The EA of 2025

Key Trends and Upskilling Opportunities

As we approach 2025, the role of Executive Assistants continues to evolve rapidly in many industries and organisations, driven by technological advancements and changing workplace dynamics. To stay ahead in this dynamic landscape, we must be aware of emerging trends and actively seek opportunities to upskill. This week’s Extra Wrap article explores the key trends shaping the future of executive assistance and provides insights on how EAs can prepare ourselves for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

What Were We Doing Ten Years Ago?

Before we kick off into future trends and upskilling opportunities, I want to take a moment to look back at ten years ago and what we were trying to achieve back then.

The PA Hub were hosting their PA of the Year Awards 2015 where the categories included PA Contribution to the Community and Best Organised Event.

ASAP were reporting that healthcare jobs would be booming, thanks in part to the high levels of paperwork needed to deal with customer demands; and that client-facing administrative professionals were big news.

In 2015 the first Apple Watches were released alongside the iPhone 6; Windows 10 was the latest version; Instagram became bigger than Twitter; and Slack became a standalone Windows app.

If you think you’ve not advanced, or your company hasn’t advanced, in the past ten years, I’d argue that it most definitely has. We are all using new apps, new operating platforms, and different devices compared to 2015.

Strategic Partnership and Decision Support

By 2025, EAs will increasingly be viewed as strategic partners rather than just administrative support. You will be expected to contribute to high-level decision-making processes and provide critical insights to executives.

Some of these upskilling opportunities will come in the form of business acumen, market knowledge, and disaster recovery. Building your expertise in these areas is key to providing the depth of support that your Executive needs.

Being an Excellent EA

This article isn’t solely about ‘progressing’ in the traditional sense. I firmly believe that there will remain a huge number of Executives who need a Great EA and not a Strategic Business Partner.