The EA Campus Podcast

In today’s episode, I’m joined by William Thomson—our go-to events guru at The EA Campus and a renowned events management expert with 20+ years’ experience. William has delivered multiple masterclasses for our community, and he’s partnering with me to bring The EA Campus Conference to London next April.

We get practical about office socials and team-building: how to turn a vague brief into a clear plan, set the right expectations, budget smartly (without cutting corners that matter), and design inclusive food and drink that keeps everyone happy. William also shares creative, low-cost ideas to spark real connection, the run-sheet details that make or break an event, and how to gather feedback that actually improves the next one.

If you’re an EA juggling events alongside everything else, this conversation will save you time, money, and stress - while helping you deliver socials people genuinely enjoy.

The EA Campus

As Assistants, we’re often told to be the “magic behind the scenes”, quietly making everything happen while others take the credit. However, the truth is that building autonomy around your work and confidently sharing your achievements is essential if you want to grow in your role and be recognized for the value you bring.

In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, we’ll explore how to:

• Create more independence in your role, even when responsibilities aren’t clearly defined
• Set clear goals and objectives that align with your Executive and organisation
• Communicate your achievements without feeling like you’re bragging
• Advocate for yourself with confidence and authenticity

You’ll leave with practical tips to take ownership of your work, gain recognition, and feel proud of the impact you make every single day.

The EA Campus

When your Executive is out of the office, your role doesn’t slow down — it shifts gears. In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, Nicky Christmas shares practical strategies for managing both sides of the job: supporting your Executive on the road and keeping the office moving in their absence. From setting clear communication rhythms and decision boundaries to running a triage inbox and planning a smooth re-entry, this episode is packed with grounded, tactical advice you can apply straight away.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build trust so you can make confident decisions while your Executive is away
• Operate a sharper, more assertive inbox triage system
• Protect your Executive’s focus during high-stakes trips
• Use tools and templates to handle disruptions and keep things steady
• Plan the first day back so your Executive avoids burnout and stays effective

If you’ve ever been told, “Now the boss is travelling you can put your feet up,” this episode will prove just how wrong that is.

Show Notes

• Free Travel Itinerary Template
   – create seamless, professional itineraries
• Assistant Essentials Online Course
   – master travel management, stakeholder comms, and proactive support
• Upcoming Events
  – September & October highlights:
  • Lead Virtual Summit – 26 September: Build influence and become a strategic partner
  • Community Webinar – 30 September: What Assistants need from their Executives to create a true partnership
  • Calm Under Pressure Masterclass – 10 October: Stay focused and composed in high-stress situations
  • ChatGPT for Executive Assistants Masterclass – 24 October: Prompt smarter, streamline workflows, and use AI securely
  • Strategic Time Management Masterclass – 30 October: Align time with strategy and deliver impact

The EA Campus

In this Q&A, Courtney Salas joins me to unpack what it really takes to succeed as an Executive Assistant in a fast-paced tech startup. From organising constant change to stepping confidently into a strategic partnership, Courtney shares honest stories from life inside a 40-something-person scale-up—where there are no playbooks, just problems to solve and opportunities to grab.

You’ll hear how Courtney:

• Swapped corporate certainty for startup “productive chaos” and found her happy place
• Balances EA fundamentals with high-impact projects (including running a full Series A process)
• Builds confidence to challenge decisions and propose better options
• Hires for grit, curiosity, and bias to action - over years of experience
• Uses AI smartly, including a custom “Joe AI” profile to draft in her executive’s voice
• Streamlines calendars and inboxes with booking links and sensible automation - without losing control

Listen if you’re:
Curious about moving into tech, keen to elevate your remit beyond the “basics,” or ready to use tools and workflows to free up time for genuinely strategic work.

Highlights

• Owning the chaos: why uncertainty can accelerate your growth
• The fine line: keeping the day-to-day tight while driving big outcomes
• Influence in action: weekly prioritisation check-ins that actually work
• Tech stack talk: calendar links, inbox design, and practical AI
• Career mindset: choose leaders who open doors—and remember “everything is figureoutable”

Tools and Resources: 

• Google Calendar – daily scheduling, advanced setup for blocking priorities and tasks
• Calendly – as another option for sharing availability
• ChatGPT – used daily to draft, edit, and research
• Slack – team communications, used as a source for training the AI

Resources & next steps
If you’re working towards a strategic partnership, explore our Strategic Business Partner course and check what’s coming up on The EA Campus events calendar. You’ll find masterclasses, summits, and community sessions designed to support you at every stage.

