Leading Alongside and Overcoming Adversity: Leadership Lessons as an Executive Assistant in Education
When I reflect on a fork in the road of my recent leadership journey, I realise what I thought at the time was the worst setback of my professional career was the best thing that ever happened for my personal growth. This article reflects upon lessons drawn from my leadership journey, from being informed that the job I loved was gone, to today, where the organisation I set up has been recognised as a leading national education service provider. This three-year journey, leading alongside a Senior Executive in a complex learning institution whilst setting up a national network for Executive Assistants has been remarkable.
Those who experienced the turbulence and trauma of Melbourne’s world record Covid lockdown period will experience their own chills and flashbacks as I reflect on this traumatic time. Healthwise, my family and I were fine, but my professional world crumbled. As the Marketing and College Events Officer within an Independent School, I was confronted with the reality of no events to manage- schools were closed. Whilst redeployed to assist in other areas, a confronting and brutal message was delivered. A dramatic choice was presented, accept a part time role or a redundancy. There are several ways to respond to this kind of ultimatum. For some a redundancy with long tenure may be a blessing. For others, a bruising hit with a sledgehammer. I landed somewhere in between. I loved my job, my colleagues, my sense of purpose. Devastated initially but my inner optimism and eternally positive self, recognised a potential opportunity. This was my own personal “call to adventure.”
Leadership Lesson 1: It’s not what happens to us, it’s how we respond.
As part of my leadership journey over recent years I have become an avid reader. Largely non-fiction, but always seeking knowledge, wisdom and anything that is relatable to my life, brand and purpose. “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl has been a pivotal book in opening my mind to new ways of thinking through philosophy. In experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust, Frankl decided that key to human survival was a conscious choice of how to respond to circumstances to ultimately find meaning and purpose. Those who found reason to survive found a way, having a “why” enabled finding a “how” leading to the school of logotherapy, essentially finding meaning and purpose. My new circumstances where I would struggle to survive financially or grow professionally in these indeterminate circumstances ultimately heightened my sense of “why” uncovering a deep desire to follow my true passion. In this moment I realised that this desire had always existed within me, albeit tempered by motherhood and opportunity. My road was clear. I became committed to find an Executive Assistant role where I could put my skills, experience and passion to play in a meaningful and purpose driven setting. A commitment to serve and enable the growth of others, meant that a school setting was the obvious location. In the Japanese tradition, I had found expression for my “Ikigai”, the alignment between passion, skills and purpose. There were a few false starts and an attempt at a side hustle in event management but after a few failed job applications- success! I couldn’t believe it. I was employed as an Executive Assistant to the Associate Principal of a leading Melbourne Independent School. No more work uniform! A new world awaited but like Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ I realised swiftly that I was no longer in Kansas.
Leadership Lesson 2: Leadership is lonely, find like-minded travellers on the same journey
Starting work at a closed school in the middle of a pandemic is an interesting place to be. One of first memories of the role was clamouring underneath a table as our heritage building shuddered for what seemed an eternity during the ‘great’ Melbourne earthquake of 2021. Unlike the minor earthquake, my shift into working with a Senior Executive had been seismic. The role was big and the demands were different, each day bringing its own challenges. My role mixed Educational Leadership with Organisational Leadership within a complex school setting of over 1000 students, 200 staff with $30 million revenue. I was immediately exposed to lots of information and learning. Sharing an office space with two leaders, who were both English Literature teachers also had its advantages as I was exposed to a range of cultural elements I had not experienced before. I soon discovered an innate love of reading and writing, as we discussed intellectual concepts that I had not engaged with since my school days. Despite these opportunities, I found a sense of emptiness I had not experienced in a career setting before. As an EA to a Senior Educational Leader, I discovered rapidly that it was hard to engage with the types of relationships I had previously developed. I was a part of the Administration team but set apart as my role exposed me to confidential decision which to be honest, especially during a pandemic, were not always going to be popular with all stakeholders. Like all businesses at the time, the wrong decisions could start a death spiral, and jobs were on the line. Welcome to Wonderland Alice! In sharing my concerns with my new boss, I was encouraged to follow the White Rabbit down the hole, in the suggesting that I embrace the new and seek like-minded colleagues beyond our organisation to share stories and connect with. A professional learning opportunity with EAs (Executive Assistants) from other schools engaged with similar roles revealed that my feelings and emotions were shared regardless of the colours of our school uniforms. In the words of Seth Godin, I had found my tribe.
