After four years working for another company as an executive assistant, I returned to Kinova a year ago. I currently assist the CEO/Co-founder with his professional tasks, which include managing complex calendars, organizing internal communications, and preparing logistics for international travel. I have been in the administration field for nine years, with a total of twelve years of experience coordinating between various departments. Despite not having formal education in this field, I believe I am a high-caliber assistant thanks to my hands-on experience. I think I have the right personality to perform well in this role. In the long term, I see myself as the right hand of a business visionary. Regardless of the title, I want to continually deepen my knowledge to better support my managers.

In the past, my former employer offered me mentorship with an experienced executive assistant. The experience was very enriching, and I would love to replicate this mentor/mentee relationship. In fact, I now believe I am ready for the challenge of being a mentor rather than being mentored.

In my opinion, the assistant profession is not learned in school. Expanding one’s knowledge with the help of an assistant who has a different profile from mine is probably the best way to learn.

Finally, I am confident that I would be an excellent teacher, and who knows, maybe both parties will learn something new about the profession through these exchanges.

I became an assistant by chance: I filled in for a colleague during her vacation, and it was love at first sight. I discovered the importance of human relationships behind the professional aspect. Finding a balance between efficiency, discretion, psychological support, and daily stress is crucial.

I’ve held several assistant positions (and other related tasks) over the past decade, where I had the opportunity to work with different types of leaders. Being an assistant means wearing many hats and never having two days that are the same! This close proximity to management led me to a role as a compensation advisor for top executives, where I must strategically navigate with them in developing a deeply important and emotional professional aspect, their overall compensation. My experience as an assistant definitely makes a difference in my professional daily life and in my approach to working with managers.

I wish to grow as a mentor because I sincerely believe in the importance of this role, which can sometimes be a solitary one. I would like to engage with you to offer some perspective, share a daily experience where it can sometimes be challenging to set boundaries.

Since May 2022, I have held the position of Executive Assistant at BRP, a global leader in the manufacturing of recreational vehicles. In this role, I support the Vice President of the Global Customer Digital Experience team and her three directors, in a dynamic, stimulating, and demanding work environment.

As an Assistant, I am the gatekeeper of time, as no appointments can be confirmed without going through me. I am also a logistics wizard when it comes to planning and organizing corporate events, as one must anticipate everything, even the unexpected. During corporate events, the Assistant must ensure that all participants’ needs are taken into account, from venue setup to meal preparation, and especially when information is communicated before, during, and after the event. Nothing can be left to chance.

On a daily basis, I also serve as a key point of contact for resolving administrative issues related to meeting follow-ups, the use of office equipment and supplies, as well as the onboarding of new employees.

Over the course of my extensive career, spanning more than three decades, I have held various positions within large corporations like Alcan and Astral Media (Canal Indigo). Between 1990 and 2006, I climbed the ranks, starting as an administrative assistant, then coordinator, and eventually becoming the General Manager of the Société de développement du boulevard Saint-Laurent in 2006. In 2008, after establishing a large network of contacts, I started my own business, offering customized administrative support and project management services to business owners with 40 employees or fewer, to help them lighten their workload and achieve their performance goals more quickly. In 2022, after 14 years of being self-employed, I chose to become an employee again and took on the role of Assistant on a permanent basis.

This wonderful adventure started in the late 80s, right after I welcomed my first daughter.  From then on, I had to learn to juggle and organize these two very important aspects of my life. I was an
Assistant by day, and a mom by night. At this point, I understood the Importance of being structured and most of all organized. In no way was I going to neglect one or the other, because my career and my role as a mother work hand in hand. 

I was lucky to be able to evolve, learn, and accomplish my goals with great companies, while also focusing on my role as a mother to my four daughters. Was it easy? Not in the slightest!! There were so many times when I felt discouraged. My secret was to surround myself with a great network of people, to understand my priorities, and to listen to myself. Sometimes, I get asked how many years I have left until retirement, but for now that is not in my plans as I still have so much pleasure working, and I have so many more things to do in my current position. 

I would love to be able to share this passion I’ve had for more than 30 years and help those who will take over after us!! 

