Executive Leadership Support Forum: Assistant of the Week: Seattle

Janine Akins
Executive Assistant to the EVP/CTO
lululemon athletica

Janine Akins currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the EVP/CTO of lululemon athletica, supporting her manager – who is responsible for all global technology, including the company’s fast-growing international business. She came to lululemon from REI, where she supported the first female CIO, who was responsible for technology solutions across the company, including 149 stores, digital experiences, marketing, strategic merchandising, call center, supply chain, and data center/cloud infrastructure. Prior to REI, Janine was Chief of Staff for Hewlett Packard’s Americas Server Delivery Organization.

Janine will be one of the executive assistant contributors at the Executive Leadership Support Forum: Seattle on September 26-27, 2018.

Why is the Executive Leadership Support Forum important for Executive Assistants?

I believe coming together for the Executive Leadership Support forum is a much-needed opportunity for EAs or for those who aspire to that role, supporting senior executives. As we all know, the EA position is not for the faint of heart! It’s a great way to check in with our peers, learn new and improved ways of becoming more effective, and gives us all a platform to commiserate, laugh, cry and add to our already strong skill sets. It’s a much-needed breath of fresh air – I’m truly looking forward to it!

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you were first starting your career?

Wow! If only that clock could be turned back! I would definitely lead with humility – I was just learning about the corporate world. I came in trying to be a “know it all” and swiftly learned….I had much to learn!

How do you define success within your role as an Executive Assistant?

Success to me would mean at the end of the day, I’ve made my manager shine! I delivered content on time, paid attention to the smallest of details, worked on improving my business relationships with other EAs, and was incredibly content knowing my work was valued by both my manager and the entire team.