Celebrating the Powerhouses Behind the Scenes: Executive Assistants

Today, on International Receptionist Day, we’re putting the spotlight on a group of professionals who too often fly under the radar—Executive Assistants.

At PEP, we believe in purposeful work, clarity of focus, and helping people achieve more with less stress. And these roles epitomise that ethos.

The Unsung Strategists

Ask any senior leader who they rely on the most, and chances are their Executive Assistant is near the top of the list. Far from simply managing diaries and booking meetings, EAs are strategic operators. They anticipate needs, filter distractions, manage time and energy, and help teams stay aligned on what really matters.

Executive Assistants, too, play a vital and often underestimated role. They can often be the face and tone of the organisation—handling first impressions, solving problems before they escalate, and creating a sense of welcome and calm that sets the tone for everyone who walks through the door (or dials in).

These professionals are not “support staff”—they are critical enablers of effectiveness.

PEP and EAs: A Global Partnership in Effectiveness

At PEP, we’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of Executive Assistants and administrative professionals worldwide—from New York to Nairobi, Sydney to Singapore. We see firsthand the pressure they navigate and the enormous impact they make.

Through our programs, we help EAs and Receptionists:

✅ Work with greater clarity and intention

✅ Protect their time and energy

✅ Align their daily actions with purpose

✅ Build habits and systems that support high performance—without burnout

We don’t just teach productivity—we empower professionals to work at their best and feel their best while doing it. And no group takes those tools further or faster than the talented EAs and Receptionists we partner with.

What They Model for All of Us

EAs teach us what it truly means to work with purpose. Every day, they:

• Create order from chaos

• Make the complex look effortless

• Manage the unmanageable—and do it with a smile

• Lead from the middle, influence across the org, and anchor their teams in what matters most

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And perhaps most importantly, they connect people. They carry culture. They hold space for others to succeed.

A Word of Thanks

So today, we want to say thank you.

To the Executive Assistants who help organisations not just function, but thrive:

We see you.

We appreciate you.

And we celebrate you.

Because your work is not just valuable—it’s essential.