Executive Leadership Support Forum: Atlanta: Speaker Interview
Erica Smith
Administrative Assistant
Cisco
As a bright and efficient business professional, Erica Smith embodies quality executive leadership and support within the corporate arena. With a primary focus on executive support, event planning, and interactive team management she defines resourcefulness. These skills have afforded her prestigious opportunities as an Executive Assistant for Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Operating Officers, and various executive management teams. She has utilized her talents within high growth Fortune 100 organizations including Cbeyond, Lancope, and Cisco. Today, she continues to assist several members of the executive team and direct reports throughout internal projects and daily tasks at Cisco, one of the nation’s leading technology companies.
Erica will be one of the distinguished presenters at the Executive Leadership Support Forum: Atlanta.
Why is the Executive Leadership Support Forum: Atlanta important for executive assistants?
The forum is a powerful networking opportunity that promotes growth by showcasing the successes and learning opportunities of EA’s, while reinforcing the importance of the role they play as partners to an organizations leadership.
Independently, what have you done to work towards professional development in the past?
Online learning courses in the Microsoft Office Suite and continuing education in Oracle and SharePoint.
What is one thing you hope to learn or discuss with your peers at the ELS Forum?
Strategies to more effectively manage multiple executives through the use of new or emerging tools, apps or processes. I’m also interested to grow my support network and find opportunities to educate EA’s just starting out.
In your mind, what is one tool you can’t live without or find especially helpful in your position?
In my current role, I have found SmartSheets to be extremely helpful especially sharing information with teams that are all over the world.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you were first starting your career?
It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Keep an open mind, have fun and be proactive.
Are there any blogs, books, articles or online forums you recommend reading?
Book: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Blogs: Office Dynamics, All Things Admin