Enjoy the episode, and if it resonates, share it with an EA who’s ready for their next leap.

The EA Campus

In this episode, I’m joined by Microsoft Office maestro Shelley Fishel, founder of Tomorrow’s VA. Shelley has spent decades training assistants to get brilliant results with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and now, of course, Microsoft Copilot. We dig into what’s genuinely useful right now, what’s coming next, and how EAs can lead the conversation on AI without losing sight of the fundamentals.

Shelley shares how she uses Copilot daily (from redrafting tricky emails to prioritising the inbox and summarising meetings), why core skills like slide masters and brand-safe templates still matter, and how to make the most of lesser-known gems across Microsoft 365. We also talk mindset—staying curious, learning out loud, and saying “yes” then figuring it out—plus the big question: Will AI replace EAs? (Short answer: no. Nuance, judgment, and calendar strategy still need a human.)

What you’ll learn:

• Practical ways EAs can use Copilot today in Outlook, Teams, Word and beyond
• Why knowing the basics (formatting, slide masters, rules/quick steps) saves hours every week
• How to make a case for Copilot licences—and the security benefits of using it inside your tenant
• Mindset shifts to keep pace with fast-moving tech (without chasing every shiny thing)
• Where Microsoft 365 is quietly evolving—and the features most assistants overlook

Tools, features & terms mentioned:

• Microsoft Copilot across Outlook, Word, Teams (meeting summaries), and forthcoming Excel capabilities (including =COPILOT)
• Outlook: Quick Steps, Rules, prioritising the inbox
• PowerPoint: Slide Master, custom layouts, brand-safe decks
• Microsoft Loop (pages & live components), Copilot Pages
• Microsoft Sway (lightweight, web-style internal newsletters)
• Microsoft Forms, Microsoft Lists, Microsoft Bookings
• Security/Tenant awareness (enterprise data protection vs. pasting data into public AI tools)
• Other AI tools touched on: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity

Perfect for: Executive Assistants who want clear, real-world ways to work smarter with Microsoft 365 and lead on AI - without the hype.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on The EA Campus website.

The EA Campus

Managing your Executive’s inbox isn’t just about clearing emails - it’s about saving them time, reducing stress, and protecting their reputation. In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, host Nicky Christmas shares the essential first conversation you should have with your Executive about email management.

We’ll explore:

• How to agree on who replies and in what voice
• Setting realistic expectations for how often the inbox should be checked
• Understanding your Executive’s email stress points and behaviours
• Moving actions out of the inbox and onto proper task lists
• Identifying the priority senders your Executive can’t afford to miss
• Creating time in their schedule to process emails effectively

This isn’t about hitting inbox zero. It’s about building trust, setting boundaries, and showing the strategic value you bring as an Assistant.

Tune in and discover how a simple conversation about emails can transform the way you work with your Executive.

Events: https://theeacampus.com/events/

The EA Campus

In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked but powerful dynamics in the Executive Assistant role: the ability to be both interested and interesting.

Nicky shares personal stories and honest reflections on how curiosity and personality can shape your career path—from missed promotions in roles that felt uninspiring, to thriving in environments where she connected with the work and the people around her.

You’ll learn:

• Why being curious about your Executive, their goals, and your organisation matters
• How showing your personality (yes, even your love of movies or gardening!) can open unexpected doors
• Practical tips for building confidence and authenticity—even in quieter or less inclusive workplace cultures
• What to do if you’re not interested in your industry, and how to decide whether it’s time to move on

Plus, don’t miss this week’s freebie: our Elevator Pitch for EAs, a guide to confidently explain your role in any setting. Download it now at theeacampus.com/podcast/ep73

Learn and master the skills you need to be an incredible Assistant ➔ https://theeacampus.com
https://theeacampus.com/newsletter/

CONNECT WITH US:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

🛠 MORE COURSES AND RESOURCES:
https://theeacampus.com/resources/
https://theeacampus.com/online-course/

The EA Campus

When your Executive’s calendar is bursting at the seams, it’s tempting to feel responsible, like somehow, you should have prevented the chaos. But guilt doesn’t belong in your job description. In this episode, we’re flipping the script on calendar management and giving you the tools to start strategic conversations that lead to real change.