I have the pleasure of working as an administrative assistant at the Desjardins Movement for 10 years. For the past 3 years, I have been collaborating with the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at the Desjardins Movement, and I am eager to share this passion for administrative work with other assistants. I am also very interested in exploring different work environments, sharing practical methods and tips, and discussing the evolving profession of administrative assistants in this professional era shaped by artificial intelligence. Holding a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Montreal, I have a passion for movement and physical activity. Being a high performer at work; running, meditation & yoga are essential for maintaining balance and calming myself!

Supporting my manager in coordinating her work, as well as strategically planning various committees, meetings, and events; this is how I would describe my role on the team.Managing the calendar takes a central place in my work; I affectionately call this task my favorite game of Tetris! My prioritization (and re-prioritization!) skills, great versatility, and resourcefulness are appreciated by my manager. I constantly strive to balance attention to detail with work done quickly and under pressure. My strong ability to read my social and work environment is helpful in my daily tasks. As an assistant often represents her manager, I commit to professionalism and rigor. Emotional intelligence is crucial; kindness, thoughtfulness, and confidentiality are dear to me and are reflected in my work.

I thrive on energizing stress; the kind that motivates and elevates us, allowing us to accomplish great things and a multitude of small ones!

I started my career as a secretary in the early ‘90s, a position I held for about 12 years. My career path then led me to sales as a major account representative, where I stayed for a little over 10 years. Making the most of my secretarial experience, the company’s president gradually delegated all the administrative tasks supporting the sales team to me, while I continued to carry out my role as a representative. Over the years, I realized that being an administrative assistant was my passion.

Seven years ago, I left the company and my work as an account representative. Ever since, I have been working as assistant to the CEO, the president and the two vice presidents in the construction division.

Today, I want to pass on my knowledge and expertise to the next generation and help them discover the wonderful profession of executive assistant.

It was in July 2000, at CEA Inc. that I got my first look at the career: I was given my first chance! There, I learned the rudiments and created my own position of Executive Assistant. I continued this adventure at Cirque du Soleil, and I am now employed at Sagard since May 2020.

On top of the administrative aspect, the wide scope of the position makes it fascinating to me because it requires a perfect balance between relationships, strategy, and technique.

When you combine a motivating environment, with high growth, an inclusive team and bosses work together: the sky is the limit!

There is no small task, I seize every opportunity with a positive attitude, add my personality into it and create a lever effect for my colleagues. I relive this experience every day and never take anything for granted.

I am proud to be in this pivotal role and taking care of my career. Having the opportunity to bring to the light other Assistants through the mentorship program is an accomplishment and enriching challenge.

I am currently the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Kinova, responsible for various professional tasks such as managing complex calendars, organizing internal communications, and handling logistics for international travel. With 12 years of experience as a coordinator in different departments, I am confident that I am a high-level Executive Assistant due to my practical experience. In the long term, I aim to continue being the right-hand person to a visionary leader and to deepen my knowledge to better support my superiors.

In the past, I had the opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Executive Assistant, a rewarding experience that I wish to replicate as a mentor. I am convinced that this profession is not only learned in school but also by expanding one’s knowledge with the guidance of other Executive Assistants with diverse backgrounds. I would like to share my insights on topics such as our role as strategic advisors, stress management, and organizing unique events.

In conclusion, I am confident that I can excel in the role of mentor and hope that these exchanges will allow us to mutually learn more about our profession.

I have been an executive assistant for over 10 years, and I never tire of it! Through my experiences in various business sectors, from SMEs to large corporations, I have developed a strong ability to adapt, having collaborated with diverse personalities, built strong interpersonal relationships, learned to be highly organized, and effectively manage my priorities.

My previous 10 years of experience in the tourism industry, specifically in the airline sector, have also provided me with customer service expertise, as well as skills in conflict and stress management.

In the role of an executive assistant, you can thrive and step out of your comfort zone by organizing various events, being the point of contact for teams, making decisions, participating in projects, following up on tasks, and more, which suits the active woman that I am perfectly.

The most important task is to support your manager in their daily activities and to lighten their workload as much as possible. These are people who don’t have time, who travel a lot around the world, and who are constantly in meetings. I believe that the key is to have a good “fit” with your manager. It is much easier to work with someone with whom you share an extraordinary rapport.

I would love to share my expertise and skills with you through this mentorship program, which I am sure will be mutually beneficial.