AI isn't replacing EAs - But it is changing what Matters

March 4, 2026

The tactical work - scheduling, basic correspondence, meeting prep - is getting automated.

That's not a threat. That's an opportunity.

Because while AI can handle the tactical work, it can't do the strategic work.

🔮Here's what a day in the life of a strategic EA looks like in 2036 💫

8:00am: AI has already processed overnight emails, flagged the three that need your executive's attention, and drafted responses for the rest. You review, adjust tone on two of them, and approve. Takes 10 minutes instead of an hour.

8:30am: You're in a strategy meeting with your executive and the CFO. Not taking notes - AI is doing that. You're contributing. You're asking questions. You're connecting dots between what Finance is saying and what you heard from Operations yesterday. Your executive looks to you twice for your read on the proposal.

10:00am: You're meeting with the VP of Sales who's frustrated about a process that's slowing down deals. You don't just listen - you facilitate. You help them articulate the real problem. You identify who else needs to be in the conversation and you get them to join the meeting. You're not scheduling a meeting about it. You're solving it.

11:30am: Your executive has back-to-back meetings this afternoon. AI has already pulled the briefing materials. But you've added context that AI can't: the CFO is under pressure from the board. The VP of Product is still upset about last week's decision. Your executive walks into those meetings prepared for what actually matters.

1:00pm: You're reviewing the Q2 board deck. Not formatting slides - AI did that. You're pressure-testing the narrative. You're flagging where the logic doesn't hold. You're suggesting a different way to frame the risk section because you know how the board thinks.

3:00pm: A crisis emerges. Your executive is in meetings for the next three hours. You don't wait. You pull together the right people. You get the facts. You draft the communication plan. When your executive comes out of their meeting, you brief them on what's happened and what you've already put in motion. They adjust two things and approve the rest.

4:30pm: You're on a call with your executive and their leadership team about next year's strategy. You're not just listening. You're contributing. You're the one who remembers that they tried something similar three years ago and here's what they learned. You're the one who points out the dependency they haven't considered.

End of day: AI has drafted tomorrow's schedule, flagged conflicts, and suggested adjustments. You review it in five minutes, make two strategic changes based on what you know is coming, and you're done.

This is what strategic EA work looks like.

• AI handles the noise. You handle the nuance.

• AI processes information. You provide context.

• AI schedules meetings. You solve problems.

But here's what most people miss: these skills don't develop by accident.

You don't become strategic by hoping for it. You don't build executive presence by wishing for it. You don't learn to navigate politics by avoiding them.

You develop these skills intentionally. Through practice. Through coaching. Through learning from people who've done it before. AI creates the opportunity. You decide what to do with it.

What does your day look like in 10 years?

Most organisations don't teach these skills. They expect you to figure them out on your own.

That’s what RiseA changes.

I created RiseA because I've seen the gap between what executives need and what most EAs are taught. Personal coaching that helps you develop the skills that matter in an AI-enabled world. The skills that make you indispensable. The skills that move you from competent to exceptional.

RiseA is 6 months of coaching for Australian EAs ready to develop these skills. We work on managing up, strategic thinking, communication, building relationships, and positioning yourself for growth. It's practical, actionable coaching designed for the real challenges you face every day.

Applications are open now for 2026. If you're ready to move from reactive to strategic, I'd love to work with you.

Learn more: riseaonline.com