Stephanie is our Executive Assistant & Office Manager here at John Good Group. Her role consists of juggling many hats and reviewing, prioritising and organising emails, calendars, documents and events. Have a read below to see how she got to where she is today.
So, when did you first step into this type of role?
My role is unique in the sense it does not fit into one business sector, I have always enjoyed being involved in different areas of the business and progressed naturally to an executive assistant and office manager.
I started in travel, gaining a degree in International Tourism Management. I moved into recycling and then into biodiversity offsetting…I still have a passion for travel which I make the most of within my annual leave…26 countries and counting!
What would you say has inspired your career?
I actually never knew what I wanted to do as a career. I wanted to be a travel blogger but thought I had missed the boat….hindsight right! My mum always encouraged me to do something I enjoy and although I may not have set out for this career path, I really enjoy this role.
What are the biggest challenges in your role?
The biggest challenges in this role are prioritising the importance of tasks, pre-empting challenges before they arise and being adaptable; wearing lots of different hats! The office move was my first big challenge since starting at John Good Group.
What skills would you say have been the most crucial for your success so far?
To be an Executive Assistant it is crucial to be organised and have good time management. I would also say clear and effective communication is essential as we can act as a bridge between the executive and other team members, clients, or external stakeholders.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
There is no specific training or education requirements. I personally have a degree, but a good level of GCSEs/A levels suffice. I think business, industry knowledge and experience is important.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow your career path?
If you are starting out your career, an admin role can give a good introduction to office and business operations. Work hard and push for more responsibility to process and impress.
Last Question, what makes you excited about working for the central services team at John Good Group?
I am excited by fact that we are central services for an array of companies, with opportunity for expansion which really keeps things interesting. I love the culture of the group and look forward to working more with each department.