Strategic Partner in the Executive Suite with Anne Marie Otanez

169: Jodie Mears is a strategic C-Suite Executive Assistant, a respected thought leader in the administrative profession, and LinkedIn Top Voice, recognised with the Blue Badge for her industry expertise. With over 20+ years of experience spanning aviation, energy, and digital sectors, she currently supports C-Suite executives at Bentley Systems, combining high-level executive support with operational excellence and strategic business partnerships. As the co-host of “The Crodie Files” podcast and an Advisory Board Member for The PA Show-UK, Jodie is passionate about elevating the administrative profession. Her highly sought-after mentoring and coaching program, which maintains a waitlist into 2025, offers a unique bespoke six-session approach to helping administrative professionals transform their existing talents into career-advancing strengths. A certified Mental Health First Aider and Regional Wellness Lead, Jodie regularly shares her insights through speaking engagements, her monthly newsletter “The Assist List,” and industry publications. Connect with Jodie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiemears or visit http://craigandjodie.com/. ⬇️ Offer from Jodie: From Overlooked to Empowered – £50 Off Podcast Listeners Aspire & Achieve by Jodie Mears I know what it feels like to be overlooked, to work tirelessly behind the scenes and wonder if my contributions were truly valued. For years, I played it safe, staying in the background until I realised that visibility isn’t about shouting the loudest, it’s about owning your value. That realisation changed everything. I built my personal brand, stepped into strategic conversations, and transformed my career, and now, I help others do the same. That’s why I created https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/special-edition-newsletter-jodie-mears-finstam-aqage/, a mentoring & coaching program designed for assistants ready to move from support to strategic partner. What past participants say: 💬 “I could not have got to where I am without your help. You were instrumental in helping me navigate my next move.” 💬 “Your session reignited my passion for personal branding, something I had let slip this year. I’m excited to get back into it!” 💬 “The way you combine enthusiasm with practical, relatable advice made such a difference. I’ve already started implementing the learning!” Executive Office Insights podcast followers: get £50 off this 6-session programme  If you’re ready to step up, be seen, and grow your career, connect with Jodie to book a FREE 30-minute intro call. Let’s make your next move your best one yet! --- 🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eqyb9NIh3uQ Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

168: Anne Marie Otañez is an accomplished Chief of Staff and author of The Chief of Staff: An Insider's Guide to Becoming a Strategic Partner in the Executive Suite. With over 20 years of leadership experience, including a tenure at Microsoft, Anne Marie has navigated the complexities of executive roles with resilience and grace. As a Black woman and daughter of immigrants, she brings a unique and empathetic perspective to leadership, emphasizing the importance of organizational alignment, team trust, and personal well-being. She is the Founder of Own Your Power with Anne Marie, an organization focused on Executive Coaching with an eye to the Chief of Staff domain as well as the creator of The Chief of Staff Academy. 🔴 Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xfqaRusLauE Find her at : Website: http://www.annemarieotanez.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieotanez/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ownyourpowerwithannemarie/ Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/thechiefofstaff.bsky.social Buy her book at IngramSpark: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=TdSItQBD9yVM8a31YkRLXvTkLz3lwIjhwLbdN2Np1UV Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJX2RBH?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520 --- Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

167: In dieser Folge spreche ich mit den erfahrenen Expertinnen und Coaches Alexandra und Bea. Sie geben uns Einblicke in ihre Arbeit und insbesondere in ihr neues Seminar Format “Natural Leading”. Die Welt dreht sich immer schneller, Anforderungen steigen, Erwartungen wachsen – von außen und von dir selbst. Als Führungskraft bist du ständig präsent, triffst Entscheidungen, motivierst, hältst zusammen und gehst voran. Doch reicht es wirklich aus, einfach nur durchzuhalten? Im Seminar "Natural Leading" geht es um mehr als das. Es geht darum, aus der Endlosschleife auszubrechen, bewusst durchzuatmen und den Blick für das Wesentliche zu schärfen. Es geht um Resilienz statt Dauerstress, um Stabilität und Klarheit, um nachhaltige Führung, die nicht auf Hektik basiert, sondern auf Weitblick. Ein wichtiges Format, das Alexandra und Bea hier geschaffen haben. 🔴 Folge auf YouTube anschauen: https://youtu.be/DkUYI8W28vc Link zum Seminar: https://www.coachingraum-karlsbad.com/deutsch/seminaranmeldung-natural-leading-1/ Mehr zu Alexandra: Website: https://www.coachingraum-karlsbad.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-gebhardt/ Mehr zu Bea: Webseite: https://auszeitnatur.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beate-von-borcke-968079205/ --- Diana auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ Executive Office Insights Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

