In this milestone episode (we've hit 190 guys!), Liz celebrates overcoming challenges and embracing change and opportunity.

2023 marked her Ten Year Cancerversary with Liz sharing the joys and trials of this significant personal triumph. Reflecting on the evolution from 'My EA Career' to 'The Linchpin Assistant', we also delve into the concept of 'co-opertition' - cooperating while competing, and how this approach helped me stand against imitators while proudly acknowledging my pioneering role in developing Power Skills for assistants.

This episode also offers a reflective look at the word of 2023 - RENEW. How has this theme shaped the year's endeavors? We explore the exciting, albeit exhausting, aspects of going global and the achievements it brought along.

Pride points of the journey include: - Persistently delivering this insightful podcast. - Establishing a distinct voice as a connector and communicator. - Guiding listeners to proactively engage with AI. - Critically assessing the Chief of Staff role and its implications. - Championing efficiency and effectiveness in professional roles. - Personal strides in efficiency by hiring a Virtual Assistant.

Looking forward, 2024 promises more global adventures, enhanced communication strategies (hint: people scan, not read emails), and more AI insights. The episode concludes with exciting opportunities for listeners to engage with our host in 2024, including coaching sessions, bespoke corporate presentations, extensive training programs, engaging webinars, and an upcoming LinkedIn newsletter 'Admin Insider'.

Join us for this special episode as we commemorate past achievements and eagerly anticipate the future of The Linchpin Assistant and the Assist With Impact podcast.

To discuss working with Liz in 2024, email her at [email protected]. 

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

You would have to have been under a rock in 2023 not to have seen at least ONE podcast episode, article or social media talking about the rise of the CoS role (Chief of Staff) as a potential career path for Executive Assistants.

So unless you have just emerged from under your rock, you may be familiar with Maggie Olson from Nova Chief of Staff. 

In this episode I interview Maggie about the WHAT, the WHY and the HOW when it comes to her innovative online self-paced CoS course that has been designed from real-world experience to educate and elevate professionals looking to maximize impact.

If you are an EA who is looking to upskill and build your commercial acumen, Maggie's program should be on your list of courses to consider. Her alumni are not just assistants who are aspiring to a CoS role, they're also 'lifetime' EAs who want to develop themselves...and if you know me, you will know that's what I'm all about!

Connect with Maggie and find out more about her program on Friday 8th December @ 8-9pm GMT+11 

Maggie can also be found on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-olson-cos/

Doriette McIvor Stone is an Executive Assistant with over twenty years of experience supporting C-Suite leaders. She is also a marketer, a salesperson and a customer service person.

Currently Doriette supports the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee. In Part Two of our interview we explore the importance of intuition and emotional intelligence and how Doriette uses these power skills to protect her executive's time and energy.

We talk about the importance of asking the right questions and questioning as a key skill and we explore why adopting a sales mindset can be so empowering for you as an assistant.

Enjoy Part Two of this refreshing and enlightening conversation with a true Linchpin Assistant.

Connect with Doriette on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriette-mcivor-stone

Read the Admin Avenues article featuring Doriette here:

https://adminavenues.com/admin-spotlight-doriette-mcivor-stone/

Doriette McIvor Stone is an Executive Assistant with over twenty years of experience supporting C-Suite leaders. She is also a marketer, a salesperson and a customer service person.

Currently Doriette supports the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee. In Part One of our interview we explore how Doriette came to the role of EA from a career in Events Management and successfully running her own business and hear about the core values that drive her in her role.

We discuss the complex nature of her role and the importance of being an effective stakeholder manager. Doriette shares her philosphy of treating everyone at every level and learning from everyone. Being a connector and building influence by genuinely being interested in other people.

Doriette is all about elevating people and epitomises the value of building reciprocity to elevate your influence.

Enjoy this refreshing and enlightening conversation with a true Linchpin Assistant.

Connect with Doriette on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriette-mcivor-stone

Read the Admin Avenues article we discuss here:

https://adminavenues.com/admin-spotlight-doriette-mcivor-stone/

Part Two will drop next week!

A solo episode where your host, Liz Van Vliet gives an update on what has been a whirlwind of a month and shares some highlights from her recent trip to Ottawa. It's been a jam-packed schedule but Liz is enjoying meeting so many new faces and giving them a dose of Vitamin Liz.

