November 16, 2026

D H M S

The Executive Support & Office Leadership Symposium

The Executive Support & Office Leadership Summit is a premier gathering designed specifically for Personal Assistants, Secretaries, and Office Managers who aspire to elevate their professional influence and mastery in today’s dynamic workplace. This two-day event blends modern strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and time-tested administrative best practices to equip attendees with [...]
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Background

The Executive Support & Office Leadership Symposium is a premier gathering for Personal Assistants, Secretaries, and Office Managers navigating the shift from administrative support into operational and strategic leadership. This two-day event centres on that transition — equipping delegates who are moving into, or already occupying, Office Manager roles with the skills, frameworks, and confidence to lead teams, own processes, and operate as indispensable strategic partners within their organisations.

Participants will explore a unique mix of topics spanning office leadership, digital transformation, and personal effectiveness — with a strong throughline on what changes when a PA or Secretary steps into an Office Manager role: broader scope, people management, budget and vendor ownership, and cross-departmental accountability. From mastering AI and automation tools at an office-wide level to refining stakeholder management and building leadership presence without relying on title alone, delegates will leave with practical skills they can apply immediately to lead operations, optimise processes, and add measurable value across their organisations. The summit offers direct engagement with thought leaders, peer networking, and actionable frameworks for making — and succeeding in — the move into office leadership.

Who Should Attend 

The Executive Support & Office Leadership Symposium is designed for professionals navigating or supporting the shift from administrative support into office leadership:

  • Office Managers looking to strengthen operational leadership, optimise processes, manage teams effectively, and drive improvement across the organisations they run.
  • Personal Assistants and Secretaries preparing to move into Office Management, seeking the leadership, budget, vendor, and people-management skills that mark the transition from individual support to operational ownership.
  • Personal Assistants seeking to enhance strategic influence and expand their skill set beyond traditional administrative responsibilities.
  • Secretaries aiming to modernise their approach, adopt digital solutions, and strengthen executive-level support capabilities.
  • Executive Coordinators and Administrative Professionals who aspire to become key contributors to business decision-making, including those on a path toward office leadership roles.
  • Anyone managing office operations or supporting senior leadership, responsible for streamlining communication, workflows, and operational excellence at scale.

Benefits of Attending:

1. Lead the Transition from Support to Strategy
This summit guides attendees through the shift from individual administrative support into office leadership. Learn how to move beyond traditional PA and Secretarial tasks, take ownership of operations, budgets, and vendor relationships, and position yourself as a strategic partner to the executives and departments you serve.

2. Master Digital Tools & Smart Workflows at Office Scale
Delegates gain hands-on knowledge of AI, automation platforms, and digital collaboration tools — not just for managing one executive’s calendar, but for standardising and rolling out systems across a whole team or office. From workflow automation to data governance, attendees leave equipped to run smarter operations, not just complete individual tasks.

3. Build Leadership & Influence Without Relying on Title
Through sessions on workplace influence, conflict resolution, and cross-departmental collaboration, attendees develop the leadership skills needed to manage teams and drive accountability — critical for anyone moving from a support role into people management. Learn to lead with credibility and consistency, and navigate the shift from peer to manager.

4. Boost Professional Confidence & Build an Office Leadership Brand
The summit focuses on the personal development needed to be recognised as an operational leader rather than solely an administrative function — building executive presence, emotional intelligence, and resilience for higher-responsibility roles, plus the certifications and career pathway knowledge that support a move into Office Management.

5. Networking & Peer Learning Across the Career Path
Connect with PAs, Secretaries, and current Office Managers at every stage of this transition, alongside senior executives and industry experts. Exchange insights on making the move into office leadership, compare challenges across sectors, and build a community of support that extends beyond the event.

SPEAKERS AND DATES

EVENT SCHEDULE

Enjoy the speeches from the best this industry has to offer!



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Welcome Speech & Event Opening

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From Support to Strategy: The Office Manager Evolution

Thumbnail Sharon Wood

This opening session addresses the growing shift from traditional PA and Secretarial functions toward full Office Management, exploring what changes in scope, authority, and expectation as professionals take on operational ownership. Delegates will examine how to build the leadership presence needed to manage teams and processes rather than simply support individuals, including how to establish credibility, set expectations, and drive accountability without relying on a senior title. The programme covers practical frameworks for taking ownership of office operations — budgets, vendor relationships, facilities, and cross-functional coordination — alongside guidance on managing the interpersonal shift from peer to people-manager when PAs and Secretaries step into supervisory roles. Sessions also address change management and how Office Managers can position themselves as the operational backbone connecting leadership decisions to day-to-day execution.

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Networking Lunch Break

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Digital Transformation, AI & Smart Office Productivity

This session strengthens the digital and systems capability Office Managers need to run efficient, modern workplaces — not just support individual executives. Participants explore AI and automation tools for scheduling, reporting, procurement, and document management, with emphasis on standardising these tools across a team or department rather than a single desk. The programme examines digital collaboration platforms (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, project management systems) from an administrator's perspective — rolling out, governing, and troubleshooting them for wider office use. Delegates will cover data management and cybersecurity practices at an office-wide level, protecting organisational information across multiple stakeholders, plus hybrid/virtual meeting management and workflow automation techniques aimed at streamlining operations for an entire office, not just one executive's calendar.

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Personal Effectiveness, Resilience & Career Growth into Office Management

Thumbnail Marjon Meyer

This session equips PAs, Secretaries, and current Office Managers with strategies to manage broader operational responsibility while building a sustainable long-term career path. Delegates will learn time, energy, and stress management techniques suited to managing multiple priorities and people, not just a single executive's schedule, including prioritisation frameworks and burnout prevention for higher-responsibility roles. The programme builds emotional intelligence and confidence for managing teams, vendors, and cross-departmental relationships. Career-pathway content is sharpened specifically around the PA/Secretary-to-Office-Manager transition — the certifications, skills gaps, and experience needed to make that move — alongside guidance on personal branding and sustaining performance through the added demands of a leadership role.

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Networking Lunch Break

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Strategic Business Partnership & Office Leadership Excellence

Thumbnail Charles Cotter, PhD

This closing session explores how Office Managers move beyond individual executive support to become strategic operational partners — anticipating organisational needs, aligning office operations with business objectives, and contributing to leadership decision-making. Participants refine stakeholder management and executive communication skills at scale: representing the office function credibly across departments, not just to one principal. The discussion covers advanced priority and resource management — budgets, staffing, vendor contracts, and competing departmental demands — as the natural extension of calendar and priority management skills. Delegates close by strengthening business acumen (financial literacy, report interpretation, operational briefings) and developing the executive presence and personal brand needed to be recognised as an Office Leader, not solely an administrative support function.


GET TO KNOW THE

EVENT FACILITATORS


Independent Global Blended Learning Practitioner and HRM/Learning & Development Strategist

Charles Cotter, PhD

Managing Director and Principal Training & Development Consultant at Skills@Work Training

Marjon Meyer

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

BOOK YOUR TICKET

Limited seats available, please book on time to secure your spot.

Location

EVENT TICKET

For Individuals
R 9999INCL.VAT
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PHYSICAL TICKET

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