By Craig Bryson & Jodie Mears
The Crodie Files is a podcast hosted by two career Executive Assistants currently in the role, supporting C-Suite Corporate Executives.
With over 40 years of combined industry experie
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The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.
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The Crodie Files meet with special guest Becky Kaapuni, Senior EA to the CEO at Salesforce AI and founder of EA Social Club, to share valuable insights for administrative and business support professionals looking to adapt to the fast-paced evolution of their roles.
Becky, Craig & Jodie discussed this listener question:
Listener question:
“Hi Crodie: The pace at which our role is moving is too fast for me to keep up and get on with my day job. Any tips for navigating this, specifically technology? What do I need to know as a bare minimum right now”?
This is an episode that will be great to share and tap into at any stage in your career, we discussed:
Chapters:(if you can find the timestamps)
[00:04:00] Prioritising Tasks and Managing Workload
[00:07:00] Leveraging AI and Technology in EA Roles
[00:19:00] Networking and Knowledge-Sharing Strategies
We invite you to share your own experiences and strategies through our "Hi Crodie..." initiative. Get involved and send us your questions.
Value Bombs:
"We are the CEOs of our own life, and it's our responsibility to make sure that we are living the life that matches our values." - Becky Kaapuni
"It's not all about knowing everything. It's about staying curious, being adaptable and willing to learn."- Craig Bryson
"Learning and development isn't a one singular course or a destination, Think about who and what's around you already- lean into that." - Jodie Mears
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/SuuJVjj--UM
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
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This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
In this episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears are joined by Fiona Young- founder of Carve. Stay tuned till the end as they discuss traditional learning, emerging technologies, and the importance of continuous professional development for administrative assistants.
Listener question
Hi Crodie: I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the new learning technologies out there. How can I decide which ones are worth investing my time in, and how do I approach my boss about getting support for these learning opportunities?
Fiona Young Fiona is the founder of Carve a company that provides live digital courses for executive assistants. From her start as an EA in venture capital to leading learning programs for thousands, Fiona's insights on professional growth and AI are not to be missed.
Connect with Fiona for more information on how she can help you and your organisation and visit her website.
So much value was shared during this episode including:
We invite you to share your own experiences and strategies through our "Hi Crodie..." initiative. Get involved and send us your questions.
Value Bombs
Jodie Mears: "I think making that connection between my learning and development is important because it really does enhance employee engagement and employee retention".
Fiona Young: "Tech advances will actually mean that we'll move back towards face to face".
Craig Bryson: "At the moment we have the VR, so the hardware is going to be more streamlined because at the moment it's a bit clunky..."
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
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This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
In this insightful episode Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears along with guest contributor Vonetta Watson delve into the crucial topic of how administrative assistants can leverage learning and development opportunities for career growth.
Listener question
Hi Crodie: I've been in EA for over 30 years now. The technology advances have been epic over this time. What advice would you give to someone just starting out? For example, what should they focus on? Thanks.
Vonetta Watson, a seasoned Microsoft certified trainer and technology strategist, shares her expertise and helps to unpack this great timeless question.
Connect with Vonetta for more information on how she can help you and your organisation https://www.techgemtech.com/
So much value was shared during this episode including:
We invite you to share your own experiences and strategies through our "Hi Crodie..." initiative get involved and send us your questions.
Value Bombs
"Maintaining tooling up truly takes shape when you grab hold of the technology while it advances. Move and learn when it shifts." - Vonetta Watson
"Align everything with your vision and your goal of where you want to get to and seek out the right training opportunities".- Jodie Mears
"You have to look into yourself and find out what do you want. What do you want to learn? Don't just learn things that you're going to forget in a couple of weeks"- Craig Bryson
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
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X
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Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
From Invisible to Invincible- The Crodie Files meet with special guest Zoe Hill former Chief of Staff and founder of Premier Admin Services to share valuable insights for administrative and business support professionals looking to take their careers to the next level.
Zoe, Craig & Jodie discussed this listener question:
Listener question
Hi Crodie: If you could have predicted your career path what one thing would you have done in the early days (course and learning-wise) to make your future role easier or more manageable?
So much value through lived experience was shared during this bonus episode including;
Chapters:
11:40 Professional Growth and Networking Tips
18:22 Sharing Knowledge With Premier Admin Services
We invite you to share your own experiences and strategies through our "Hi Crodie..." initiative get involved and send us your questions.