Mentioned in the episode is the following question that Liz asked of Bank of Canada training attendees...feel free to send Liz an email at [email protected] to tell her which one is your spirit animal:)

What Australian animal is your EA spirit animal?

A) Koala - looks cuddly but has claws that will scratch your eyes out!

B) Kangaroo - seems maternal (that lovely pouch) but if you get on the wrong side it has a mean kick!

C) Wombat - slow moving but if you run into me, you're history!

D) Quoll - I'm the Scarlet Pimpernel of Australian Animals. Elusive. You won't even know I've been there but I will leave my impact.

E) The Great White Shark - I take no prisoners!!!!

Don't forget to leave a rating and review to help more assistants hear about the podcast.

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

Welcome to Episode 185 of Assist With Impact, where we empower administrative  professionals like you to make your hard work visible and impactful.

In this episode, we're diving into "Five Ways to Ensure Your Invisible Work is Visible."

It's an important topic because so much of what you do as an assistant is like the proverbial iceberg - hidden beneath the waterline.

Listen to the episode to hear practical and tactical ways you can ensure that your executive and colleagues see the contribution you're making.

Don't forget to leave a rating and review!

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

A solo episode where your host, Liz Van Vliet gets her 'ranty pants' on about advice she sees being given to assistants that is flippant and unhelpful (in her opinion).

Listen to the episode if you want to be reminded that you're more than just an 'admin' and deserve the same level of respect and consideration as any other professional.

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

In the second part of her interview with Liz Van Vliet, Robyn Greaves talks about the silver lining of redundancy, the value of curiosity and the skills and capabilities that allowed her to adapt and adjust as an Executive Assistant. 

Robyn shares how her final role as an EA gave her "permission to have a voice" beyond the one on one relationship with her executive. How it opened up a world of possibilities and enjoyment for Robyn. In short, it allowed Robyn to be the same person in the office that she was at home.

We then explore the birth of Start Sort Scale, how assistants can see and leverage Artificial Intelligence as an opportunity rather than a threat and Robyn's adventurous life as a digital nomad. 

Enjoy Part Two!

Robyn Greaves is a full-time digital nomad and start-up founder. She spends her time travelling the world and collaborating with business owners to optimise their processes and set them up to scale. She is passionate about giving people the freedom to work from anywhere and live life on their own terms.

Prior to launching her business, Start Sort Scale, Robyn spent 15 years as an Assistant, gaining experience across diverse industries including not-for-profit, media publishing, and digital businesses. In 2021, Robyn won an Australian Admin Award for excellence in a multi-functional admin role.

Robyn's passion for the pivotal role of Assistants led her to create "Mastering the Power of ChatGPT: a Guide for Executive Assistants" and the online course "Intro to AI for Executive Assistants." She has emerged as a leading voice in this space, empowering administrative professionals to leverage Artificial Intelligence and get their work done faster, with less effort.

Links:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-greaves/

Follow her digital nomad journey on Instagram: @onthegocouple

Buy the ChatGPT Guide: https://startsortscale.com/chatgptguide/

Learn more about Start Sort Scale website: https://startsortscale.com/clarity/

To see a preview of what Microsoft Copilot will be able to do, check out this YouTube clip: https://youtu.be/hGb9UZ8DyDc

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

Robyn Greaves is an award winning business administrator with 15 years experience as an Executive Assistant. Born in the UK, Robyn has extensive experience providing high level strategic and operational support to CEOs and Directors both in the UK and Australia. She has worked across a wide range of industries including not-for-profit, media publishing and digital businesses. Robyn is passionate about supporting business owners to achieve their goals.

In the first of our two-part interview we explore Robyn's origin story. How she began her career as an Administrative Professional and her talent was quickly spotted by a dynamic executive. Listen to the episode to hear about Robyn's experience navigating the career 'spider frame' and the skills and capabilities that have supported and empowered her growth as an Executive Assistant.

Connect with Robyn via LinkedIn and Instagram.

Connect with your host Liz Van Vliet on Instagram or LinkedIn, and 

Learn more about her coching, speaking and training at The Linchpin Assistant

A special solo episode sharing the audio from a series of three videos I posted last week on LinkedIn to celebrate my ten year 'cancerversary'.

An episode for new listeners who haven't heard my cancer story and old listeners who I'm fortunate to have in my life because of the serendipity of my cancer diagnosis.

An episode that shares both the grim and the grateful. Because we're human beings, not human doings.