REACH - A Podcast for Executive Assistants Podcast

Were thrilled to bring you a truly special episode of REACHone thats been years in the making! For the first time, were hearing from both an Executive and her former Executive Assistant in a joint conversation about what it takes to build a powerful, productive partnership.

In this episode, we sit down with Varsha Rao, Founder and CEO of Zeal AI, and Sheena Deol, who supported Varsha during her time as CEO of Nurx. Their partnership spanned 3.5 years, and the insights they share about trust, communication, and operating as a true extension of one another are nothing short of inspiring.

Youll also get an inside look at Varshas newest venture, Zeal AIan AI-powered restaurant discovery and booking assistant thats designed to make planning business meals effortless. Whether youre booking client dinners, private dining rooms, or just trying to find the perfect spot during travel, Zeal AI is quickly becoming an indispensable tool for EAs.

Sponsor:

This episode of REACH is sponsored by Zeal AI your AI-powered restaurant discovery and reservation planning assistant designed to make organizing business dinners and meetings effortless and memorable. Whether you're looking for the perfect restaurant for your team, board meetings, client lunches, including private dining options, near your office or for business travel, Zeal AI brings it all together in one place.

Zeals intuitive AI search helps you discover and book restaurants across platformssaving you time and stress and includes reviews from other EAs whove booked for business. Zeal AI also has private dining options that have been vetted by other EAs to simplify your work.

As a special thank you to our listeners, the first 500 Executive Assistants to visit www.hellozeal.ai/maven/ will receive exclusive VIP access, including Zeals innovative EA agent that helps you handle complex booking tasks with ease.

Less planning, more doingthanks to Zeal AI!

Happy Administrative Professionals Week! And what better way to celebrate than by spotlighting the incredible journey of Tanya Benvenuto!

In this episode of REACH, we’re celebrating a remarkable milestone—Tanya Benvenuto’s 10-year anniversary at Okta! Tanya’s career evolution from Executive Assistant to Senior Vice President of Executive Operations for the Office of the CEO is nothing short of extraordinary. And for us, this one’s personal—REACH host Jessica Vann had the privilege of placing Tanya at Okta a decade ago (even though Tanya nearly turned the offer down!).

Tanya’s journey is a powerful example of what it means to advocate for yourself, lean into your potential, and shape your own trajectory. Over the past ten years, she’s transformed her role from behind-the-scenes support to a strategic leadership position, building and leading a high-performing executive operations team that partners directly with Okta’s top executives. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to go from supporting leadership to becoming leadership—this one’s for you!

It’s here! What is arguably Maven Recruiting Group’s most sought-after resource each year—our Annual Compensation Guide for Administrative Hiring! Don’t miss out on the insights that can shape your strategy for the year ahead. Download your copy now: https://www.mavenrec.com/compensation-guide

We're excited to share our conversation with Eliza Leoni, Senior Consultant at Decker Communications, who has extensive experience coaching senior leaders on high-stakes communication. Eliza’s expertise spans a range of critical areas—from leading presentations to large audiences, managing organizational change, and navigating difficult conversations.

In this episode, we dive into the role of narrative in driving change, especially for Executive Assistants. You’ll hear how storytelling can shape team dynamics, keep everyone aligned during uncertainty, and help influence without formal authority. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their communication skills and make an impact in their organization.

Don’t miss out on the valuable insights Eliza has to offer!

In this episode, we welcome long-time REACH fan Karima Thomson, joining us from Abu Dhabi! Karima supports the Executive Leadership Team at Core42, a leading AI company, and previously worked at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). Born in Scotland, with career experience in London and the Middle East, Karima shares how the EA role in Abu Dhabi compares to the U.S. and Europe, the cultural nuances shaping executive support in the UAE, and how AI is transforming the profession. We also discuss misconceptions about the EA role in the Middle East, the realities of work-life balance in a fast-paced region, and the power of embracing discomfort for career growth. If you’re an EA with international ambitions, this one’s for you!