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Executive Office Insights

Executive Office Insights

Auteur(s): Diana Brandl: International Trainer Keynote Speaker Author Coach
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À propos de cet audio

 Executive Office Insights is the go-to podcast for professionals in executive support and leadership roles. Hosted by Diana Brandl, an accomplished trainer, consultant, coach, and former C-suite senior executive assistant with nearly two decades of experience at renowned international companies, this podcast dives deep into the evolving world of executive excellence. Diana explores the critical themes shaping the modern workplace, including leadership dynamics, digital transformation, AI, and the future of work. Featuring insightful conversations with a diverse range of German and English-speaking experts, each episode equips listeners with actionable insights and strategies to thrive in the ever-changing executive office landscape. Have questions or ideas for the show? Reach out at podcast@the-socialista-projects.comDiana Brandl © 2020 Développement commercial et entrepreneuriat Entrepreneurship Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • Not "Just an Assistant": How Top EAs Become Executive Partners

    Not "Just an Assistant": How Top EAs Become Executive Partners
    Feb 4 2026
    197: What if the most underrated role in leadership is actually the one that makes everything run? In this episode of Executive Office Insights, Joe Davis (Senior Advisor, former Managing Director & Senior Partner, and North America Regional Chair Emeritus, BCG) and Mary Kate Steincke (Administrative Services Manager, former Senior EA) unpack what real executive support looks like when it evolves into true partnership. You'll hear how high-performing leaders and EAs build trust, decision rights, and a shared operating rhythm. The best support isn't "task help," but a strategic advantage that protects focus, energy, and outcomes. They also explore the leadership mindset behind great partnerships: mentorship without strings attached, honest feedback, and the human side of high standards—the kind of principles that shape culture and careers. Finally, they look ahead at how AI and modern tools are changing admin work, what will (and won't) be automated, and what skills will matter most for the next generation of executive support professionals. What to expect in this conversation: - Executive Assistant → Executive Partner: What makes the shift happen? - The leadership behaviors that create trust (and the ones that break it) - Career paths, titles, and what "progression" can really look like - AI, automation, and the future of the EA/admin function About Joe Davis Joe is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and a former Managing Director & Senior Partner, where he worked for 37 years. He founded and is Chair of BCG's Center for Inclusion and Equity (CIE). He co-founded and later led BCG's Washington, D.C. office, and founded BCG's U.S. Public Sector Practice. Joe served as Chair of BCG North America, responsible for operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As Regional Chair, he advanced inclusion, diversity, and racial equity by launching BCG's Racial Equity Task Force, publishing BCG's first public U.S. DEI Report, and founding BCG's CIE (where he currently serves as Chair). His client work focused on the Consumer/Retail, Public Sector, and Organization Practices, primarily on fundamental transformations, change, and organizational effectiveness. Outside of BCG, Joe serves as Chair of the Whitman College Board of Trustees and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Joe and his spouse Sarah have four children and eight grandchildren. He published The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain in April 2024. About Mary Kate Steincke Mary Kate is an Administrative Services Manager at BCG with more than eight years of experience supporting senior leadership and driving administrative excellence across the NAMR region. Since joining BCG in 2017, she has worked in Administrative Services—starting as an Administrative Assistant and later becoming an Executive Assistant and Senior Executive Assistant (plus Specialist-level roles)—while supporting Joe Davis, BCG's North America Regional Chair. She managed complex, high-stakes calendars, communications, leadership meeting rhythms, and onsite support for major regional events and executive visits. Her work ranged from strategic prep for leadership engagements to orchestrating multi-layered client meetings, regional town halls, cohort forums, and cross-office initiatives, with high precision and ownership. She's recognized for creating order, clarity, and calm, and supported large-scale operational efforts including COVID-19 response coordination, regional communications, digital signage programs, and leadership forums, while mentoring new administrative staff and shaping a cohesive cross-office experience. She built training initiatives for the NAMR Administrative Services cohort, including a new series on supporting BCG's Managing Directors and Partners that is now a Regional offering. Colleagues praise her grace, empathy, and extraordinary service orientation—calling her "Disneyland personified," a "BCG Rockstar," and someone who makes high-pressure situations "feel like a summer breeze." Today, as Administrative Services Manager for the NYC and Brooklyn teams, she continues to elevate administrative operations, strengthen team culture, and enable leaders and staff to work at their highest potential. Outside of BCG, Mary Kate enjoys time with friends and family, especially in Atlantic Beach, and earned a BA in Communications and Marketing from Loyola University Maryland. - Diana Brandl 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 The Executive Office Insights Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3QH8HL8oWIC0HzHWvb5KLd Guest Picks: Mary Kate Steincke: Light On by Maggie Rogers Joe Davis: Buy Me a Rose by Kenny Rogers
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    55 min
  • How Sona Movsesian Became Conan O'Brien's Assistant

