In episode 9 of Season 3, we chat with Annie Croner, Founder of Whole Assistant & Host of The Whole Assistant Podcast on the topic of Mastering Boundaries Like a Pro: The Key to Sustainable Success in High-Pressure Roles.

Annie Croner is an executive assistant coach, boundary-setting expert, and Founder of Whole Assistant. With over two decades of experience supporting executives across industries, Annie has seen first-hand how poor boundaries lead to burnout—and how strong ones can transform a career. We unpack what healthy professional boundaries actually look like, why they’re essential in fast-paced environments, and how assistants can build the confidence to communicate them clearly.

From mindset shifts to real-life scripts, Annie shares the tools every admin needs to thrive without sacrificing their well-being. Whether you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no, pressured to always be available, or unsure how to push back professionally - this episode is for you!

What We Cover:

• Why boundaries are essential for admins in high-pressure roles
• How to spot signs of weak or missing boundaries
• Scripts for saying “no” with confidence
• Navigating pushback from executives or teams
• How boundaries support long-term career success Breaking the imposter syndrome cycle

Practical Takeaways:

• A simple mindset shift to help enforce your boundaries
• Annie’s go-to phrases when communicating limits
• How to use self-awareness to define your non-negotiables
• Advice for keeping your value front and centre—without overextending

Listen now and start building the career (and life) you actually want.

Resources & Links: Connect with Annie and explore her resources at wholeassistant.com

Follow Annie on LinkedIn: @AnnieCroner

Listen to The Whole Assistant Podcast here: https://www.wholeassistant.com/podcasts/the-whole-assistant-podcast

We want our listeners to stay connected with us, so please follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-focused-admin to join our growing global community and newsletter.

Remember, this podcast is all about admins.

Subscribe & Follow for more conversations that elevate, empower, and redefine what it means to be an admin in today’s world.

Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin.If you like what you hear, please share with your admin friends and community.

We welcome you all! If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@thefuturefocusedadmin.com.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Nicky Christmas from The EA Campus about her journey that began back in 2011. She launched a little blog called ‘Practically Perfect PA’ as a passion project while working full-time as an Executive Assistant to the COO and CFO of a global insurance organization.

At the time, there were very few resources dedicated to Assistants, and she saw an opportunity to create something that not only provided guidance but also reshaped the conversation around the role of Assistants in the modern workplace. What started as a blog quickly grew into one of the leading voices in the online learning space for Assistants, long before virtual training and digital communities became the norm.

Over the last 15 years, Nicky has continued to evolve her platform, staying ahead of industry trends and challenging outdated perceptions of the Assistant role. As an international speaker and thought leader, Nicky has traveled the world, engaging with thousands of Assistants and sharing strategies to help them excel in their careers.

In 2025, Practically Perfect PA rebranded as The EA Campus - a platform designed to meet the evolving needs of Assistants today. Nicky’s commitment has always been to put the needs of the Assistant community first, and her impact on the profession is undeniable.

If you’d like to learn more about The EA Campus or connect with Nicky Christmas, here are the links: Nicky Christmas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-christmas

The EA Campus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ea-campus

The EA Campus: https://theeacampus.com

The EA Campus Podcast: https://theeacampus.com/podcast

We want our listeners to stay connected with us, so please follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to join our growing global community and newsletter. Remember, this podcast is all about admins.

Subscribe & Follow for more conversations that elevate, empower, and redefine what it means to be an admin in today’s world.

Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin.

If you like what you hear, please share with your admin friends and community.

We welcome you all! If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@thefuturefocusedadmin.com.

In this episode on The Future Focused Admin, you co-hosts Jessica McBride and Candice Burningham welcome our guest Sabrina Whittaker to talk about "Goal-Setting That Sticks: Creating Intentional Plans for Success".

Sabrina is a web designer, developer, and technical writer with expertise in business analytics, digital marketing, and crafting equitable, socially conscious data-driven solutions.

The discussion centers on strategies for effective goal setting, particularly how to create intentional plans for success. Sabrina shares her journey from corporate to freelance, emphasizing the importance of values-aligned goals and long-term thinking. She introduces her unique 'two notebook' system for balancing creative and analytical tasks and provides insights into various goal-setting frameworks like SMART, OKRs, and Agile planning.

The conversation also touches on overcoming common obstacles, maintaining motivation, and ensuring personal goals are not overshadowed by professional demands. Listeners are encouraged to document their goals and utilize both digital and physical tools for tracking progress.

The best way to connect with Sabrina is via these links:

Website: https://www.sabrinawhittaker.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-n-whittaker

We want our listeners to stay connected with us on our social channels for updates on new episodes. So please follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturefocusedadmin and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-future-focused-admin to join our growing global community and newsletter.

Remember, this podcast is all about admins. Subscribe & Follow for more conversations that elevate, empower, and redefine what it means to be an admin in today’s world. Thank you for being a part of The Future Focused Admin Podcast. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share with your admin friends and community. We welcome you all!

If you have anything you want to share, have an idea or just want to connect, drop us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@thefuturefocusedadmin.com.