In this episode, Dan Pontefract highlights the incredible support, savviness, and abilities of the executive assistant. Lead. Care. Win., provides insights, thoughts, stories and truth bombs concerning the state of leadership in today's organizations.

Executive Assistants Are The Epitome Of Class

Dan Pontefract is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, and culture change expert. Dan's podcast explores all aspects of leadership, organizational culture, purpose, and professional development. 
 
Dan is the best-selling author of five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career.
 
Previously, as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS—a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of $14 billion and 50,000 global employees—he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT. He is honoured to be on the Thinkers50 radar list.

Paula Pipitone was an executive assistant for Price Waterhouse Coopers, LLP, in New York for one year. She purchased supplies, proofed reports and correspondence, and planned executive travel.

Paula graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in 1999 and completed her finance degree from Queensborough Community College. Her professional skills include management, leadership, and valuation. She is also highly creative and has strong visualization skills.

Pipitone performs human resources functions such as 401(k) and benefits plan administration as an administrative assistant. She has also prepared and executed loan requests, expense reports, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. She is proficient in office programs, including Cliqbook, PeopleSoft, QuickBooks, and the Microsoft Office suite.

Administrative assistants, like Paula, perform various duties depending on the job. They may answer phones, greet visitors, schedule and coordinate meetings, draft memos, emails, reports, and other correspondence, collate and distribute mail, and create and maintain physical and electronic filing systems. They may also write and edit documents, manage accounts, and perform bookkeeping and other financial tasks.

Executive Assistants Are The Epitome Of Class

Dan Pontefract, Author and Leadership Strategist