Value Bombs
"Asking questions and understanding the business is the key to unlocking your value as an administrative professional." - Zoe Hill
"Mentorship is the fast track to success. Learn from those who have walked the path before you." - Craig
"The modern administrative professional is a strategic partner, not just a support role. Own your value and make your mark." - Jodie
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
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Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
In this episode hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears dive into the power of personal branding for administrative professionals. They discuss the importance of assistants developing a strong personal brand, provide guidelines on how to do so effectively and share compelling reasons why it matters for career growth and success.
The conversation covers how personal branding reflects your online reputation, helps you stand out and showcase your unique skills, builds credibility and trust, and enables you to connect with others by sharing your authentic experiences. Craig and Jodie also touch on how a well-crafted personal brand can position you as an influencer at work, aid in networking, and give you a competitive edge in the job market.
They offer practical tips such as choosing the right social media platform for your goals and audience, sharing valuable content reflecting your distinct voice, and engaging with others' content to inspire your creativity.
The episode also features a listener question on where to begin with personal branding, with guest expert David Coslett providing insightful advice on platform selection, authenticity, and delivering value to your target audience.
Our listener question "Where should you begin with personal branding"? is expertly answered by David Coslett- Marketing Director of Hello Social
Value Bombs
"Your personal branding is connecting with others through your lived experience. It adds credibility to the things we share on LinkedIn" - Jodie Mears
"If you think and feel it's wrong, do it. It's you that's stopping you. It's what you've been programmed, that it's wrong. If it feels uncomfortable, then it's the right thing to do." - Craig Bryson
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
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Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
In this episode, Craig and Jodie discuss five common hurdles that administrative assistants face and provide strategies to overcome them with our expert contributor- Abigail Barnes adding her insightful wisdom to our listener question.
You will learn proven strategies for improving communication, organization, tech skills, time management and implementing feedback effectively.
From leveraging the right tools and upskilling executives to applying expert techniques like the "TTT" model, this is a masterclass in overcoming common roadblocks and levelling up as a top-performing assistant.
Our listener question: Hi Crodie: "I am an EA of 10 years and love my role! I have attended time management courses in the past but cannot seem to implement the tips when I get back to my desk, I have to juggle all of the time which I have learned to do really well - do you have any tips for me to retain knowledge"?
Time management expert Abigail Barnes reveals a powerful 3-step process to retain and implement training learnings before returning to your desk. By identifying your "why" for the training, listing key takeaways, mapping them to your challenges, and creating an action plan for the biggest overlap area - you'll turn knowledge into application. This method helps you truly own what you've learned and start sequencing tasks more effectively, rather than constantly juggling.
Our expert contributor: Abigail Barnes
Abigail Barnes is the founder and CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula and host of The Time Management Podcast.
Connect with Abigail today and check out her podcast too!
Website
The Time Management Podcast
Value Bombs
Jodie Mears - "I think assumptions can be made if you don't communicate effectively at the beginning of a professional relationship".
Craig Bryson - "I always want feedback, even if it's positive or negative. How am I supposed to develop myself if I don't know what is wrong".
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
TikTok
Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
Learning & Development for a Chief of Staff Role
Join us in another bonus episode where we join forces to answer our listener question with the amazing Annie Croner, CEO & Founder of Whole Assistant and EA Trainer & Coach.
Annie hosts the Whole Assistant Podcast among many other valuable offerings to the administrative profession. Connect with Annie on LinkedIn HERE and read more about her on our website HERE
In this episode, we answer our listener question on the hot topic of inching towards that Chief of Staff role. You will discover that certifications can be more than just a decorative line on your resume/CV, they’re stepping stones for personal and professional growth.
Listener question
Hi CRODIE: I want to shoot for a CoS position from an EA position of 12 years experience. There are a lot of options out there for L&D courses for CoS - are any of these worthwhile? Is there just 1 that really packs a punch? Do they matter? Do they count? Will they help me get a foot in the door? Please help
Craig, Jodie and Annie share thoughts and discuss insights on levelling up your career, whether you're aiming for a Chief of Staff role or want to become a more strategic business partner. Get ready to be empowered and love your role!
Annie also breaks down the key ingredients for executive assistants to seamlessly transition into strategic roles, highlighting the value of internal projects and the impact of social proof on your career path.
Value Bombs
"Do they count? Do chief of staff certifications count? Yes, but only in terms of your professional development. I don't think a chief of staff qualification is going to get you a role." - Annie Croner
"I love this role and I have a passion for it. You want to have that drive and that passion to be able to retain that information." - Craig Bryson
"Education is key, personal development, professional development is key. There is not going to be a magic pill for this chief of staff role." - Jodie Mears
Check out The Whole Assistant Podcast HERE for more information and inspiration!
