Success Stories: Janice Parker, Social Media PA of the Year 2016
Last year’s Social Media PA of the Year was Janice Parker, Executive Assistant to the Partner and Global Head of Procurement and Supply Chain at Odgers Bernston. Janice started using social media to network with peers; she’s now a regular blogger on the PA profession and was the Website & Social Media Coordinator for IMA (formerly known as EUMA) for 2015-16.
What do you love about being a PA?
Variety…you do so many different things in any given day or week including: organising events, invoicing, arranging travel and organising conferences. In my role, I also do a lot of project coordination. I run a lot of the searches and manage the admin process from start to finish with anything from 10 to 20 clients at the same time. Alongside my daily tasks, I am also on the diversity counsel and I organise a lot of PA events.
What piece of advice would you give others for achieving success?
- Be organised - if you’re not, you’re not going to last.
- Be flexible
- Be authentic
What is your secret to being organised?
It’s actually quite simple: I use to-do lists and cross off any tasks I have completed. I’m also obsessed with colour coded categories in Outlook.
How did you find the application and interview for PA of the Year?
I found the application process quite easy. I nominated myself by filling out the short online form. I got an email to say I’d been shortlisted for interview, which was more like a conversation with friends, and before I knew it the hour was up.
Tell me about the night itself?
On the night of the awards it was really exciting.
It’s not often we can come out from behind the scenes and have a night on the town. Everyone was so supportive even though we were technically in competition.
What impact has winning had on you and your career?
It raised my profile in my company, people were emailing me and stopping me in the hallway and it also benefitted my boss and raised her profile.
Winning the award also raised my profile externally. I was asked recently to speak to a group of PAs at a FS firm about how I’ve developed my confidence as a PA and I have also spoken at an external PA network event about the value of a PA. I really don’t think these opportunities would have come along without winning the award.
Would you recommend entering PA of the Year to others?
I would definitely recommend others to enter. What’s the worst that can happen?
It’s good to enter even if you are not shortlisted and the application form reminds you of your achievements and shows how much you have contributed to the organisation and external networks.
It’s great way to reflect on your achievements.
Enter
If you would like the chance to win Social Media PA of the Year 2017, submit your nomination today.