    How Sona Movsesian Became Conan O'Brien's Assistant
    Jan 21 2026

    196: You think assistants just "support" leaders? Think again; they're the reason everything works.

    We are doing something special! I have partnered with my friend Jeremy Burrows, host of The Leader Assistant Podcast, to exchange some of your favorite episodes. Together, we are bringing you conversations with incredible guests who share insights, stories, and strategies to empower assistants and leaders alike.

    Tune in, enjoy the lineup, and don't forget to connect with both Jeremy and our featured guests, you will find inspiration and practical takeaways to elevate your work and leadership journey.

    In this episode of the Leader Assistant Podcast, Jeremy Burrows talks with Sona Movsesian, longtime executive assistant to Conan O'Brien and co-host on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, about what it really takes to thrive in high-trust support roles. They dig into setting boundaries (yes, including weekends), why work-life balance isn't optional, and how to stop tying your identity to your job—so you're still okay if a role or project ends.

    Sona shares how she landed the job, how their dynamic became part of the show organically, and what it's like sitting in rooms with famous people while battling imposter syndrome. They also discuss her book, The World's Worst Assistant, and why it's time to highlight healthier, more fulfilling assistant careers.

    ---

    Today's episode is with Sona Movsesian from 2022.
    Sona is an executive assistant, author and media personality. She has been the personal and executive assistant of talk show host Conan O'Brien since 2009 and was featured in many of the show's segments. She currently cohosts the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast.

    CONNECT WITH SONA

    - Order Sona's book, The World's Worst Assistant: https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Worst-Assistant-Sona-Movsesian/dp/059318551X?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&linkCode=ll1&tag=leaderassista-20&linkId=b62dc17cfc183123ee92985000842799&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

    - Follow Sona on X (https://x.com/sonamov) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sonamov/)

    - Listen to Sona cohost the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/id1438054347

    Watch a couple of my favorite clips of Sona on Conan's show:
    - Conan and Sona meet with HR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-CzwR9bDA4
    - Conan helps Sona buy a new car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiaDblUd-lw

    More about Jeremy's work: https://goburrows.com/
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    36 min
  • 6 years of Executive Office Insights podcast

    6 years of Executive Office Insights podcast
    Jan 7 2026

    195: Celebrating six years of Executive Office Insights, Diana welcomes Helen Monument for a special anniversary conversation that looks back at the podcast's remarkable journey. Together they revisit the very first moments that sparked this series, recalling the energy of launching a platform dedicated to executive excellence and support leadership.

    From those early recordings to the diverse lineup of inspiring guests who have shared their wisdom, this episode is both a tribute and a celebration. It honors the voices that shaped the dialogue, the lessons learned along the way, and the vibrant community that has grown around the show.

    More than just a retrospective, this milestone episode captures the spirit of resilience, visibility, and connection that has defined Executive Office Insights, a heartfelt walk down memory lane and a reminder of the impact that thoughtful conversations can have on the future of leadership.

    LINKS:

    🔴 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8hQHKHJCTGQ

    Diana Brandl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-brandl/

    Executive Office Insights 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
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    35 min
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