Be the Ultimate Assistant

This ground-breaking podcast episode was recorded live, uncut, and streamed all over the world. In a workplace changed forever by the pandemic, Bonnie Low-Kramen and Vickie Sokol Evans wanted to know what HR really thinks about the Executive Assistant role and their value in the modern workplace. To address it, their expert guests are Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, President and CEO of SHRM & Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs & Corporate Secretary of SHRM. They both work with Executive Assistants. In fact, Johnny comments: “I am only as good as the EA who works with me.”

In a very candid conversation, they openly discuss a wide range of topics including, EA training budgets, compensation, workplace bullying, and how EAs can best partner with their executives and HR in the new workplace. SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management represents 300,000 HR pros around the world reaching over 115 million workers.

Related Links

Cover Story in Executive Secretary Magazine, Sept 2020, “How is HR Really Deciding How Much to Pay You?” by Bonnie Low-Kramen & Jeremy Spake, CCP, GRP

To watch the video version of this episode click here.

I am Bonnie Low-Kramen, TEDx speaker, author of “Be the Ultimate Assistant” and trainer of Executive Assistants all over the world. In May, 2019, I was featured in a Forbes online cover story. As part of the research for my second book about the workplace to be published in 2022, I have had over 1,000 conversations with assistants, leaders, HR professionals, recruiters, and business school professors. I have worked in 14 countries and 38 states and would love to work with you towards building your ultimate workplace. Click here to set up a time to speak with me about your training needs which can be delivered virtually or in person. 

The post A Talk with HR | Guests SHRM CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. & COS Emily M. Dickens | Ep 37 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

In this episode, Bonnie continues the conversation with expert Jeremy Spake about the all-important subject of compensation and how HR is really deciding how much money to pay you. They co-wrote a ground-breaking article on this subject that was featured in September, 2020 on the cover of Executive Secretary Magazine (link below.) Listen in as they pull the curtain back on the wage gap, new ways to successfully negotiate compensation, and the global move towards pay equity and pay transparency as trends that are here to stay. Bonnie and Jeremy cover a lot of ground as they talk about the connection between compensation and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in companies across America. R/T 42 min.

Related Links

To watch the video version of this episode click here.

The post How is HR Really Deciding How Much $$$ to Pay You? | Guest Comp Expert Jeremy Spake | Ep 36 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

Video of Podcast:

1500 attendees from 54 countries watched live! In response to the anxiety and uncertainty that is filling the world caused by the pandemic, Bonnie Low-Kramen & Vickie Sokol Evans invite Libby Moore as their webinar guest. Libby is the former Chief of Staff to Oprah Winfrey for 11 years and is now an Executive Coach. “Say I love you to yourself every day” and “Nature is the new corner office” are just two life-affirming and life-savings gems that Libby shared. Comments flooded in from every corner of the world. “Her words are gold.” Watch for yourself. R/T 1:48:20

The post Speed Mentoring During the Pandemic | Guest: Libby Moore | Ep. 35 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

View the video podcast on YouTube:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Bonnie and Vickie decided to invite the world to a free global webinar series and this is the third of five. Bonnie was broadcasting from Florida and Vickie was in Austin, Texas. With an audience from 44 countries, Bonnie and Vickie share up-to-the-minute news and resources impacting the global workplace that is reeling from the sudden work from home (WFH) orders. Vickie shares some great tech tips for working from home. Ann Hiatt, former Executive Assistant to Jeff Bezos of Amazon, is their guest and Ann offers extraordinary insights about how to survive, revive, and thrive in the midst of crisis. Her presentation is especially powerful because she lived it. R/T 1:34

Related Links:

Ann Hiatt

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ann-hiatt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/annrhiatt

Instagram: www.instagram/annhiatt

Vickie Sokol Evans Online Course: Working from Home with Office 365: $29 https://jb121.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/work-from-home?cookieUUID=40e9fc2e-50fd-40fd-996e-99880fc4664d

Bonnie Low-Kramen’s Virtual Training & 1:1 Private Mentoring: www.betheultimateassistant.com | [email protected]

The post Speed Mentoring During the Pandemic | Guest Ann Hiatt | Ep 34 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

View the podcast video on YouTube:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Bonnie and Vickie decided to invite the world to a free global webinar series and this is the second of five. Bonnie was broadcasting from Florida and Vickie was in Austin, Texas. With an audience from all over the world, they share up-to-the-minute news impacting the global workplace that is reeling from the sudden work from home (WFH) orders. Vickie shares some great tech tips for working from home. Celebrity interior designer and HGTV star Nate Berkus and his Director of Operations Kelly Engstrom makes a surprise special appearance from their homes. They pull the curtain back on the secrets to a successful remote partnership as well as tips to make a very comfy home office.  R/T 1:34

Related Links:

Nate Berkus: https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/nate-jeremiah-by-design/ | www.nateberkus.com |

@nateberkus

Kelly Engstrom: @Kaengstrom

Vickie Sokol Evans Online Course: Working from Home with Office 365: $29 https://jb121.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/work-from-home?cookieUUID=40e9fc2e-50fd-40fd-996e-99880fc4664d

