About Strategic PA Network

447Sarah Howson is EA professional with over fifteen years of C Suite EA experience. She began her journey assisting the CEO of a small start-up semiconductor company in Buckinghamshire before moving to an international oil and gas support services company supporting both the CEO and the CFO. Over her career, she has organised international leadership conferences and managed both global trade shows and investor roadshows. She knows from experience the workload a high-level EA can manage and how effective a high performing EA can be within an organisation! Sarah changed roles in 2015 and, using all transferable skills, became an Event Project Manager working for luxury automotive brands organising high-end incentive trips.

Being an EA at any level requires meticulous planning, organisational and people skills, as well as strategic forward thinking. That’s why, no matter what title she has, Sarah can use those skills and practices to develop an effective work environment built on motivation, ingenuity, understanding and teamwork.

In 2015, whilst on maternity leave, Sarah looked for a way to network, connect, and stay up-to-date in her career. However, all PA networking events seemed to be in London at the time, hours away from where she lived. To provide PAs not living in London an easier way to network, she took matters in her own hands and set up her own network. Bucks, Berks and Oxon PA Network (BBO PA Network) started out just serving the Buckinghamshire area. In 2019, it expanded to include in Berkshire and Oxfordshire at a wonderful launch event at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons attended by over 70 PAs. The overwhelming support for this event demonstrates clearly how much a PA network is needed. In 2022 the network organically grew and changed it’s name to Strategic PA Network.

With all her EA experience, Sarah understands how lonely and isolating working in the Business Support field can be. That’s why she’s so passionate about her networking mission. She has two core goals for every event:

1) creating a safe place for connecting like-minded people together to help and support each other, and;

2) providing high quality professional events with a learning and development opportunity.

Strategic PA Network events are a great place for those who are serious about being career PAs, crave to develop themselves and want to learn as much as they can, to network, meet, and discuss ideas, experiences, tips and more.

Her love of building long-lasting relationships, networking, connecting and learning new things is a constant source of inspiration for her. Her infectious passion for life and driven personality means she always has a to-do list and a few projects to keep her busy! When she’s not organising, mentoring, networking or actively championing the PA industry, Sarah enjoys spending time with her two boys (7 and 4), socialising with friends and, as a proud member of the National Trust with stunning Cliveden on her doorstep, Sarah also loves to spend her time outdoors!

Prior to co-Founding Strategic PA Recruitment in 2019, Marianne was previously in Sales at a luxury Canadian train company and worked in the travel industry for over 15 years, specialising in client relationships and networking. More recently Marianne has managed several charity fundraising events.

Marianne is passionate about empowering people and helping them achieve their full potential. She believes the most fundamental building block for any business is the relationships we have with others. Along with Marianne’s attention to detail is an extensive network and she is well known for her professional, honest but fun approach.

Anna has over 9 years’ experience as an Assistant. Previously a Client Services Team Leader at a Private Specialist Medical Clinic Anna is now Operations Manager for Strategic PA Network.

She is passionate about removing mental health stigma, looking after the environment and loves to network professionally and amongst peers.

Anna relocated from Australia to the UK in Dec 2019 and has had to navigate life as a new Mother entering the pandemic.

Networking has made her life what it is today.

Our Strategic PA Network Committee Members are network ambassadors, supporters and connectors. They are very approachable and are always on hand at events to welcome you and ensure you are introduced to another member. They help make the network as welcoming as it is and play a key role in its success!

This quote by Helen Keller resonates when it comes to running this network: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” 

Lisa Glowacki

Personal Assistant at GCE

Lisa has worked with Aileen Evans, GCE, for just over 2 years and has been learning and developing her skills since her first role as a Secretarial Assistant in 1995.  Lisa’s career initially started in the Education sector and spanned 20 years at The Open University.

After taking redundancy in 2016 and covering a FTC maternity leave in the Housing Sector the desire to get back into Housing led her to Grand Union. Networking has been a very important part of Lisa’s development journey, initially mostly in house in person events and attending the annual PA Show.  As technology developed, the power of social media channels, the benefits of COVID and events moving online led Lisa to taking part in BBO Networking Events, which in the past due to work and family commitments had been difficult to attend. Lisa said that she has really benefited from taking a step out of her comfort zone, meeting others and taking part in BBO events.

The online events have helped her to understand and develop a new perspective in some subjects and reinforced, that with support, we can all overcome the challenges of a demanding EPA/PA/EA role.