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
TikTok
Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
Are your office conversations hitting the mark or missing the connection? Discover how to bring back the charm of telephone manners in an era where inboxes and instant messaging rule.
Craig and Jodie unpack the subtleties of office communication and invite you on a journey to rekindle the personal touch. From the strategic placement of contact details in email signatures to the art of phone introductions, this episode of the Crodie Files is all about mastering the blend of old-school etiquette with new-school tech.
Email threads can be a minefield of misunderstood tones. Hear us discuss the power of personalization in email crafting, and take away practical tips to aid your role. But it's not just about what you say it's about how you use your human intelligence (H.I.) to enhance your efficiency and warmth.
Lastly, from 'reply all' catastrophes to the nuances of executive boundary setting, Craig and Jodie draw from their vast experiences to offer solidarity and strategies for handling the hurdles.
Our listener question: "What certifications are helping assistants progress at the moment? There are so many with Post-nominal initials but what relevance (if any) do they offer and what results have you seen from investing in courses that give you this result"?
Our expert contributor: Joan Burge
Joan is the pioneer of the administrative training industry and the founder of Office Dynamics International. Joan has created numerous innovative programs and courses that inspire excellence and empower assistants to reach for the stars. She is the host of the Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence and the author of four books for administrative professionals. Connect with Joan Burge and Office Dynamics to explore training options and learn more.
Joan's LinkedIn
Office Dynamics LinkedIn
Free Webinars from Joan
Value Bombs
Joan Burge - "I love this question about certifications and designations. It's fabulous. So first of all, they are different. A certification does not always come with a professional designation, but a professional designation will include certification".
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
TikTok
Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
Elevate and Automate | Personal Branding & AI for Assistants
Join us for this memorable, interactive episode recorded LIVE at The PA Show London!
This was the first time The PA Show had a podcast for administrative professionals exhibiting and delivering a Keynote Session - we are incredibly proud of this one!
Have you ever wondered how you can elevate or even get started with your personal branding and why it is necessary for our profession?
In this bonus episode also available to watch on YouTube we share personal stories of growth, illustrating how authenticity isn’t just a buzzword, but the currency of personal branding.
Our guest speaker, world-class personal branding strategist, LinkedIn's top voice influencer, speaker, advisor & founder at Klowt - the personal branding agency -Amelia Sordell, sheds light and shares top tips to get started for Administrative Assistants.
Are you overwhelmed with the THOUSANDS of AI tool options to assist us in our tasks and want to know first-hand from a successful Virtual Assistant how to stay ahead of the game? Our other guest speaker Amy Lester - business owner, executive assistant, VA mentor and coach, shares her top tips and knowledge from a virtual assistant's perspective.
Your personal brand is more than a self-promotional tool—it's a magnet for attracting those who will propel you towards your 'North Star'.
It's about networking with purpose, giving value without expectation, and the realization that follower counts pale in comparison to genuine connections.
We invite you to share your own experiences and strategies through our "Hi Crodie..." initiative get involved and send us your questions.
Value Bombs
Amelia Sordell - " Personal branding is essentially your reputation at scale, right? Every single one of you has got your roles in the jobs that you're in right now because of your reputation to deliver results for your customers or your employers, right? Your personal brand is simply an elevation of that.".
Amy Lester – " Certainly for me, the way that I utilise AI at the moment is in areas that maybe I'm not particularly strong. ".
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
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Send us a text
This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners!
Welcome to our first Bonus Episode of The Crodie Files Podcast
We have had so many "Hi Crodie..." questions (more than we know what to do with) sent in by you - our amazing community and listeners, we will be producing bonus episodes of The Crodie Files to keep the conversation going and the knowledge sharing flowing!
They will be:
▶Video as well as audio recorded
▶"Hi Crodie" questions answered by your hosts PLUS a special expert guest on video
▶In addition to our studio-recorded podcast
▶Short and sweet 10-12 mins long, each bonus episode will cover 1 listener question
▶Uploaded to our YouTube channel
▶Still very much educational, relatable, and sharable!
So if you prefer a visual podcast, we have you covered-check out our first bonus episode introduction and our 2023 end-of-year round-up on YouTube and help us stay visible to you by subscribing to our channel.
Hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode - we have some great guests lined up for these Bonus Episodes to tackle your "Hi Crodie..." questions from Administrative and Business Support Professionals globally!
Support the show
Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.
Follow and contact us on our socials
Website
LinkedIn
Pinterest
X
TikTok
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