Suggestions
Ed Windels
Executive Personal Assistant, Operations and Lifestyle Management
Ed Windels
Ed Windels is the founder and principal of Prime Time Virtual Assistance and Administration, a company he launched in 2018 after a successful career as a top-tier C-Suite level Executive Assistant in both domestic and international capacities, principally in the advertising and marketing arena.2
Professional Background
- Has over 30 years of experience working with top-level C-suite executives and ultra-high-net-worth private entities1
- Held various roles at global advertising agencies like Young & Rubicam and Lowe Worldwide, including Executive Assistant, Global Event Coordinator, and Regional Liaison for Latin America2
- Recognized early in his career for his talent in organization, management, and problem-solving2
- Offers the rare expertise of working simultaneously in corporate and personal capacities at the highest levels2
Current Roles
- Founder and Principal at Prime Time Virtual Assistance and Administration12
- Operations Manager for a private high-net-worth family based in San Francisco2
- Brand Coordinator for Ipsos2
- Virtual Executive Assistant to business coaches and financial advisors2
Other Pursuits
- Composer, orchestrator, and arranger in the classical/new music and musical theatre worlds34
- Co-founder and co-producer of Broadway Belts for PFF!, an annual fundraiser for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation34
- Co-founder and managing administrator for the New York chapter of the American Society of Musicians, Composers and Arrangers (ASMAC)34
- Passionate cook, oenophile, and supporter of the performing arts4
Highlights
A great podcast episode from @rachelbonetti reflecting on the recent developments with Matthew Perry's personal assistant and how more common this situation is than many may realize. Particularly the expectation of abandoning one's own life and individuality to one's principal, something my outside life as a musician has saved me from on more than one occasion.
Some vital insights:
- Know your boundaries and enforce them
- Trust your instincts if something feels wrong
- Having a support system for counsel
- Proper leaders will never put you at risk
- Be wary of entities that won't put things in writing
This article by @ALEXAVONTOBEL emphasises some practices that I've encouraged my people to employ for years. Take at least one break during the day from everything. Go out and get lunch. Take a walk. Run an errand. All without your phone. Give your brain the recharge it needs by disconnecting for just a while.
"To get the most of your day, try carving out quiet time. Give yourself at least 30-minute blocks of uninterrupted focus. Silence your email, Slack, and iMessage notifications. Turn alerts off."