Leadership Lesson 3: Never underestimate the Power of Belonging
The connections made at the workshop led to a small network I decided to establish on LinkedIn. As the great Australian songwriter Paul Kelly would concur, “from little things big things grow,” and the network started to gather members at a great pace. What I had felt and shared with my new tribe was clear across the nation. For EAs in senior leadership roles within school setting, a sense of isolation and “apartness” led to a deep hunger to connect, share and learn. Author Owen Eastwood shares his thoughts on “togetherness” as an ancient human art form in his wonderful book “Belonging” and EAs in Education was rapidly transforming into not just a network, but a collective and coalition of professionals seeking engagement, discourse and education at another level. From here, the next iteration of the network evolved into the planning and execution of tailored and boutique online learning opportunities for members to engage with thought leaders, life hackers, organisational experts and like minds to ultimately forge and unleash a powerful and untapped force in educational settings. EAs in Education was now in full bloom with an opportunity to provide, empower and elevate these individuals through the mission “to connect, grow and belong!”
Leadership Lesson 4: If it doesn’t scare you, don’t do it!
Whilst I am proud of the service we provide for our network members, the reality is in this service setting, EAs in Education is the members. Without them, this wonderful organisation doesn’t exist. I am proud that a light has been shone on the predominantly women who work with servant hearted leadership in this complex role. Since the inception of EAs in Education, numerous accolades and opportunities have presented themselves, taking me greatly beyond my comfort zone as a facilitator, keynote, author and confidante to many. A recent accolade as a leader Service Provider to the Educational Industry, nomination as an Industry Leader in Culture Creation and Optimisation along with facilitating two national workshops and a further National Gathering ahead in 2025 have provided great incentive to keep building this network. However, as I reflect on the journey, I am so proud of the pathway of leadership I have walked since the day my dream job became a nightmare during the pandemic. Sometimes we never know what unexpected circumstances will ultimately bring and I know realise this setback was the greatest thing that could ever have happened, was forced out of comfort zone and called to an adventure of personal learning, growth, connection and opportunity. In the words of Marcus Aurelius “what stands in the way becomes the way”. Standing in front of an audience and speaking from the heart continues to scare the hell out of me, but as Susan Jeffers would suggest its “time to feel the fear and do it anyway!”
Conclusion
My leadership journey has crafted a new outlook and perspective for me. It has been incredible to connect with so many, but I have deeply appreciated that a renewed commitment to learning, growth and development has underpinned the decades it has taken to become an “overnight success.” In the end, in developing this network and my own leadership approach I was acting upon things I had always been passionate about-forging relationships, serving and enriching the experience of others and learning. Similar traits that led me to complete a Bachelor of Business in my mid-forties, a time when formal education is normally a distant memory for most. I have been fortunate to engage with great thinks on life and I include a reading list that has inspired and guided me through this journey. Please have a read and share your ideas with me on LinkedIn. In finishing, I quote one of my favourite lines of prose from US President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt in his famous speech in Paris, known as the ‘Man in the Arena’ who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if fails at least whilst daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who no neither victory nor defeat.” Thanks for reading of my leadership journey and I am excited to see what happens next.
Recommended Reading List
The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday
Showing Up, Nedd Brockmann
Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? Harriet Beveridge & Ben Hunt-Davis
Women Who Run with the Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Dare to Lead, Brene Brown
