Leah Warwick: Hi, everyone. I’m Leah Warwick, and you’re listening to “The Admin Edge.” Community is at the heart of everything we do here at ASAP, from our online training and certification to our events, the Administrative Professional Conference (APC) and EA Ignite. In this episode, it was a pleasure to connect with one of our ASAP Advisory Board Members, Ebony Adomanis, at the EA Ignite event in Louisville, and the power she’s found in the administrative community.

Hi, I’m Leah Warwick, Senior Content Manager for the American Society of Administrative Professionals. My guest today is Ebony Adomanis, Project Administrator at Kimley-Horn & Associates, and an Advisory Board member of ASAP, attending this event, EA Ignite. Welcome to the podcast, Ebony.

00:01:00                     

Ebony Adomanis: Thank you so much. I am so very excited to be here. It’s my first professional podcast, so I am super excited.

Leah Warwick: Well, we’re so excited to have you here. It’s been such a pleasure to meet you. You are one of the newest members of the ASAP Advisory Board, and a first-time guest on this podcast. Could you share how your experience with the ASAP community led you to apply to the board, and what your experience has been like?

Ebony Adomanis: Sure. So I’ve been to APC twice. After the first one, I was like, well, I’m coming back every year because this is the most amazing thing ever, because, for me, the validation of just that I am a professional and what I do is important, and that, yes, all bosses are like that, it just meant a lot.

00:01:51

As a result, I realized that I wanted to be not only part of ASAP, but also help other administrative professionals get that same feeling, because not as many people — for as popular as it is, there’s still not a lot of people that actually know about it. So I wanted to be able to help spread the word about it and help build out programming and that type of thing. 

Leah Warwick: We’re so grateful for that. It means so much coming from an attendee. It’s like, I benefitted from this experience and I want to share that with more people. And it’s great having you on the board because we love having folks from all over the country, from a lot of different roles, to join us. And you’re going to be on a panel at this event, too, later today, on how to build a support network for career growth. How has support from other administrative professionals helped you grow in your career?

00:02:44                     

Ebony Adomanis: Honestly, that support helped me realize I even had a career. I’m a military spouse. My husband was Air Force for 22.5 years. To me, it was like, “Well, I can’t have a career. We’re moving every few years.” It wasn’t until, I’ll say, 2019, when we moved to where we currently are and I started working for the commanders that I was like, “Wait, I’m older now and I know things, and I am a professional.”

But all through those years, I did not get to that point by myself. It was other administrative professionals building me up and telling me about things, and meeting them in classes and mentoring. It was just really important that they made sure that I was getting the information and education that I needed, and I don’t even think they realized they were doing it. They were just being a good, supportive coworker or friend. And I still talk to so many of them now. It’s just a point where you know you have the support and somebody to turn to that understands, and that is why I think it is very important to have a support network within the industry. Not necessarily at your job, but within the industry. 

00:03:56                     

Leah Warwick: Yes, it’s so good to have a perspective of someone who knows where you’re coming from, because administrative professionals so often are misunderstood by outsiders, let’s say, and definitely undervalued, underrecognized in a lot of cases. So being able to be surrounded by people who build you up in wonderful. And then you’re now doing the same. So you’ve been built up by other people, and now you’re helping others with a generosity of spirit that is wonderful.

Ebony Adomanis: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I really discovered that, apparently, I’m an advocate for the profession [laughter] and I did not realize that. But I also know that there are so many people that work almost in a vacuum, where it’s a company where maybe there’s not a whole administrative department. There’s just you’re the EA. You’re the only one there. And I know it is very easy to feel like you are in a box by yourself and nobody understands. So that’s the other reason it is so important to have a network that is outside of your company.

00:04:56                     

Leah Warwick: That is so true, and especially true for EA roles. Sometimes you’re only one of two EAs or something. They’re all here.

Ebony Adomanis: They are. It does look like they are all here.

Leah Warwick: Yes. Not everyone, but a lot of people are here that can relate, that can empathize, that can give you tips and pointers and things that maybe you didn’t even know.

Ebony Adomanis: Yes. There’s just so many times that I have talked with people and they’re like, “I didn’t know that I could do that in Outlook.” I’m like, “Exactly. This is why you need a network.”

