The EA Campus Podcast Ep42: Becky Kaapuni, Sr. Executive Assistant at Salesforce
In this episode, Becky Kaapuni shares her winding career journey spanning publishing, wine business, investment banking, tech startups, Twitter, and now Salesforce, where she supports the CEO of AI.
Some key pieces of advice and insights Becky offers:
- Be patient in building your career - you have to go through the stepping stones and start at the beginning, gaining experience over time.
- Know your worth and negotiate your compensation, even if it means being willing to walk away from an opportunity. Invest in a professionally written resume.
- For interviews, focus on showing up as your best self and demonstrating confidence. Worry about the details of the job later.
- Always maintain a beginner's mind, as every executive, company culture, and role will differ. Be ready to learn and adapt.
- Build your network and maintain connections over time. You never know when an opportunity may come back, even years later.
Becky candidly shares the triumphs and challenges of her EA career, from navigating egotistical bosses and sudden layoffs to finding executives who truly value and empower her. She emphasizes the importance of documenting issues, leveraging resources, and prioritizing one's well-being while acknowledging that immediately leaving a bad situation isn't always feasible.
While Becky admits she could lead more by example in disconnecting from work, she has found that staying on top of things helps her mental health and ability to relax. Her story illustrates the ever-changing landscape of the EA role and the resilience required to succeed in the long term.