Executive Leadership Support Forum: Speaker Interview
Melodie Kent
Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Provost
The University of Indianapolis
Melodie is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Indianapolis.
She has spent the majority of her long career as an office manager and administrative professional to senior leaders in education, healthcare, and a technology solutions business provider. After earning her Associate Degree at Indiana Business College, she began her career as an instructor for that same institution. Now, many years later, she finds herself working with budgets, contracts, promotion and tenure requirements, and awards for faculty members at the University of Indianapolis. Melodie enjoys spending time with family and friends, is active in her church, and loves trips to the beach!
Melodie will be one of the distinguished EA contributors at the Executive Leadership Support Forum: Indianapolis on February 7-8, 2018.
Name one thing you hope to learn or discuss with your peers at the ELS Forum.
I hope to encourage younger peers to look forward to a long career as an administrative professional. So many want to quickly “move up the ladder” and they don’t focus on becoming great at what they are already doing. With hard work and dedication a career as an executive assistant can be fulfilling and rewarding.
In your mind, what is one tool you can’t live without or find especially helpful in your position?
The internet! Just imagine if we still had to pick up the phone for everything we needed – flight and hotel reservations, research on just about anything, or finding details about a person or company.
How do you define success within your role as an Executive Assistant?
I believe that success is defined when you finally find “home” in your job. You don’t mind getting up and going to work in the morning, you have a supportive boss, your co-workers are your friends, and you can see yourself in that position for the next ten or more years.