We’re diving into:

• Why it’s so important to talk about time, especially when your Executive is “too busy”
• How to ask subtle, thoughtful questions that spark meaningful reflection
• What to do when your Exec says, “I don’t know,” and how to gently guide the conversation forward
• The real difference between being the calendar manager and being a strategic partner

You’ll walk away with 10 practical conversation starters (and yes, there’s a free template!) to help you uncover what’s really driving the diary, and how to make smarter decisions with your Executive, not just for them.

🎧 Plus, this week’s free download includes a script and toolkit you can use straight away: theeacampus.com/podcast/ep72

Whether your Exec thrives on the hustle or is teetering on burnout, this episode will help you start the conversations that matter.

Learn and master the skills you need to be an incredible Assistant ➔ https://theeacampus.com
https://theeacampus.com/newsletter/

CONNECT WITH US:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

🛠 MORE COURSES AND RESOURCES:
https://theeacampus.com/resources/
https://theeacampus.com/online-course/

The EA Campus

In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, we’re diving into the real-life juggle of supporting multiple executives—because yes, it’s a lot. But with the right systems, honest conversations, and a bit of forward planning, it can be done without losing your mind (or your lunch break).

I’m sharing the strategies that have helped me stay on top of it all, plus we’ve got brilliant insights from Natalie Egan, Senior Executive Assistant & Operations Lead, International Communications at Salesforce. Natalie knows what it takes to manage several high-level stakeholders at once, and she’s generously shared her tried-and-tested approaches with us.

We cover:

• How to set expectations early and fairly across multiple execs
• Why time alignment is your first (and most important) step
• Tips for staying visible, building trust, and avoiding calendar chaos
• What to do when people dynamics get a little tricky

🎁 Plus, we’re giving away a free Daily Briefing Document to help you manage tasks, priorities, and updates for each of your execs. Download it at theeacampus.com/podcast/ep71

Learn and master the skills you need to be an incredible Assistant ➔ https://theeacampus.com
https://theeacampus.com/newsletter/

CONNECT WITH US:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

🛠 MORE COURSES AND RESOURCES:
https://theeacampus.com/resources/
https://theeacampus.com/online-course/

The EA Campus

Ever feel like your brain has 47 tabs open – and not a single one is loading properly?

In this episode of The EA Campus Podcast, I’m sharing 10 real ChatGPT prompts I use every week to streamline my business, clarify my thinking, and save serious time – and I promise, they’re not just for techies. Whether you're writing tricky emails, planning events, building SOPs, or just trying to get your head straight for a 1:1, there’s something in here you’ll want to borrow (and make your own).

We’ll talk about how ChatGPT can become your second brain – not to replace your skills as an Assistant, but to amplify them. I’ll show you how to adapt these prompts for your own role or even share them with your Executive to help them work smarter too.

Plus, I’ve created a free EA ChatGPT Prompt Sheet to go with this episode – packed with examples you can copy, tweak and try straight away. Grab it at theeacampus.com/podcast/ep70.

 In this episode:

• How to turn brain dumps into action plans
• Prompts for writing emails, LinkedIn posts, and meeting agendas
• Using AI to reduce decision fatigue and create routines that work
• Tips for crafting SOPs, summarising meetings, and getting budget clarity

Whether you’re just starting with AI or already dabbling, this is a practical, jargon-free guide to using ChatGPT in a way that makes sense for you as an EA.

Learn and master the skills you need to be an incredible Assistant ➔ https://theeacampus.com
https://theeacampus.com/newsletter/

CONNECT WITH US:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

🛠 MORE COURSES AND RESOURCES:
https://theeacampus.com/resources/
https://theeacampus.com/online-course/

The EA Campus