The Admin Spotlight: Behind the Front Desk

Connie Messina is a seasoned Executive Assistant at Grant Thornton Australia, based in Brisbane, Queensland. With over two decades of experience in executive support, administration management, and stakeholder engagement, Connie is known for her strategic thinking, polished communication, and unwavering professionalism. Her career spans roles in marketing, administration, and executive coordination, culminating in her long-standing tenure at Grant Thornton, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting senior leadership and driving operational excellence. Connie’s dedication to continuous learning is reflected in her completion of a Mini MBA through the Australian Institute of Management, alongside certifications in holistic counselling and leadership development. Beyond her corporate achievements, Connie serves as the Queensland Division President of the Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP). In this capacity, she champions the recognition and advancement of office professionals, fostering community, collaboration, and professional growth across the sector. Her leadership has been instrumental in the successful relaunch of AIOP Queensland, where she has curated engaging events and built strong partnerships with sponsors and stakeholders. Connie’s commitment to excellence was nationally recognised when she received the 2023 Executive Excellence Award from the Australian Assembly of Administrators. Her ability to lead with empathy, organize with precision, and inspire with authenticity makes her a standout figure in both the corporate and professional development spheres.  

Elizabeth Sutkowska is the Founder and President of Assistologist, Poland's first association for Executive Assistants, dedicated to redefining leadership support. We are a movement with Polish Roots and a Global Mindset.   Elizabeth is a trailblazing Executive Assistant with 15+ years of international experience, supporting leaders in corporations and startups. Graduate of five universities, advocate for modern EA practices.

Lisa is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning, dedicated to inspiring others to unlock their full potential, seize opportunities, and embrace the role of being "relationship engineers." With a passion for fostering growth, she specializes in providing creative and engaging workshops and conference presentations. Her mission is to inspire individuals to embrace continuous development, empowering them to thrive in their roles and contribute significantly to organizational success. Connect with Lisa via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaolsen-professionaldevelopment/

With over three decades of experience in executive support, including C-Suite level roles, Mia has developed unparalleled expertise in streamlining business operations, refining processes, and driving organizational efficiency. Currently, she balances a dual role, providing direct support to an executive while managing a team of highly skilled executive assistants, showcasing her strength in leadership and team management.  Mia's commitment to professional growth is unwavering. She not only fulfills her immediate responsibilities but also serves on the Certification committee of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). As the Chair of EA Ignite, she fosters professional growth and connection within the administrative community, inspiring others to reach their full potential.  As the Manager of Executive and Administration, Mia emphasizes the importance of efficiency, open communication, and collaboration. She actively cultivates an inclusive culture where every team member's voice is heard and valued, contributing to the organization's success.

Today, we sit down with Monica Pelayo  Executive Assistant & Travel Logistics Planner to the Office of the CEO at Intel Corporation.  Certified in Hypnotherapy and Rapid Transformational Therapy RTT®.   Monica has been with Intel for 20years, currently based in the Santa Clara, California corporate headquarters. In the current role Monica does all travel logistics for the CEO, supports and covers the Executive Assistant to the CEO, partners closely with security and along with the strategy program manager. Monica is also known as the briefing hunter.  Among the admin community Monica is the go-to person for travel and a resource guide for the headquarter offices. Monica prides herself in wearing multiple hats while maintaining flexibility in her role per the needs of the office to ensure the office runs smoothly and everyone is well taken care of.  Monica has a passion for mentoring and helping others—was part of a team that was awarded the highest administrative award within the company called the Intel Admin Achievement Award in 2015 for her contribution in creating an onboarding document for new hires called “What Admins Want you to Know”. Also, received another Intel Admin Achievement Award for her contribution to Between The Lines sub team which is an Intel admin worldwide publication from admin to admins. Outside of Intel Monica has volunteered at the San Jose Works program hosted by the Mayor’s office mentoring high school students on career path, career exploration, growth mindset, overcoming challenges and building relationships. Last year while working in her current role Monica became a certified hypnotherapist in Rapid Transformational Therapy. Monica offers presentations at Intel on the Rules of the Mind to create awareness on how the brain functions to become conscious of our beliefs, state of mind to hack the brain and shift the mindset. In her free time, Monica enjoys exercising, listening to music, cooking, traveling to Oregon to spend time with her daughter and grandchildren, as well to Mexico to visit her family.

