One example that comes to mind is when I teamed up with our marketing team to improve how our company showed up on LinkedIn — both the business page and the executive's personal profile. It wasn't part of my job description, but I saw a missed opportunity to better connect with the people who drive our business. I helped shape the messaging so it felt clear, confident, and actually useful — not just promotional. At the same time, I started creating a monthly highlights email that includes market insights, product updates, stock market evaluations, and quick talking points. The goal was simple: give our partners something they can actually use in client conversations to bring in more business — which, in turn, helps us too. It might not sound like a massive initiative, but it's one of those behind-the-scenes efforts that keeps everything aligned, consistent, and growth-focused. That's how I approach my role — not just managing tasks but spotting ways to make things work better for everyone involved.
While I'm not an Executive Assistant, I've worked closely with them both at spectup and during my time at N26, so I've seen firsthand what "above and beyond" looks like in their world. One situation that stuck with me was at N26, where an Executive Assistant stepped in during a critical investor pitch preparation. The CEO was overwhelmed juggling last-minute changes to the deck and prepping talking points, and the rest of us were caught up with logistics. Noticing the chaos and unspoken gaps, the assistant took it upon themselves to collaborate with the design team late into the evening, ensuring each slide was sharp, on-brand, and visually striking. But it didn't stop there. They also compiled a quick-reference sheet with key investor backgrounds, likely questions, and even added a suggested tone for particular discussions—things no one had even thought to include. It wasn't their job, strictly speaking, but that attention to detail completely transformed the pitch. The CEO walked in the next day laser-focused, free of logistical headaches, and we secured the funding that helped fuel our expansion at the time. What stood out to me was their ability to anticipate needs and act decisively in a high-pressure situation. For anyone in a similar role, my advice would be to think beyond immediate tasks and look at the bigger picture. Sometimes the impact isn't in what's asked of you, but in seeing what no one else is asking for and delivering it with precision. That's where trust is built, and trust, especially at the executive level, is priceless.
Early in my role as an Executive Assistant, I noticed our CEO was overwhelmed managing a critical product launch across remote teams. Beyond my typical scheduling tasks, I took the initiative to create a centralized project tracker and organized weekly cross-department meetings to improve communication. I also designed concise status update templates that saved the CEO valuable time and ensured alignment. This proactive approach reduced misunderstandings and kept the launch on schedule despite tight deadlines. As a result, the CEO could focus on strategic decisions instead of day-to-day issues, and the product launched successfully. The tools I implemented became standard, boosting overall company efficiency. This experience taught me the value of anticipating needs and stepping up beyond my formal duties to support leadership and drive company success.