Leah Warwick: Yes, exactly, for knowledge sharing, camaraderie, and so many other things. What advice would you give to administrative professionals who are looking to foster genuine and authentic relationships?

Ebony Adomanis: I think, of course, the first one is to just be yourself. I am not — I won’t say that I am not professional, but I am definitely myself. I have a talent to say what I’m thinking and not offend people, which comes in important. But also, keep in mind [that] you’re not going to like everybody that you meet in the industry, and they’re not [all] going to like you. Don’t take it personally. You can have associates. You can have friends.

00:06:04

So just be yourself. Try to find something you can connect with. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be a work thing. It could be something in your personal life that you connect with. But also, I always find that asking them questions about themselves because people, I think, are more comfortable talking about what they know and they know themselves best. That’s a good way to get a conversation started. 

Leah Warwick: Yes. They’re talking about themselves and then they feel that they’re opening up to you, even in a small way, and you can find connection. Yes. And it’s so true about how when you are meeting people, just knowing you’re not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. But if you are yourself, you’re going to find the other people that you have a genuine connection with because you’re putting your real self out there. You will find your people. They’re here, I’m sure.

00:06:58                     

Ebony Adomanis: They are. It is so exhausting to try to keep up a persona that’s not your true self. It’s unnecessary stress. Just be yourself. If they like you, they like you; if they don’t, they don’t. I’m a big fan of RuPaul. She always says, “What other people think about me is none of my business.” As long as they’re not trying to ruin your day, it’s fine. Just be polite.

Leah Warwick: Yeah, put the good energy out there. I find, when making connections and growing your community, reciprocity is important, too. You don’t always want to be the one asking for favors. You want to say, I’m going to give. I’m going to give just to give. I do think it comes back to you.

00:07:41                     

Ebony Adomanis: It really does, and LinkedIn is great for that, just kind of reaching out. I sometimes get very busy, but every once in a while I’ll go, I’m going to go through all of my connections and just reach out and see how they’re doing, because you never know what’s going on, and sometimes just you reaching out can be the highlight of their day.

Leah Warwick: Oh, my gosh. You never know if they needed it and you reach out and you say, “Oh, I’m thinking of you. This made me think of you.” Really, that’s a great way to stay in touch and keep it casual, too.

Ebony Adomanis: It is, but that also fosters that more genuine connection because you’re not only talking to them when you need something or you have a question. You’re genuinely just trying to see how they’re doing.

Leah Warwick: That is great because that’s so true. To foster a real relationship with someone, it has to be based on a real connection.

Ebony Adomanis: Yes.

Leah Warwick: I love that. And we do have a listener question that was submitted by one of our ASAP community members. They wrote in: “How would you recommend an introverted-type admin seek to network and build her career?”

00:08:44                     

Ebony Adomanis: So, contrary to how I appear, I am actually very introverted. Even my kids are like, “No, you’re not.” And I was like, “Well, I know you.” But the key to it, I think, is again to remember you’re not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, as you said, and that is okay. Find something that you have in common. I think it’s great at events like this because you already know what you have in common, right? You’re an EA. You’re an administrative professional.

I have found that when you sit down in a session, say hello. It starts really, really simple. But if you are more on the introverted side and you are just kind of getting used to getting out there, I would say, if you don’t have an active LinkedIn profile, to get on LinkedIn and to connect that way, because it’s a lot easier to start a connection online because there’s no pressure. You can take a little bit of time to think of how you want to respond, instead of being on the spot, and then feeling like you’re really awkward and thinking about it for the next six months. 

00:09:47

That is because I know that’s what happens. But also it gives you a little bit of a chance to prep, and then you make those connections. You can start talking to those people. Eventually, you’ll end up at an event together. 

Leah Warwick: Yes.

Ebony Adomanis: So that is a good way. And even at work or locally, because there are a lot of local organizations for administrative professionals, they just don’t advertise. So you might have to do a little footwork or a little groundwork finding those organizations, but, again, you already have something in common. Just pick one thing and that’ll be the thing. You can start the conversation with, “I don’t usually do this. I’m kind of introverted.” And I think you’ll find a lot of administrative professionals are because it often is a behind-the-scenes position. So a lot of us are introverted. We can extrovert if you need us to. We just need to recharge afterwards.

