Source: Fortune
Summary
Despite layoffs hitting executive assistants at companies like PwC and McKinsey, the role may not be disappearing, but evolving into something more powerful. Adnan Khan, co-CEO of Viva Talent, says the best executive assistants will act as proxies for executives, leveraging AI strategically to support larger teams and take on responsibilities traditionally reserved for managers. A Payscale report found that executive assistants are seeing rising pay, with a 26% new-hire market advantage in the tech industry. Khan attributes the demand to qualities AI has yet to master, such as empathy and sound judgment.
Our Reading
The strategy enters a familiar phase.
Companies are redefining the role of executive assistants, leveraging AI to support larger teams and take on more responsibilities. Executive assistants are expected to exercise empathy, relatability, and sound judgment, skills that remain critical in a role built on human relationships. Even AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic continue to hire executive assistants, signaling that the role is not obsolete.
The numbers tell a story of evolution, not elimination.
Author: Evan Null