Bonnie Low-Kramen’s Virtual Training & 1:1 Private Mentoring: www.betheultimateassistant.com | [email protected]

The post Speed Mentoring During the Pandemic | Guests Nate Berkus & Kelly Engstrom | Ep 33 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

View the podcast with video on YouTube:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, Bonnie and Vickie decided to invite the world to a free global webinar series and this is the first of five. Bonnie was broadcasting from Florida and Vickie was in Austin, Texas. With an audience from all over the world, they share up-to-the-minute news impacting the global workplace that is reeling from the sudden work from home (WFH) orders. Vickie shares some great tech tips for working from home. CEO Gary Rabine makes a special appearance from Illinois to give his perspective on what is happening and to show his support of assistants.  R/T 1:50

Related links:

Gary Rabine’s podcast series www.ditchdiggerceo.com

Bonnie was a recent guest on his show: https://radiopublic.com/ditch-digger-ceo-with-gary-rabine-8g02JK/s1!fd031

Vickie Sokol Evans Online Course: Working from Home with Office 365: $29 https://jb121.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/work-from-home?cookieUUID=40e9fc2e-50fd-40fd-996e-99880fc4664d

The post Speed Mentoring During the Pandemic | Guest CEO Gary Rabine | Ep 32 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

Bonnie & Vickie Talking Money

Oh, the times they are a-changin’ in 2020! (Thanks, Bob Dylan.) Listen in to this episode to hear Bonnie and Vickie give an up-to-the-minute update on what is happening with administrative salaries in the United States. We still have a serious wage gap and still too many assistants are not making fair salaries. The long-term solutions will be about collaborating with HR and company leaders on respectful salaries that motivate strong employee retention, productivity, and profits.

Spoiler Alert: The subject of money and compensation will no longer live in the land of the secret, forbidden, and taboo. The great news is the strong movement towards Pay Equity and Pay Transparency and wow, is this going to have tsunami ramifications in the years to come.

If you want to know exactly what to do to negotiate for more money, listen in and share with others.

Related links below:

www.paysa.com

Article: 5 Ways for Women to Make More Money by Bonnie Low-Kramen

I am Bonnie Low-Kramen, TEDx speaker, author of “Be the Ultimate Assistant” and trainer of Executive Assistants all over the world. In May, 2019, I was featured in a Forbes online cover story. As part of the research for my second book about the workplace to be published in 2022, I have had over 1,000 conversations with assistants, leaders, HR professionals, recruiters, and business school professors. I have worked in 14 countries and 38 states and would love to work with you towards building your ultimate workplace. Click here to set up a time to speak with me about your training needs which can be delivered virtually or in person. 

The post Trending: Pay Equity & Pay Transparency | Ep 31 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

In this podcast, Monique Helstrom, former Chief of Simon Sinek, joins Bonnie to talk through what it takes to build a powerful partnership between executives and assistants. We discuss the good, the bad, and why this partnership should operate with the same fluidity and comfort as Kirk and Spock’s partnership does. ( R/T 30:57).

After listening to this Podcast, go check out Bonnie and Monique’s Breakfast Summit for both Executives and their Assistants happening in New York City at Hudson Yards on October 24, 2019. Finally. These two groups together. Together at last.

Seats are limited.

Ultimate Executive / Assistant Partnerships Bonnie Low-Kramen, 25-year Personal Assistant to Olympia Dukakis Monique Helstrom, Former Chief of Simon Sinek

Bonnie Low-Kramen and Monique Helstrom

The post Building the Ultimate Executive / Assistant Partnership with Guest Monique Helstrom | Ep 30 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.

Our guest is Teri Wells who has worked as an Executive Assistant in Johannesburg, South Africa for 29 years. In 2015, she had coffee with fellow EA and speaker Anel Martin which is when “Isipho” was born. Isipho translates to “the gift” which in this case means the gift of education. It started as Teri’s and Anel’s way of paying it forward in a profession that has given them both so much.

They collaborated with Executive Secretary Magazine Founder Lucy Brazier and together, they set out to change lives and wow, did they ever. They raised money to send promising young adults to a vocational school that would train them to work as administrative professionals. The tuition for the ten month program is approximately $1,200 USD/per candidate. Teri and Anel also determined to provide mentors and ongoing support for these students who otherwise, would have no chance to attain this training.

Listen to Teri’s moving stories of Lerato and Iris, two girls who graduated from the program. Learn what you, your manager or your assistant network can do to make a difference one person at a time. Teri inspires us to understand to our core what is possible when we decide to make it happen.

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Note: At this writing, through the generosity of our attendees and their employers, four students were fully funded at the LIVE conference in San Jose.

Related Links:

www.isiphoadmin.org.za

www.teriwells.co.za

www.anelmartin.co.za

www.executivesecretary.com 

The post Making a Difference One Person at a Time with Guest Teri Wells | Ep 29 appeared first on Bonnie Low-Kramen.