00:10:41                     

Leah Warwick: Yes. And something we have in common. I’m introverted, too, so it is hard for me and many introverted people and neurodiverse people to just go up to someone at an event and introduce yourself. So, yes, reaching out to people online first, like we have the ASAP Circle group —

Ebony Adomanis: Yes, which is wonderful.

Leah Warwick: — so you can start making connections there, in advance, or LinkedIn, as you mentioned. If you see someone that’s coming to EA Ignite and you see them post about it, send them a little message and be like, “I’m going, too,” and add in something personal that you saw about them that you feel you might have a connection on. Like, “Oh, I see you work for this company. I used to work in that industry. We could connect when we’re on site.” So it does ease some of the possible anxiety going in.

00:11:21                     

Ebony Adomanis: It does. And one thing that I have done is I look at their job title, and if it’s a job title that either I am interested in or want to know more about, then the question I actually ask is — I’ll introduce myself and be like, “I would love to just hear more about what it is you do, how you got to that position.” So again, there’s not a whole lot of pressure on you necessarily to do the speaking, but you’re going to learn something out of that conversation. I’ve actually made a lot of connections just doing that. “I think your job title is something I would like to do eventually. Can you tell me the path that got you there?”

Leah Warwick: Oh, that’s great. And then you could even make a brain date on site and continue the conversation. Yes.

00:12:03                     

Ebony Adomanis: I have found there are a lot of people that want to mentor, like they want to help, and that is a great way to do it. It’s like, “Just tell me how you got to where you are.”

Leah Warwick: Yes. I think people are very willing to, again, talk about themselves, but really, more than that, share their experience, help others. And so when you find that, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We do find that a lot here at these events, whether in the circle beforehand or on site. People are wanting to connect because they might be wanting to make a career pivot, or just, like you mentioned, have a title that’s a little different, or maybe they want to transition into a new industry. The perfect opportunity to do it is in person, but remembering that before and after the event there is the online element. Following up afterward is important, too, in keeping that connection.

00:12:52                     

Ebony Adomanis: Yes, the following up, I think, sometimes is the hardest. I will say, usually after these events, I will put at least two more times on my calendar — because if it’s on your calendar, you have to do it — to remind me that I need to reach out to this person.

Another thing I do like about ASAP events, though, is that they do, within the app for the event — you can set up networking. You can reach out to people and be like, “We’re both going to be there. Let’s meet at this time and talk about this.” So the brain dates are great, but there’s also a separate networking that you don’t have to schedule a brain date. You can just schedule to meet with somebody to chat, which is great, because I think that also takes pressure off. 

Leah Warwick: Yes. It doesn’t have to be so formal. It can be whatever you want it to be. But, yes, we just got started. This is our very first say. We’re in the morning. And so I’m just so excited for your panel later, and also to start making those connections. It starts now.

00:13:43                     

Ebony Adomanis: Yes, it does. It does. I am so excited and there are so many people here that I’ve seen online. It’s like, “Oh, I’ve got to go say hi to this person and to this person and to this person.” So I am very excited to be here. I can’t wait to make new friends. I will just need a nap when I get home.

Leah Warwick: The same. Same. Hard same. We fill ourselves up with all of the energy here and then we go home and decompress, as introverts. But it is absolutely worth it. It was such a pleasure to have you on the podcast, Ebony. Where can our listeners find you online?

Ebony Adomanis: I am on LinkedIn. I am the only Ebony Adomanis, as far as I can tell, in the world. And I also do have a website. It is ebonyadomanisadministrativeprofessional.com.

Leah Warwick: Wonderful. Thank you.

Ebony Adomanis: Thank you.

[music playing]

Leah Warwick: Thank you for listening to “The Admin Edge,” produced by the American Society of Administrative Professionals, original music and audio editing by Warwick Productions, with audio and video production by 5Tool Productions. If you liked this podcast, please leave us a nice review, five stars, and subscribe. If you’d like to submit a listener question, you may do so on our website at ASAPorg.com/podcast.