166: Want to know how certifications, mentorship, and leadership can transform your career? In this episode, Mia Lane shares her incredible journey from customer service to becoming a senior executive assistant and leader. She reveals the secrets to career growth, the power of mentorship, and how investing in certifications shaped her success. Mia also opens up about balancing personal and professional life, lessons from her father, and why self-care is non-negotiable. 🔹 How mentorship can change your career 🔹 The importance of certifications in professional growth 🔹 Leadership lessons and managing a team 🔹 Balancing work, family, and self-care Mia’s background spans three decades of experience in executive support, including at the C-suite level. As a certified professional, she is dedicated to driving business excellence. She excels in building strategic partnerships, optimizing workflows, and enabling transparent communication to support executives in achieving their objectives. In Mia’s current capacity, she holds a dual role: supporting an executive and managing a team of executive assistants. As Manager of Executive and Administration, Mia leads her team with a focus on fostering efficiency, communication, and collaboration. Her management approach is centered on the belief that every team member’s contribution is vital to collective success, and she strives to create an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, valued, and respected. A guiding principle in Mia’s leadership approach is ensuring individuals recognize their inherent worth - a lesson instilled by her father, whose words she often shares: “You are somebody!” LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miamlane/ Below are the links and details of the organizations associated with my certifications: International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Website: https://www.iaap-hq.org/ Membership: https://www.iaap-hq.org/general/register_member_type.asp Certified Administrative Professional (CAP): https://www.iaap-hq.org/page/CAP_Certification Certified Administrative Professional (Expert): https://www.iaap-capstone.org/ American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP) Website: https://www.asaporg.com/  Membership: https://www.asaporg.com/join Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE): https://www.asaporg.com/pace --- Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter 🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vt3r7wduMuM Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

165: Travel. AI. Career Growth. This video is packed with insights on how global experiences shape perspectives, how AI is revolutionizing work, and how personal growth can change your life. 100+ Countries & Lessons Learned: Discover why exposing children and professionals to different cultures fosters creativity and adaptability. AI in the Workplace: Learn about AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot. Find out how to use AI safely in business and why 90% of employers now look for AI skills. From Assistant to AI Trainer: A true success story—how one career pivot led to global opportunities and writing 45+ textbooks. --- Corinne promises to make you love Microsoft a little more again. You will discover how to produce amazing professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and with the use of breath-taking shortcuts, it needn’t take you hours! Corinne Hoisington is a full-time Professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, VA training our future Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, and Admins. Corinne also travels over 200,000 miles a year providing keynote motivational topics and training to corporations, small businesses, admin conferences in over 70 worldwide cities this year for such customers as the Microsoft Corporation, Executive Assistant Live London/Johannesburg/Sydney/Wellington, Prague World Economic Forum, Cengage Learning, the international South by Southwest event, APC Conference, Capital One World Admins day, and many others. Professor Hoisington is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional in Business and Computing. Corinne presently has authored over thirty textbooks with Cengage Learning/National Geographic such as the Microsoft Outlook 365, Office 365, Windows 10, Technology Now, and Visual Basic with App Development. Website: https://professorcorinne.com/ App recommendation by Corinne: https://mindtrip.ai/ AI course: https://executivesupportmedia.com/product/unlocking-the-ai-revolution-earn-your-microsoft-ai-certification-badge/ --- 🔴 Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ca9l87GRTp4 Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

Willkommen bei Executive Office Insights! In diesem Trailer stellt Host Diana Brandl den Podcast vor – eine Plattform für alle, die das moderne Office der Zukunft mitgestalten. Erfahre, worauf du dich freuen kannst: inspirierende Gespräche mit Top-Executives, Celebrity Assistenzen und Branchenexpert:innen aus der ganzen Welt. Leadership, Executive Support und echte Erfolgsgeschichten – kompakt in einem Podcast. Jetzt reinhören!

164: Miriam Höller hat stets am Limit gelebt – bis das Leben ihr harte Grenzen zeigte. Bekannt als eine der wenigen Stuntfrauen Deutschlands, Moderatorin des Motormagazins Grip und Teilnehmerin von Germany’s Next Topmodel, war sie schon als Kind eher Wildfang als Prinzessin. Bereits bei ihrer Lebensplanung überlässt sie nichts dem Zufall: Als Teenagerin für ihren Berufswunsch als Stuntfrau belächelt, hat sie mit 18 ihr erstes Profi-Engagement und gründet mit Mitte 20 ihr eigenes Stuntteam. Ihr Markenzeichen wird die einzigartige Kombination von Ästhetik und Action. Doch auch der größte Erfolg schützt nicht vor Ungerechtigkeit. Plötzlich treffen sie zwei große Schicksalsschläge nacheinander: Als sie sich bei einem Helikopter-Stunt beide Füße bricht, findet ihre präzis geplante Karriere ein jähes Ende. Wenige Wochen später stirbt dann ihre große Liebe bei einem Hubschrauberabsturz. Auf die harte Tour lernt Miriam Höller, dass man nicht alles kontrollieren und nicht alle Krisen vermeiden, aber den Umgang damit bestimmen kann. Sie kämpft sich über viele Jahre zurück, tritt heute als Rednerin auf den größten Bühnen Deutschlands auf und ermutigt Menschen, die Herausforderungen des Lebens als Chancen zu nutzen. Ihr inspirierendes Fazit: Es braucht Zeit, aber es gilt, die Aufgaben des Lebens zu meistern, die man nicht haben wollte. Das Leben ist ungerecht, aber es lohnt sich trotzdem. In diesem eindringlichen und lebensbejahenden Memoir schildert Miriam Höller, was ihr geholfen hat – und wo unsere wahren Stärken liegen, wenn wir sie am meisten brauchen. Webseite und Buch: https://miriamhoeller.com/ --- 🔴 Video auf YouTube anschauen: https://youtu.be/IUBgS-bGC7s Diana auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

