Admin Spotlight – Nick Ginsburg
By Admin Spotlight

Name: Nick Ginsburg

Pronouns: He/Him

Job Title: Executive Assistant to the Provost and Senior Vice-President & Founder, The Admin Collective  

Company: Monash University/The Admin Collective

 

Admin Avenues: Welcome to the Admin Spotlight Nick and thank you so much for sharing your admin story with us. 

Nick Ginsburg: My pleasure! Thanks so much for having me. 

AA: How long have you been an Executive Assistant?

NG:  I have been an Executive Assistant for just under 7 years I think.  

AA: What made you want to move from an HR role to an EA role at Monash University? 

NG: Well my career path to being an EA was all on purpose. When I joined Monash University in 2012 I was a Purchasing Officer but I knew that wasn’t the career I wanted long term but I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. It wasn’t until I saw the Executive Assistants to the top University Executives that I knew that is what I wanted. From there I needed to look at my path, what skills did I need etc. I knew that I needed broader experience in order to be successful in the role so I secured a position with Monash HR and digested all the knowledge I could. I then sat and waited for the right role and that came along at the beginning of 2016. 

AA: What did your first day as an Executive Assistant look like?

NG: Ha! It was bedlam but brilliant. There was a lot of information I had to get across very quickly but I knew I could do it and I knew immediately that I had made the right move. I remember coming home to my husband and saying that this was the perfect fit for me. I truly have loved (almost) every moment since!

AA: From your first day to now, how has your definition of the Executive Assistant role changed?

NG: I think the entire landscape has changed. Some sectors has seen a more dramatic change than others but overall I think admin professionals are starting to understand that our roles can be strategic and can really help shape a company. 

AA: You have worked at Monash University for over 10 years! Do you feel that working at a university is different to a career in a corporate job? 

NG: There is often a view that private vs public sector EAs are dramatically different. But the truth is that we are more similar than we think but with slightly different processes. The core of our roles though as pretty much the same. 

AA: What is it about Monash University that has kept you there so long?

NG: I love working in a space that is changing the world and Monash is doing that. It is an exciting place to work and I get to work with incredible people who are making a real difference in the world. 

AA: I read that in 2018, you launched the Monash University Executive Assistant Network to share knowledge across the University bringing together over 250 administrative professionals. What do you do to keep the connection and with that many people?

NG: We have a great Workplace group and people often post questions and different updates. We hold training sessions on various topics that members feel they need. The group is incredible! 

AA: What skills do you possess that you believe are crucial to your Executive Assistant role?

NG: I think to be a great Executive Assistant you need to be able to adapt quickly, have impeccable people skills, and manage not only your own time but those of others. These are the things that have really helped me navigate the roles I have had. 

AA: What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspect of your position as an Executive Assistant?

NG: Knowing that the things I do help my Executive work more efficiently and allow her to focus on changing the world. 

AA: What is the one thing you can not do without in your job?

NG: Oh good question!! I think the answer is trust. Without trust, I can’t do anything. That’s trust from my executive, trust from my team, and trust from the company. 

AA: OK so that’s the spotlight on your career, lets talk about all the other good stuff. Lets start with The Admin Collective, a judgement-free community for Admin Professionals worldwide with a strong focus on shared learning.  How did this come about?

NG: I am so proud of The Admin Collective! I knew I wanted to launch an external admin network but wanted to make sure it was right before I did so. In the months leading up to it I went through a bunch of different scenarios and finally landed on what I wanted. Throughout the process the core of what I wanted though stayed the same. I wanted it to be a safe space for admin professionals to talk and learn. 

AA: You’re an in demand speaker for the Admin community worldwide sharing your knowledge and experience on a global scale. What made you want to share your personal story and inspire others?

NG: I am a big believer in sharing knowledge. I don’t think gatekeeping knowledge is helpful to anyone so I wanted to share what I knew. I also believe that there are many ways you can be good at a particular task and if we all share what works for us then others can find out what works for them. 

AA: And because you don’t have enough on your plate, you are also the producer and host of ‘The Open Drive’ podcast. Tell us about this.

NG: Yes my plate is pretty full haha! I started the Open Drive to share my personal story of growing up with parents who struggled with their mental health and addiction and the trauma associated with that. When I was growing up I felt like I was the only kid going through what I was going through but now I know that isn’t the case I wanted to share my story to help those who also went through something similar. Also I believe it is really important for people to speak about mental health, which is why I am also doing my Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) at RMIT. 

AA: You’re also a huge advocate for mental health and the lgbtqia+ community. You share your stories and experiences with your community with such honesty and always with a bit of humour. How long did it take you to get to a place where you felt you could be light-hearted and talk openly about these very important issues that are so close to your heart?

NG: It took a while and I started small and then grew it larger and larger. I also find for me that I digest information easier when it is slightly funny so I try and inject humour into everything I do. Also some of the topics I talk about, especially on the podcast and when I speak about my childhood to audiences, is heavy. You can probably tell that I really believe in sharing what information you can to help others. 

AA: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

NG: What people think of you is none of your business. I don’t care any more who likes me and who doesn’t. As long as the most important people in my life appreciate me that is all that matters. That has also helped me share publicly as I go into it with the mentality that as long as one person gets something out of what I am doing that’s all that matters. 

AA: What advice would you give other admins thinking about changing jobs/companies/employers?

NG: Look at your transferable skills. This isn’t just about moving roles, look at what skills associated with your company and sector would transfer to the new job you want and focus on them. 

AA: What are your top tips for keeping your resume up to date and job-ready?

NG: Put it in a Google doc and update it as regularly as you can! 

AA: I’m sure out community would love to stay in touch. How can they follow you? 

NG: Thanks so much for having me on the Admin Spotlight! What a fun chat. If you want to connect you can follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn. If you want to join The Admin Collective head to admincollective.co

 

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