The Unseen Influence: How Executive Assistants Quietly Shape Culture at the Highest Level
Wednesday 4th February 2026 5.30pm to 8pm - GMT
Location: 100 Minories, London, EC3N 1JY
Wednesday 4th February 2026 5.30pm to 8pm - GMT
Location: 100 Minories, London, EC3N 1JY
Join us for an inspiring in-person Strategic PA Network evening exploring the powerful, often unseen influence Executive Assistants have on organisational culture, leadership dynamics and business performance. We are delighted to welcome Sharon Parmar to open the evening with a 20-minute keynote, setting the scene for a rich and thought provoking conversation. Sharon will then be joined by Alexa Bailey, Jimmy Cosgrove and Simone White for a fireside-style panel discussion. All four are respected HR leaders in their own right, bringing deep insight from across people, culture and leadership.
This will be an organic, honest discussion examining how Executive Assistants operate at the intersection of trust, influence and culture. From shaping leadership behaviours and decision making, to acting as cultural barometers within organisations, we’ll explore the quiet impact assistants make every day, often without formal authority, but with significant reach.
What we’ll be discussing
• The role of Executive Assistants as cultural influencers at senior and board level
• How assistants shape leadership behaviours, tone and organisational values
• Trust, discretion and emotional intelligence as tools of influence
• Navigating power dynamics while maintaining professionalism and integrity
• The evolving partnership between HR, leadership teams and Executive Assistants
Key takeaways you can expect from the evening
• A deeper understanding of the cultural impact you have as an Executive Assistant
• Insight into how HR leaders view the EA role at the highest level
• Practical perspectives on influencing without authority
• Increased confidence in recognising and articulating your value
• Inspiration to lead quietly, intentionally and authentically within your organisation
Event Format:
5.30pm Arrivals, welcome reception, informal networking
5.45pm Tower Suites welcome, show arounds
6.30pm Sarah/Marianne welcome & Spotlight partner introduction
6.40pm 20-minute keynote with Sharon Parmar followed by Panel session with Q&A
7.40pm Informal networking
8.00pm Carriages
As an experienced People and Culture advisor to high growth organisations, Sharon knows EAs and PAs are the heartbeat of any high-growth company. Your deep understanding of culture and leadership dynamics makes you an essential ally in delivering meaningful change.
I founded Humanity Works Consultancy, an award winning coaching and culture transformation organisation, because I believe that the most effective organisations are rooted in human connection and steered by heart-led leaders. Informed by 20 years leadership in FTSE 100 & Fortune 500 organisations and Positive Organisational Psychology, my approach blends commercial impact with human connection to make workplaces thrive.
I am a strategic and commercial talent leader who partners with executives to build organisational capability and resilient leadership for the future. With a track record across corporate, scale-up, and executive search firms, I specialise in designing and executing end-to-end talent strategies that are linked to business outcomes, to drive enterprise-wide transformation and growth.
My expertise covers; succession planning, org design, strategic workforce planning, executive recruitment - including advising on assessment approaches to support leadership selection and development. I thrive in fast-paced B2B / B2B2C sectors and transformation environments, bringing a unique perspective to complex talent challenges.
I am passionate about building readiness in talent pipelines, unlocking business value and leadership potential through alternative org design, and fostering deep relationships to attract, retain, and develop the next generation of leaders. My focus is on accelerating business outcomes through simplified ways of working and creating robust succession and talent management to build agile and high-performing organisations.
Hey, I’m Jimmy!
I spent five years in HR making socials thrive and giving culture a real heartbeat. Along the way I realised why so many team bonding events miss the mark: Gen Z aren’t coming in, Millennials have team building fatigue, and Gen X would rather be in the pub.
That’s why I created Show Time London - a high energy game show that actually gets people laughing, bonding and leaving with stories they’ll remember.
I’m not your average host. I’m a level 7 CIPD stand-up comedian, MC, quiz master, celebrant and sitcom writer for the BBC. I know how to work a room, pull in introverts as well as extroverts and make sure everyone feels part of the fun.
Over 100 teams have left five-star reviews, and brands like L’Oréal, Hays, Linklaters and Savills trust me to deliver events that are fun, professional and inclusive.
When I’m not in the gold suit, you’ll find me with my labrador Bella or watching Tottenham lose.
Accomplished collaborator, driving transformational change by implementing and embedding learning and development opportunities, embracing technology solutions, embedding employee experience best practice, and data driven target operating models.
Networks and Inclusion champion. Advocating the need for inclusion for administrators and other marginalised groups. Impactful and passionate leader, providing opportunities by designing, creating and leading employee ERGs, championing social mobility initiatives, mentoring, coaching and public speaking.
People experience focused, with high emotional intelligence, curating positive environments and opportunities for all.
Motivated by faith, family, fairness, and fun!
Notable Accomplishments
Women in Investments Unsung Hero (2021), WeAreThe City (2016) award winner
Founder and Global Chair of GAIN, Administrative Professionals ERG at BlackRock
Creation and implementation of administrative career framework, BlackRock
Cover Article: The Need for Inclusion , ES Magazine (2022)
Tower Suites by Blue Orchid is located near the Tower of London, offering luxury all-suite accommodations with kitchens, a spa, rooftop terrace (Skyline London), restaurants, bars, and meeting spaces, ideal for central London stays with easy access to attractions like Tower Bridge and the River Thames.
Tower Suites offers the ideal venue for an unforgettable meeting or event. Whether it is for a conference or business meeting, corporate party, private dinner or wedding celebration, Tower Suites’ spectacular events centre offers inspiring and flexible spaces, contemporary décor and expert professional and attentive staff.
Located a gem stone’s throw from London’s world-renowned heritage sites and iconic landmarks, and conveniently located next to some of the city’s best-connected stations, these event spaces overlooking the Tower of London are just moments away from the UK’s financial heartland and London’s renowned business and entertainment districts.
Each meeting and event space boasts state of the art technology, including wireless connectivity, video conferencing and technology for virtual and hybrid events ensuring a seamless experience, whilst the 273 all-suite hotel thoughtfully provides a range of services and facilities; including a luxury spa, Italian inspired restaurant, sophisticated executive lounge, co-working suite, 60m roof terrace overlooking the Tower of London and River Thames, and all the amenities and services expected in today’s five-star hotels.
With personal and discreet service delivered by an in-house professional events team, your event will be memorable, for all the right reasons.
Tower Suites is able to accommodate a diverse range of events: Drinks Receptions | Awards / Ceremonies | Networking | AGM / Conferences | Private Dinner | Corporate Parties | Charity Galas | Private Celebrations | Weddings
Strategic PA Network is an active, professional networking group for Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Virtual Assistants, Administrators, and Office Managers. Whether based in the UK or around the world, we are proudly all-inclusive and not county-specific; anyone is welcome to attend our events and be part of our thriving community.
Over the past ten years, we have organically grown into a supportive and empowering network where Assistants come together to learn, connect, and grow. Our mission is to provide a credible platform that encourages industry awareness, meaningful connections, and shared best practices.
Learning and development are at the core of everything we do, with our events exploring essential topics that bring value, spark insight, and deliver revelatory moments.
At Strategic PA Network, we believe in the power of community - lifting each other up, celebrating every success, and inspiring Assistance to reach their full potential.
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