Fear is the biggest obstacle to innovation. The hesitation to test and learn, to step into uncharted territory, often stems from the fear of failure—of making mistakes, of looking unprepared, of stepping outside the comfort zone. But here’s the reality, not leaning in with curiosity is the only real failure.
Every entrepreneur, every innovator, every leader who has shaped the future has encountered setbacks along the way. But they stayed the course. They understood that confidence isn’t built through certainty; it’s built through exploration, adaptation, and resilience.
As the workplace behind the walls of corporate America transforms with artificial intelligence [AI], EAs have an unparalleled opportunity to rewrite the standard office procedures, guidelines and protocols for the entire workforce. Experts in leveraging AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and high-level decision-making will be at the core of this transformation.
Administration remains the operational anchor throughout this shift, continuing to architect workflows regardless of the methods used to get there. The key is knowing which platform and type of AI model to use and interact with that will solve for complexity, calendar woes and overall gaps in operational efficiency.
Prompt engineering—the skill of crafting precise, strategic inputs to get optimal AI outputs—will be a key driver of productivity and will ultimately redefine multiple administrative job families.
Creating and managing AI agents is a natural next step after understanding how generative AI works and how neural language models are transforming our world. While we are already using AI in some shape or form, diving deeper into the anatomy of this new technology will allow for further testing, experimenting and innovating the things we do with it.
As Ethan Mollick, a professor at Wharton and a leading voice in AI, puts it:
“You have to actually use AI to understand it. Just reading about it is like reading about a bicycle and assuming you know how to ride it.”
Without stepping into AI’s uncharted territory, there’s untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. The most successful professionals will be those who recognize that the best way to stay relevant is to stay ahead. Here’s a few suggestions on areas to hone in on, add some S.P.I.C.E. to your day!
[S]trategy: Think beyond one-off questions—how can a deeper understanding of digital literacy can build workflows, automate processes, and analyze data?
[P]recision: Like writing a clear executive summary, direction and instruction should be concise and direct.
[I]teration: Great communication and emails are rarely perfect on the first try. Adjust, refine, and iterate.
[C]ontext: The more relevant details you provide, the better the expected outcomes.
[E]xecution: Testing and learning will build your innate confidence with the technology and give the comfortable voice at the table when you amplify the need for change to be the ultimate collaborator in this space.
Allie K. Miller, AI leader and advocate, sums it up perfectly:
“AI isn’t here to replace jobs; it’s here to replace tasks. The future belongs to those who learn how to delegate to AI.”
This isn’t an operational upgrade—it’s a career transformation. Organizations are looking for AI-literate humans who can help deploy and integrate AI into the workforce. Those who are honing this skill will quickly become the go-to experts.
5 key steps to becoming an AI-ready EA
To lean into this opportunity, here’s how EAs can put the C.H.I.E.F. model into practice.
[C]uriosity: Spend time experimenting with AI tools. Ask different types of questions and test variations of prompts.
[H]one your skills: Follow AI thought leaders, take online courses, and stay informed about emerging trends.
[I]ntegrate AI into daily work: Start small—use AI to draft emails, summarize meetings, or brainstorm ideas. Learn by doing.
[E]ducate the team: Create knowledge hubs and forums that allow for guidance and training across the organization.
[F]ind your way: Offer to lead discussions or pilot programs to help executives embrace AI’s capabilities. Exercise the test and learn concept that demonstrates that you are human and will embrace the path forward through triumphs and downfalls.
Fear keeps professionals stagnant. The most dangerous move in this era isn’t making mistakes—it’s standing still. Skill mastery doesn’t come from waiting for permission to develop. It comes from engagement, iteration, and hands-on learning. This is what creates new experiences and confidence will be built through action.
Naturally transformation happens through testing and learning—it’s what shapes modernized ways of working. Will you step into discovering what’s possible or stand at the door watching everyone else create the future?
Case Study: Empowering a test and learn approach
Zoey, a Senior Executive Assistant at Empowering Titans, found herself at the corner of complexity and resistance. The leadership team relied on her for operational efficiency, but she knew the real opportunity lay in shaping the future rather than maintaining the present. To do that, Zoey needed to lean into her curiosity and guide the leadership team to see beyond the now.
Zoey began by applying the S.P.I.C.E. framework—sharpening strategy, precision, context, iteration, and executive presence—to redefine how she and her leadership team approached deepening digital literacy. But she didn’t stop there. As she experimented and refined her approach, she found herself on the path to becoming a EA Prompt Engineer—someone who understands how to craft precise AI inputs to drive strategic outcomes. While she hadn’t fully mastered this skill yet, her test-and-learn mindset gave her the space to experiment, iterate, and find the right pace to grow into it.
She gained executive buy-in to execute the C.H.I.E.F. model, an approach that helped teams cultivate curiosity, hone their skills, integrate AI into daily work, educate others, and find their strategic path forward. Drawing from past experiences, Zoey surfaced the same language she used when virtual reality was introduced, making the concept feel familiar rather than foreign. By bridging AI with past innovations, she eliminated resistance and gained collective agreement faster.
To ensure long-term success, Zoey built a knowledge forum where employees could access free AI learning resources. She knew that demystifying AI was critical for adoption, and by creating a structured learning environment, she empowered others to take ownership of their own development journey.
Three months into her initiative, the results were undeniable. Each team at Empowering Titans began adopting custom roadmaps, designed to disrupt outdated processes and transform SOPs, guidelines, and protocols.
Zoey also took the lead in guiding the workforce through best practices, ensuring they understood language models, and AI agents. Ethics and data validation became cornerstones of AI adoption, preventing misinformation and maintaining the organization’s credibility.
By positioning herself as the bridge between AI adoption and business transformation, Zoey elevated the EA role beyond operations—she became an integral part of growth and development for the entire organization.
Zoey didn’t wait for permission—she tested, learned, and guided. Her thought-out, structured approach became a gateway forward, proving that AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about empowerment and foresight. She not only transformed her role but also inspired an entire organization to think ahead.
Learning is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of discovery and growth.
Embrace the new approach, where experience is the teacher, curiosity is the compass,
and innovation is the destination.EA Insights
📚 Free online AI Learning Resources
Coursera link: Great for foundational AI knowledge, automation, and practical applications.
DeepLearning.AI link: Beginner-friendly courses on AI agents, chatbots, and automation tools.
Google AI link: Free training on AI fundamentals, machine learning, and AI assistants.
LinkedIn Learning link: Offers a selection of free AI courses focused on business operations.
Microsoft Learn link: Focuses on Microsoft Copilot, Power Automate, and AI agents for workplace efficiency.
NIVDIA link: The deep learning institute offers a number of free courses.