Tara Sims is a dynamic leader and accomplished Regional Administrative Manager at a leading global real estate management firm. As the founder, owner, and CEO of Evolved Assistant, a virtual assistant agency, and author of the book, Evolved Assistant: Unlocking Success in a New Era for Administrative Professionals, Tara is recognized as an authority in administrative excellence. A New Orleans native now based in Atlanta, she has over two decades of experience supporting C-suite leaders and senior professionals. Known for her adaptability, problem-solving skills, and ability to build strong executive partnerships, Tara excels in guiding teams to deliver exceptional results.   Her leadership style is deeply people-focused and partnership-oriented, combining her expertise in executive support, organizational strategy, and coaching to foster successful collaborations between executives and their administrative teams. Her insights have made her a sought-after speaker and thought leader. In 2021, she was honored with the Admin Awards Leadership Award, a testament to her influence and contributions to the profession.   Tara’s passion for elevating the role of administrative professionals is evident in her work, her writing, and her speaking engagements, where she inspires others to unlock their full potential and drive organizational success.   Welcome Tara and thank you for joining us!

With over 35 years of experience, primarily in the financial industry in New York City, Terri is the epitome of a professional executive administrator. She is currently the Executive Assistant for the Office of the CEOs at Two Sigma. During her over five years at Two Sigma, she has also supported multiple C-Suite executives, including the Chief Business Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Marketing/Communications Officer, and has onboarded other C-Suite executives. She has previously worked at BlackRock and Goldman Sachs among other top firms in NYC.

Valerie Walker is an executive assistant with Black Rock in the iShares Marketing group, supporting the Chief Digital Officer in iShares Marketing and a Managing Director in Direct Investor in ETFs / iShares Marketing. Valerie believes being an administrative business partner is not for everyone as it requires incredible attention to detail and a high tolerance for the extremely volatile schedules of those we support. Our guest today began her administrative career more than 20 years ago, specifically in the field of finance, hedge funds, mutual funds, REIT, private equity, and asset management. We are very excited to have Valerie Walker with us today and can’t wait for you to meet her.

Kara Tanenbaum is a Lead Executive Assistant at Honeywell, Inc,, supporting both the Global Vice President in Mergers and Acquisitions as well as the Global Chief of Legal Compliance. Prior to joining Honeywell, Kara served several years as an Executive Assistant to the Founder and President of a facilities business and then as Chief of Staff to drive  the company’s Strategic Plan. In her 20+ years as a C-suite Executive Assistant, Kara knows what it means to be a trusted business partner and being laser focused on the success of her Executives and teams.  Her experience has spanned many industries, including corporate, real estate, legal and non-profit. As Kara is firmly passionate that collaboration over competition is crucial for Executive Assistants’ success. she offers and enjoys 1:1 coaching for the next generation of Executive Assistants to empower them as confident leaders in their role. Kara resides in the “Queen City” of Charlotte, NC and is a doting dog mom to Ollie, her precious Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who has more Instagram followers than she does! Connect with Kara via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/karatanenbaum/

