Administrative Assistant's Update

FEBRUARY 2019 4 (a 24-hour session for employees to solve a company problem), Ah-Yu saw the event as an opportunity to expand the reach of Random Coffee. Though the once-manual sched- uling of coffee sessions now was handled through an external app, it was not as flexible as now needed to cater to Best Buy's circumstances. "I started talking to some of the other [Random Coffee app] users... and we got together and had a bit of a brainstorm about what changes we would like to see to make it better," says Ah-Yu. Speaking skills came in handy That's when she and her colleagues saw their "problem" – how to build a Best Buy app for Random Coffee -- as a potential topic for the com - pany hackathon, now called a "spark session." As someone who enjoys public speaking, Ah-Yu volunteered to deliver the required 30-second "pitch" to company employees attending the hackathon. In the end, she and her colleagues recruited an app devel- oper, designer and a copywriter to the project. Over a 24-hour period, aided by an in-house "scrum master" whose job is to remove technical and other road- blocks for hackathon participants, Ah- Yu and her team designed a workable app. The Random Coffee app was one of 10 projects selected for the finals, judged by a panel of Best Buy senior managers. New app solves old problem "While we did not win the hackathon we accomplished something in 24 hours that we had been struggling with for months," says Ah-Yu, who expects the new app will be rolled out this year. Scardillo says Ah-Yu's work on the Random Coffee app is one example of her willingness to take initiatives beyond her official job description. "She works really collaboratively with all the other EAs, which includes all of the things that happen behind the scenes and make Thierry and my lives so much easier," says Scardillo. For example, Ah-Yu assembles a PowerPoint presentation for Scardi - llo's monthly team meetings, usually anticipating the likely topics for the group discussion. "I am at the point where she says 'hit these three key points,'" says Scardillo. "It may sound like a little thing but it is not. It means she truly understands the important things I am working on and that need to be communicated to my team." Communicaton skills critical For her part, Ah-Yu says she relies on strong communication skills to serve two bosses with their own priorities. "You need to be able to keep the lines of communication open, in the sense of where do we need to go and whose priorities are more timely; a lot of times they are both," she says. Depending on the circumstances, she communicates with them in person, or by email, text or WhatsApp messaging. "It's about understanding where my work flow is coming from and where do we get the right output in the right time [frame]," she says. Ultimately, Ah-Yu explains her work in simple terms. "My job is to help them do their job in the best way possible," she says. "I always find if I am doing my job right their job will be a little easier." EA's can-do attitude Continued from page 1 EA guides planning of puppy-play de-stressor day By Staff As a veteran executive assistant who now works at Best Buy Canada, Ali Ah-Yu says she has learned not to restrict the definition of what it means to be an admin professional. "Our roles [as admins] are sometimes misunder - stood," she says. "We all have different skill sets that we can use and rely on, and not limit ourselves." Moreover, she says, "there are opportunities to work outside of what your day-to-day is to make things better and not be afraid to take those chances and try something new." Last year, for example, she provided administrative support to two different Best Buy social committees that each had the same idea: a "de-stress" event that would give employees a chance to play with puppies brought in for the day. A puppy fan herself, Ah-Yu encouraged the two com - mittees to combine forces to design the elements of a successful event. "I guided them through some of the things we needed to consider, and some possible obstacles to overcome," she says. "They [the commit- tee members] built a plan and we all helped make it happen." More than 200 employees signed up for some playtime with the puppies. "It was fantastic," says Ah-Yu, who says plans already are in the works for a similar event this year. Ali Ah-Yu and friend

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