Kayla Hutchens, CESP, CWCA, ACEA, CEAP

My success comes from treating administrative work as leadership work and never limiting myself to what was considered “my role.” I have built my career by deeply understanding the business, taking ownership, and being willing to learn anything that would make me more effective as a strategic partner.

Early in my career, I was challenged to teach myself SQL, despite having no prior experience, and asked to see what I could learn in two days. By the end of that time, I had written several pages of complex code successfully uniting multiple data tables. When leadership reviewed the work, they were surprised not only by the outcome, but by the fact that I had done it independently, without formal training. That experience reinforced something that has guided me ever since: curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to take on hard things create exponential value.

Throughout my career, I have continued to say yes to learning, whether technical, operational, or strategic, and that mindset has allowed me to grow beyond traditional expectations, anticipate challenges, and operate as a trusted partner to executive leadership.

The most powerful career advice I received did not come as a single directive, but through moments that fundamentally changed how I saw myself and my role.

Midway through my career, an executive once asked me why I did not speak up or ask questions during team meetings. He reminded me that I was not there just to take notes, that as his Executive Assistant, I was part of the team. Until that moment, I had seen myself as team adjacent rather than truly at the table. I regularly shared insights one on one after meetings, but I had never considered that those same perspectives belonged in the room. That realization reshaped how I understood my voice and my right to contribute.

As my career progressed, I was encouraged to understand the business and learn to speak the language of leadership. I learned that when you can clearly articulate the value and impact of an idea in terms executives care about, their goals, metrics, and bottom line, they listen. That skill strengthened alignment with leadership and transformed my role into a true strategic partnership.

The most recent advice I received was also the most impactful: you will never feel ready enough or brave enough, you have to choose to do it anyway. Taking that to heart pushed me to say yes to opportunities I had avoided for years. In a short span of time, I started Admins In Motion, published a guide and workbook, wrote for a globally distributed magazine, and began writing a book. It proved to me that growth does not wait for confidence, it is created by action.

Together, these lessons taught me that influence comes from believing you belong, understanding the business, and choosing courage even when it feels uncomfortable.

Do not let anyone define your limits, including yourself. I have always been willing to learn from anyone and everyone, regardless of title, role, or background. Curiosity has never been the barrier in my career. Belief has.

For years, I was highly capable, but my growth accelerated when I started believing in my own value and using my voice to create meaningful impact. When I stopped seeing administrative work as quiet support and started seeing it as informed influence, everything changed.

Learn the business. Learn from every person you meet. But more importantly, trust that your perspective matters. When you combine curiosity with confidence and the courage to speak up, you stop waiting for opportunity and start shaping it. That is where real growth begins.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the persistence of outdated stereotypes. This role is no longer the administrative position portrayed in media or remembered from decades ago. It has already evolved. Even entry-level administrative roles today require far more skill, judgment, and accountability than when I started more than 20 years ago. Many administrative professionals now function as project managers, operational partners, and strategic extensions of leadership.

Yet the stereotype persists, and that creates a real problem. Even executives who deeply value and trust their executive assistants often struggle to clearly articulate what they do. The answer is usually some version of, “They run my life,” or “They’re a miracle worker.” While well-intentioned, those responses obscure the real impact. If leaders cannot define the work, they cannot fully understand the value, influence, or business outcomes their administrative partners drive.

The opportunity lies in breaking down those misconceptions from the inside out. That starts with aligning leaders and administrative professionals around the true scope of the role, the business metrics it touches, the efficiencies it creates, and the value it delivers. Equally important is helping administrative professionals see their own impact, believe in it, and use their voice to make it visible. When both sides understand and articulate that value, the role evolves intentionally, and the profession moves forward with clarity and influence.

Compassion, empathy, and connection are at the core of who I am, both personally and professionally. They shape how I show up for others, how I listen, and how I build relationships. I believe people do their best work when they feel seen, respected, and genuinely valued.

In my professional life, integrity, trust, and adding meaningful value guide everything I do. I hold myself to high standards in my work and my relationships, and I treat trust as something that must be earned, honored, and protected. When trust is present, real partnership and impact become possible.

I am also a life-long learner. Curiosity has always been part of my journey, whether I am learning the business, refining my voice, developing new skills, or exploring creative expression through writing and speaking. Learning keeps me grounded, open, and evolving.

At the heart of it all is connection. Whether I am supporting leaders, mentoring others, or creating through my work, I am driven by the desire to connect in meaningful ways and contribute something that truly matters.