In this episode of The Admin Avenues Podcast, I sit down with Anu Lamba, Executive Assistant to Country Head of Operations at Amazon, to explore the purpose, growth, and recognition that come with a career in the admin profession.

Anu shares her inspiring journey - from moving to Australia, starting a family, and building a new career in a new country, to thriving in high-pressure executive support roles at global companies like Amazon and Microsoft. We talk about the challenges she faced, the resilience she built, and the mindset that has kept her confident in choosing the admin path, even when others didn’t understand it.

We also dive into what life is really like as an EA in a fast-paced corporate environment, the tools and strategies that keep her on top of competing priorities, and why she’s such a passionate advocate for the profession.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Anu navigated starting over in a new country while balancing family and career
• Why she chose the EA profession despite holding university degrees
• Common misconceptions about admin roles, and how to challenge them
• A behind-the-scenes look at supporting executives at Amazon and Microsoft
• The productivity systems and tools that have been game-changers for he
• The role mentorship has played in her career, and her advice for new admins
• How she believes the perception of admin roles needs to evolve in corporate environments

This conversation is a powerful reminder that admin professionals are more than just support - they’re strategic, resilient, and capable of incredible impact.

Quick Links:

To connect with Anu, hit her up on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anu-lamba-210331b/

Gisele Karame-Kemp has served as Executive Assistant to Lachlan Murdoch (News Corp) and Scott Farquhar (Atlassian), later leading a global team of EAs/AAs at Atlassian. Most recently, she’s stepped into Workplace Experience - highlighting how EA skills translate into diverse leadership pathways.

In this episode, Gisele talks through her incredible career, the importance of mentoring, and why she left admin to work in her new Workplace Experience role at one of the largest tech companies in the world.

We explore what truly changes when you move from supporting Chairman and CEOs to taking a step back in the business. We talk through how to earn trust at the highest levels, and why a non-linear career can be your biggest advantage.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Career arc: How Gisele moved from early admin roles to C-Suite support, team leadership, and Workplace Experience.
• Trust at the top: Practical ways to build credibility, protect time, and influence outcomes without authority.
• Beyond the traditional EA remit: Examples of strategic contribution and stepping into business operations.
• Navigating tough moments: Tactics for handling shifting priorities, ambiguity, and high-stakes change.
• Strategic Impact: Moving beyond tasks to commercial thinking, systems, and measurable outcomes.
• Mentorship & Community: Why mentoring lifts the whole profession and how to get started.

Easy Links:

To connect with Gisele - hit her up on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisele-karame-kemp

The book Gisele recommended was: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals

The app Gisele recommended was: https://www.wakingup.com/

If this episode helped you, share it with an admin friend, subscribe, and leave a review.

Got questions or a topic you want us to cover? Drop us a DM or comment.

From early admin roles to senior strategic support and entrepreneurship, Kiara Filardi has built a career defined by initiative, influence, and impact. In this conversation, Kiara shares how adopting a business partner mindset elevates the EA role, why mentorship is a career multiplier, and the habits that keep you steady when priorities move at pace. We also explore her vision for AIOP NSW and how community accelerates professional growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• How Kiara navigated her career from EA to founder, and what truly prepared her to build Urge.Concierge
• Practical ways EAs operate as strategic business partners (beyond the traditional remit)
• The skills that matter at senior level: influence, commercial thinking, systems, and calm under pressure
• Why mentorship changes careers, and how to find (and work with) the right mentor
• Staying effective in high-pressure environments: resets, rituals, and run-of-show systems
• Kiara’s plans as AIOP NSW Division President to support and connect the community
• Where the EA profession is heading next, and the mindset shifts to get ahead

Love the episode? Follow/subscribe, leave a quick rating, and share it with an admin who’d benefit.

Easy Links:

• Connect with Kiara Filardi on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiara-filardi-b4bb147b/
• Join the Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) community and learn more about the institute here: https://aiop.com.au
• Join us at the Admin Avenues Conference: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/adminavenuesconference
• Then join us for a night of celebrating at the 2025 AIOP Awards after the conference: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/the-2025-aiop-awards-gala-dinner