Source: Lenny’s Newsletter by Claire Vo. Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of How a Zapier EA Revolutionized Executive Assistance with AI Automation
Cortney Hickey, Zapier’s executive assistant, uses AI-powered workflows to automate meeting preparation, executive feedback, and cultural reinforcement. Her innovative system transforms traditional EA tasks into scalable, organization-wide solutions that enhance productivity and strategic impact. By leveraging AI tools, she elevates the EA role, enabling focus on higher-value initiatives while democratizing company knowledge and values.
Optimixed’s Overview: Leveraging AI to Transform Executive Assistance into Strategic Leadership
Introduction to AI-Driven Executive Assistance
Cortney Hickey, Executive Assistant at Zapier, demonstrates how AI integration can revolutionize the EA function beyond routine tasks. By building automated workflows with AI agents, she streamlines meeting preparation, feedback collection, and knowledge management, making these processes efficient and scalable across the entire organization.
Key Innovations in Cortney’s AI Workflow
- Automated Meeting Preparation: AI agents research meeting participants, analyze CRM data, and provide actionable insights ahead of meetings, ensuring executives are thoroughly prepared.
- Culture Reinforcement System: Automated feedback aligned with company values is collected post-meetings to promote cultural consistency and continuous improvement.
- Executive Document Review: AI-powered reviews help teams align documents with executive expectations before formal evaluations, enhancing clarity and quality.
- Centralized Knowledge Base: A company-wide interactive strategy companion powered by AI democratizes access to organizational knowledge and strategic priorities.
Strategic Benefits and EA Role Evolution
Instead of replacing the EA role, AI automation empowers executive assistants to focus on strategic initiatives and high-impact projects. This approach fosters a mindset of “progress over perfection”, encouraging iterative development of AI workflows that evolve with organizational needs. Cortney’s model highlights how EAs can become catalysts for innovation and efficiency within their companies.
