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In this episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears explore how assistants can build influence and visibility inside their organisations through intentional relationship-building. From bridging departments to boosting confidence, they unpack why internal networking is one of the most underrated career tools for EAs, and how external connections can quietly feed back into your internal success.

Listener Question
“I keep hearing that internal networking is important, but I have no idea where to start. What does it actually look like in practice for an assistant?”

Expert Contributor
Kristina Willis (Head of Customer Success & former EA) shares a practical roadmap for assistants to begin internal networking, from identifying who to know, to starting small conversations that build momentum.

Episode Highlights

• Internal networking 101: why assistants need to be visible beyond their exec
• The long-game mindset- networking when you’re not desperate for outcomes
• Building bridges across IT, marketing, and reception for faster results
• How internal visibility protects your career when your exec moves on
• Turning external relationships into internal wins
• The introvert’s guide to confident connection
• EA-led onboarding: the simplest way to start internal networking

Value Bomb

Kristina Willis: “The goal should always be to look inward first and ask yourself, who do you admire at your company and why?”

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In this bonus episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears are joined by Fiona Young (founder of Carve) to go past “draft my email” and “summarise this deck.” We unpack how assistants can use AI for real, outcomes-focused impact: diagnosing diary inefficiencies, building lightweight automations, sharpening decision-making, and even “vibe-coding” practical tools without being a developer. If you’ve dabbled and now you’re asking “What’s next?”, this one’s for you.

Listener Question
Danielle (Boston, investment management):
“I’ve used AI for basics like emails and slide decks, but I want to spot patterns, remove bottlenecks and anticipate needs. How do assistants move beyond simple tasks and free up time for higher-value work?”

Episode Highlights

• AI beyond time-saving: use it to challenge your thinking, surface blind spots, and strengthen judgment
• COIF prompting (Context, Output, Intent, Format): a simple way to get higher-quality results consistently
• Tool-stacking wins: combine systems to automate end-to-end workflows
• Calendar analytics that matter: analyse time use and propose real changes
• Better briefings, faster: market intel, competitor scans, VIP prep
• Becoming a builder: why “vibe-coding” with AI is now within reach for EAs
• Mindset shift: define your higher-value work first; then use AI to create the capacity to do it

Value Bombs
Craig Bryson: “I’m looking at AI as helping me do the things that are monotonous and mundane so I can focus on the things that are important that the AI cannot do. (00:06:49)

Jodie Mears: “It’s not just about prompt writing, begin, middle and end. Can you confidently articulate to someone verbally if they were in person the same way you're articulating to the LLM online? It's that kind of conversation.” (00:15:50)

Fiona Young: “If you look at what's the next level, it's actually AI can help us to literally think differently. It can fill in for gaps in our thinking. Fill in for our biases, for our blind spots, to be able to actually be a sparring partner. (00:08:00)

Free Resources
Download Fiona’s Carve prompts guide + prompt library: https://joincarve.com/prompts-guide-signup

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Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
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This episode is sponsored by C&C Search – London’s leading recruitment partner for business support and HR professionals in finance and professional services. Whether you’re hiring, job hunting, or want to elevate your team, follow C&C Search. Because brilliant people deserve brilliant support.

In this episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears explore one of the most requested and misunderstood topics in the admin profession:

How do you influence outcomes and shape decisions when you don’t have formal authority?

From communication skills to confidence, from planting seeds of change to building trust, they share actionable ways to increase your influence without waiting for a title, promotion, or permission.

Listener Question:

"I find it really hard to push back on senior leaders without sounding negative or difficult. How can I challenge or influence when I don’t feel like I have the authority to say no?"

Together, they unpack what it really takes to lead without authority and why influence is a skill you can practice, no matter your personality or level.

Episode Highlights:

• The paradox of influence in the admin profession and why it’s more important than ever
• Why influence starts with clarity, confidence, and communication
• Persuasion vs. influence: which mindset works better?
• How to use internal networks to amplify your voice and impact
• The power of the “Friday Wins Tracker” to showcase your value
• Practical sentence starters to help you influence outcomes respectfully
• How to push back on senior leaders without damaging relationships

Value Bombs:

Craig Bryson: “You don’t need a title to lead but you do need to build credibility through connection and collaboration.” (00:05:00)

Jodie Mears: “Influence isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about planting the seed of change in a way that others can’t ignore.” (00:04:00)

Craig Bryson: “Sometimes, ‘no’ is a full sentence. But if that feels too hard, try reframing it into a question that puts the ball back in their court.” (00:14:00)

Support the show

Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode.
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.

Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth.

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