The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is Natalie Robinson, executive assistant to the CEO at Intelsat, who’s an Executive Assistant of the Year finalist. Here, she shares what has made her successful and career advice.
What has made you successful in your current role?
I believe my attention to detail, and proactive nature have afforded me success as Executive Assistant to Intelsat’s CEO, Dave Wajsgras. In my role, I routinely take on activities to ensure things go smoothly for the CEO and, more broadly, the executive team.
When a group of executives were recently traveling to Europe for a board meeting, I took note of the tight schedule of multiple meetings and familiarized myself with the travel plans of the entire senior team. On the day of travel, I awoke at 2 AM to check flight schedules and became aware of a delay and resulting connections and arranged for car service for all executives impacted. When the team landed, transportation had been arranged and they had awaiting texts with information about their drivers and meeting locations.
In taking these steps, I believe I demonstrated an understanding of the importance of supporting not just our CEO but his extended team. I apply the same “team” approach to all office matters that I handle, understanding the impact that all schedules have on the CEO.
I’m honored that Dave had said that I am his “right-hand person.”
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Build Relationships: Whether providing the best support to executives or working with others within your organization, I believe in building relationships and connecting with others no matter what level they are within the organization.
Maintain a Positive Attitude: Staying positive and maintaining an even keel, particularly when conditions are changing or situations get tense, is critical. Others will feed off this positivity and come to you with issues or concerns.
Understand Your Skills: Identify what you like to do, and what you’re good at doing. Focus on becoming an expert at three or four key skills. Maintain an eagerness to learn and grow in an ever-changing world. Learn to adapt and change paths when needed. Get involved when you can on projects to learn about other aspects of the company and pursue opportunities to collaborate and connect.
Manage Work/Life Balance: The demands of an Executive Assistant can be significant and often require extra time during evenings and weekends. I make sure to look ahead and anticipate when I might be needed and then plan around that and adapt accordingly.