163/122 Best of: With 27 years experience developing humans and building organizations, Monique knows that change is possible, and it all starts with you. After nearly a decade as the Executive Assistant, Producer, and “Chief of Simon Sinek,” (New York Times Best-Selling author and TED celebrity), she obtained the necessary skills to decipher and disentangle common issues plaguing humans and businesses around the globe. Through her countless conversations with thought leaders, executives, celebrities, educators, Administrative professionals, the military, and the general workforce this world depends on, she has developed powerful curricula and real-life solutions to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. She has cultivated an ability to identify patterns, diagnose the disparity, and establish a workable plan. She has sharpened her ability to take large complex problems and break them down into bite-sized, achievable nuggets. She is obsessed with growth and development and will hopefully spend her life showing others that they can achieve their next evolution. As a speaker, coach, and specialized recruiter for the Administrative profession, Monique helps her clients take accountability for their past, and command total control of their future. Monique specializes in: • Self-awareness and confidence building. • Communication, listening, and feedback. • Goal setting. • Executive presence. • Coaching and speaking for Administrative Professionals. • Administrative/Assistant recruiting services. • Teaching Executives how to have (and develop) an Administrative or Executive Assistant. She has certainly made a million mistakes in her life and career as most have. Those mistakes have made her who she is. After all, we learn so much more when we fall down than when we pretend we have our eyes wide open. Connect with Monique: Website: www.MoniqueHelstrom.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquehelstrom/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/moniquejhelstrom/ Online Communication Course Bundle SALE - https://moniquehelstrom.thinkific.com/bundles/communication-bundle   --- Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

162/096 Best of: Als Teil der Generation Y ist Magdalena Rogl seit über 15 Jahren in der Online-Welt unterwegs. Im Jahr 2016 wechselte sie aus der Medienbranche in die Unternehmenskommunikation von Microsoft Deutschland. Ihr kontinuierliches Engagement für Gleichberechtigung, Inklusion und Vielfalt wurde 2021 als Diversity & Inclusion Lead zu ihrer Hauptaufgabe im Unternehmen. Für ihren außergewöhnlichen Karriereweg von der Kinderpflegerin in die Digitalbranche wurde Magdalena unter anderem mit dem Digital Female Leader Award und als eine der „25 Frauen die unsere Wirtschaft revolutionieren“ ausgezeichnet. Magdalena ist Wertebotschafterin für die gemeinnützige Bildungsinitiative GermanDream und Rolemodel bei BayFid, dem Nachwuchsförderungsprogramm des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Digitales. Im Oktober 2022 erschien ihr erstes Buch „MitGefühl – Warum Emotionen im Job unverzichtbar sind“   --- Diana auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast auf YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects Podcast auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast auf Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661

161/093 BEST OF: Getting to know Agnes and Matthew: Matthew Chapman: President of Sales & Marketing, Automotive Sales https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-chapman-2397065 Matthew is a dynamic and trusted global sales and marketing executive with extensive experience in strategic planning, sales process development, global intercultural leadership, and sales execution. Confident, self-motivated, bi-lingual leader who is able to recognize cultural differences and resolve problems across cultures. Proficient at managing multiple complex projects and focused on building strong customer relationships to profitably grow both the top and bottom lines. Strong technical communicator proficient at delivering complex ideas in a clear manner with experience engaging and collaborating at executive management levels. Driven by a desire to continually grow, learn and motivate others using a management style that balances motivation with data driven results.   Agnes Spohn: EA to Matthew Chapman and Founder of FST Assistant Community https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnes-spohn-4b647b35 Agnes was born in Berlin where she also lived until 2013. Her background is hotel management and during that time she learned being a multitasking person and enjoyed working with different nationalities & humans. After many years in the hotel operations day to day business, she moved on to a Sales position in charge of the DACH region corporates and the entertainment industry. By planning her sales calls, she discovered the world of being a frequent traveler which helps her today planning business trips for her manager. Her network to the hotel industry is still huge and that helps a lot by planning meetings and negotiating contracts. Agnes moved to the South of Germany in 2013 working in Frankfurt in the financial industry. During that time, she was mainly in charge of planning investor meetings and roadshows as well as huge investor conferences in Frankfurt and Paris. After her parental leave she started with Freudenberg in 2018. Today, she combines a lot of her skills learned in the past to the daily business of being an Executive Assistant. She loves working with an international global based team and so it is no surprise that her manager is located in the US but Agnes is located close to Heidelberg.   Further links: Habit List: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/habit-list/id525102168 YearCompass: https://yearcompass.com/ --- Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/ The Future Assistant Newsletter: https://the-socialista-projects.com/#newsletter Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the-socialista-projects Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qBSDjTfYOG2x6qos7dKkS Podcast on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-future-assistant/id1493106661