In Episode 5 of Season 3, we sit down with Tara M. Sims on the topic of “Own Your Evolution: Taking Charge of Your Admin Career”, In this inspiring episode we sit down with powerhouse admin leader and author Tara M. Sims to explore how admin professionals can take ownership of their careers, redefine their roles, and evolve with intention.

From beauty school dreams to a transformative 11-year journey at Comcast, Tara shares how she found her "zone of genius" in the admin space and how her experience led to the writing of The Evolved Assistant. Together, they discuss the evolution of the role, the importance of visibility, and how assistants can advocate for themselves and their growth.

Key Takeaways

Following Unexpected Paths: Tara’s admin career began as a practical decision to accommodate her beauty school schedule, and ended up becoming her true calling.

The Evolution of the Admin Role: Tara reflects on how the assistant role has shifted from task-driven to strategic, emphasizing the need for EAs to be part of decision-making and business conversations.

Why She Wrote The Evolved Assistant: Sparked by the pandemic, Tara felt a calling to challenge outdated perceptions and empower assistants to embrace their full value and potential.

Rejecting the "Servant" Narrative: A passionate discussion around the term servant leadership and why Tara prefers support leader - a phrase that respects the leadership and impact of admin professionals.

Owning Your Career Growth:

- Ask for development opportunities.

- Track and communicate your impact.

- Build visibility inside and outside your organization.

- Join professional networks or create your own.

- Don’t wait! Take one intentional step forward.

Overcoming Plateaus: When you feel stuck, it’s a signal that it’s time to stretch. Tara shares how she created her own leadership role and encourages others to initiate conversations with their executives about growth.

Navigating Career Setbacks: Tara opens up about the hard decision to leave a long-term role at Comcast and how that leap led to a more balanced, fulfilling career with better support, boundaries, and compensation.

Building Confidence: Confidence is a byproduct of consistent action. Tara encourages assistants to keep a “portfolio of accomplishments” and not be afraid to make decisions or ask for feedback.

So tune in, listen now and get ready to evolve! Some of Tara’s Memorable Quotes “Career transformation is not linear. It’s consistent action and intentionality that moves you forward.” “We support the decision-makers. That’s power. We need to tap into that.” “We’re not just supporting, we’re leading. That’s why I prefer the term support leader.”

So if you haven’t already, check out ‘Evolved Assistant’ website where you can grab Tara’s book, connect with Tara for speaking opportunities and more.

The website is: https://www.evolvedassistant.com

And be sure connect with Tara on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taramariesims

The article Jessica referred to on “The Impact of Servant Leadership in an Organization” is here: https://businessleadershiptoday.com/what-is-the-impact-of-servant-leadership-in-an-organization/