LaSharen (Howell) Brownlowe is a seasoned Executive Assistant known for her exceptional organizational skills and dedication to providing outstanding executive support. With a career spanning over a decade, LaSharen has honed her expertise in managing complex calendars, coordinating international travel, and organizing high-stakes meetings and events. She currently excels in her role at Amazon Web Services in Arlington, VA, where she supports teams across multiple verticals within World Wide Public Sector and drives key deliverables to successful completion. Prior to her current role, LaSharen demonstrated her adeptness at managing executive support functions at Deloitte, where she provided strategic assistance to senior executives and facilitated smooth operational workflows. Her previous roles at Deloitte LLC, Harris Teeter and Project Still I Rise, Inc. further showcase her versatility and ability to thrive in dynamic environments. LaSharen’s technical proficiency spans MS Office, G-Suite, Concur Expense applications and various communication platforms, including Zoom and WebEX. She is skilled in handling confidential information with discretion and managing office services and supplies efficiently.  In addition to her professional accomplishments, LaSharen is actively involved in community service, serving as an Executive Board Member for Homestretch, Inc., participating in Amazon’s community outreach initiatives such as using her skills and creativity to teach a summer STEM camp in conjunction with B.A.S.I.C.S International in Accra, Ghana; DC Capitol Pride Parade; Feed the World; Trees for Heroes - USO Mid-Atlantic and various other community give back initiatives. Her dedication to both her professional role and community involvement highlights her commitment to excellence and service. In her personal life LaSharen enjoys working peacefully in her garden, creating tasty meals for friends and family and satisfying her inner Anthropologist by frolicking around the world experiencing new cultures through food and dance.

Master Sergeant Andrew C. Denham served in the Air Force from August 15, 1985, until his retirement August 31, 2010. He served in many different capacities and locations during his time in the Air Force, to include Security Specialist, Basic Military Training Instructor, Information Manager, Enlisted Aide, First Sergeant, and United States Honor Guard Ceremonial Guardsman. After retirement Andrew taught Air Force Junior ROTC at North Stafford High School in Stafford Virginia. After leaving teaching he as served as an executive assistant to the President of Wesley Theological Seminary, President of the White House Historical Association, and currently serves as the executive assistant to the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. 

Kim Woellecke Senior EA to Shailaja Shankar, SVP Engineering Cisco Security Business Group   Kim Woellecke is the senior executive assistant supporting the SVP of Engineering for Cisco's Security Business Group, Shailaja Shankar. With 30 years of experience as an administrative professional, Kim has acquired a strong reputation for her exceptional organization skills, ability to manage complex schedules, and proactive approach to problem-solving. Throughout her career, she has supported C-level executives in fast-paced corporate environments.    Kim's expertise is grounded in her ability to build a strong partnership with her executive and her understanding of the business in which she supports. Known for her professional and friendly demeanor, Kim has built strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization. She is committed to providing high-level support and ensuring smooth business operations.  Kim believes it is important to share the knowledge she has gained during her career.  She does this by providing leadership and mentoring to the administrative team in her organization and participating in training opportunities for the broader administrative community at Cisco.

Deborah Green champions building and nurturing authentic connections across teams. As the former principal executive assistant to NI’s president, she was responsible for leading NI’s administrative team and driving productivity that supports the company’s vision. She brings three decades of experience across organizational stewardship, event management, and community networking. A recipient of a 2023 Austin Business Journal Women in Business Award, Green is passionate about building strong, strategic business partnerships between executive leadership teams and the administrative community and creating meaningful development platforms to build expertise and efficiency. Outside of working hours, Deborah embodies the values of being bold, kind connectors through her role as Founder of Administrative Professionals/Vendors Networking (APVN), which connects vendors and administrative professionals in the community. Above all else, Deborah is a proud mother.

Welcome to The Admin Spotlight: Behind the Front Desk, a podcast for executive administrators.  Our goal is to connect and inspire the admin community, highlighting the incredible contributions and unique experiences that define our field. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this podcast is for you. In our first episode, we sit down with Peggy Grande, the former executive assistant to Ronald Regan 1989-1999. She is an international keynote speaker, television and radio commentator, and a published opinion writer.   The Admin Spotlight: Behind the Front Desk is sponsored by VAST.  VAST is today’s executive assistant’s choice for productivity software, giving the EA the ability to supercharge their communication and workflow. VAST is an all-in-one solution for enhanced office productivity, seamlessly syncing with both Google and Outlook. It’s designed to manage calendars, contacts, invitations, and event/travel expenses all in one central location. Imagine having all the details you need right at your fingertips, helping you stay organized and efficient. Become a VAST-ly more effective assistant today. Start Your 30-Day Free Trial