2026 Speaker Announcement

What if your greatest competitive advantage wasn't AI itself... but how you use it?

We're thrilled to welcome Lizebeth Georges, Founder & CEO of ANWOW, Microsoft Office Specialist Expert and one of the administrative profession's leading AI educators, to the ES Tech 2026 speaker line-up.

In Unlock Your 5 AI Superpowers, Lizebeth will show you how to move beyond using AI as a productivity tool and start using it as a strategic partner.

Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, you'll discover how AI can help you think more creatively, produce high-quality content in minutes, organise your workload, analyse complex information and delegate repetitive tasks, giving you more time to focus on the work that truly makes an impact.

This isn't about replacing your expertise.

It's about amplifying it.

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot, you'll leave with practical skills and an AI mindset that will help you thrive in the workplace of tomorrow.

📅 10 - 11 September 2026

Join Lizebeth Georges and an exceptional line-up of global experts at ES Tech 2026.

Plus, when you join Executive Support Summer School, you'll receive a $100 training voucher to use towards ES Tech or another eligible Executive Support Media training programme. It's the perfect way to continue your learning while saving on your next course.

Secure your place today: https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/es-tech-2026/

18/08/2026

What can a poker table teach us about navigating the workplace? 
Jo Living explores how poker can sharpen the skills Assistants use every day — from reading the room and negotiating with confidence to managing pressure, reframing risk and knowing when to hold your ground (and when to fold).
Because success isn’t about playing every hand. It’s about knowing which ones are worth playing.
Negotiation CareerDevelopment WorkplaceSkills ProfessionalDevelopment

18/08/2026

Technology should make your work easier. It shouldn’t make your work more complicated.

This week’s Summer School resources looked beyond the latest tools and trends. We explored how to question the technology we use, understand the processes behind our work and identify where technology can genuinely improve the way we operate.

If the week has made you rethink how technology fits into your role, our recommended deep dive is ES Tech 2026.

Across 24 hours of live global learning, you’ll explore AI, automation, Microsoft 365, digital productivity, information management and smarter workflows, with practical sessions designed specifically for administrative professionals.

You’ll learn how to use technology more confidently, reduce manual work, improve digital workflows and make better decisions about which tools are worth your time.

📅 10–11 September 2026
💻 Online

Summer School participants can use their $100 Learning Voucher towards ES Tech 2026, but it must be redeemed by 31 August.

Book here: https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/es-tech-2026/

17/08/2026

Balancing executive support with community building, Carrie Huong Tran brings purpose-driven leadership to her work, championing both organisational success and the evolving role of administrative professionals in Viet Nam

Carrie Huong Tran champions both organisational success and the evolving role of administrative professionals in Viet Nam

17/08/2026

If you have ever wanted to train with Lucy Brazier, this may be your chance.

We know that attending an in-person course is not possible for everyone.

Perhaps your company will fund your development but will not approve international travel. You may have children at home, ageing parents who depend on you, or responsibilities that make several days away difficult. Perhaps the additional cost of flights and accommodation simply puts classroom training beyond reach.

That is precisely why we created a virtual edition of The Modern-Day Assistant.

From 6 to 8 October, Lucy will deliver the full three-day programme live online for Assistants across EMEA and the Americas.

This is the course that has helped Administrative and Executive Assistants around the world understand how their role is changing, build stronger partnerships with their executives, communicate with greater authority and take more ownership of the work happening around them.

You will not simply leave with more information. You will understand how to operate differently.

And if you joined our Summer School, you already have $100 to put towards it.

Your Summer School training credit must be used by the end of August, so if The Modern-Day Assistant has been sitting on your wish list, this could be what you spend yours on.

📅 6–8 October 2026
🌍 Live online across EMEA and the Americas

🔗 https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/the-modern-day-assistant-virtual-emea-and-americas-oct-2026/

Wherever you are, Lucy can now come to you.

14/08/2026

I Thought I Was Thriving, But I Was at Breaking Point

Your wellbeing isn’t separate from your career; it’s part of how you sustain it, explains Caroline Marshall