Interview with an Admin: Sarah Troth

This week I am excited to be interviewing Sarah Troth. Sarah is a former pediatric nurse who now excels as a Fractional Executive Assistant, bringing thoughtful care and strategic structure to C-suite operations. She specializes in optimizing processes and maximizing leaders' time, driven by her passion for helping others thrive. Based in Phoenix, Sarah is dedicated to empowering leaders and moving their visions forward with integrity and excellence.

Sarah, your path from pediatric nurse to Executive Assistant is certainly unconventional and fascinating. How did the core principles you learned in nursing—like trust, teamwork, and anticipating needs—directly translate and uniquely prepare you for the world of executive support?

The most important thing I took from my time as a pediatric nurse was a human-centered approach to work and care. At the heart of nursing, and now in my work as an executive support partner, is the understanding that relationships are everything. When we recognize our shared humanity and focus on building trust and truly listening, the outcomes are better. That mindset continues to shape how I show up in executive operations. Whether I’m navigating a full calendar, prepping for a board meeting, or problem-solving conflicts behind the scenes, I try to never lose sight of the person on the other side. My goal is to be steady, thoughtful, and attuned; not just to what’s urgent, but to what’s meaningful. I also carry forward the practical skills nursing gave me: managing complexity, anticipating needs, communicating clearly and effectively with leaders (even when under pressure), and understanding how strong systems support quality decisions. But at the core, it’s still about people. I believe the quality of our relationships directly impacts the quality of our work.

 As a Fractional Executive Assistant, you support multiple C-suite executives, consultants, founders, and boards. What's your strategy for effectively managing the needs and priorities of multiple clients, ensuring each feels like they have your full, dedicated attention?

For me, it starts with getting really clear on what success looks like for each client relationship.

→ How do they perceive the executive to executive assistant partnership?

→ What does it mean to them?

→ What do they hope to gain from the partnership?

As we EAs know, every executive has different priorities, expectations, and ways of working, so part of my role is understanding those nuances and tailoring my approach accordingly. That clarity sets the foundation of the relationship from the start.

From there, I like to build structure into my week. I’m a firm believer in regular weekly syncs with each client to stay aligned on upcoming needs, ongoing projects, travel, etc. On the back end, I time block dedicated space for each client throughout my week. During those blocks, I identify the top 2-3 priorities to focus on that are really going to move the needle. This rhythm helps me stay proactive rather than reactive.

Also, I think executive presence matters just as much as technical skills, if not a little more. The way you show up, whether in an email, a Slack message, or a Zoom call, has a real impact. Are you calm and grounded, or scattered and rushed? Are you truly listening, or just moving through a checklist? Executives pick up on that, and it directly shapes how supported they feel. So even when I’m managing multiple clients, my goal is always to bring focus, steadiness, and intentionality to each interaction.

And finally, I think it’s essential to know yourself and your limits. One of the most important strategies for doing excellent fractional work is not taking on more than you can realistically support. Stretching beyond your capacity doesn’t just impact your well-being, it impacts the quality of your work and the consistency of your presence. Personally, I’d rather serve fewer clients really well than spread myself too thin.

Having specialized in the nonprofit sector for much of your experience, how do you adapt your administrative and operational support when partnering with leaders in different industries? Are there universal principles, or do you tailor your approach significantly?

There are definitely universal principles that matter in every setting. Things like: trust, integrity, thoughtful communication, and follow-through to name a few. But I do tailor my approach based on the executive, the pace of the business, and the culture I’m stepping into. I believe that combining these universal principles with a willingness to adapt to each industry’s unique context is what leads to the most effective partnerships.

When I’ve worked outside the nonprofit sector, I’ve found that building a working knowledge of the industry is essential. I might listen to podcasts, read relevant books or articles, or follow thought leaders in that space. I want to understand how they think and what success looks like in their world so I can show up as a strategic and aligned thought partner. It’s actually very similar to how nurses change specialties. They need to have a basic understanding of the body system they’re working with in order to tailor care with precision and anticipate needs effectively.

There’s so many interesting industries to explore, new skills to learn, and you never know what profound connections you’ll make when you explore something new and step outside of your comfort zone. And you’ll be amazed by how many of your existing skills can be put to great use even in another industry.

 Your services include Event Planning. Whether for a board meeting, a client gathering, or an internal team event, what's your initial process for understanding a client's vision for an event, and how do you translate that into a seamless execution, especially when managing it remotely or fractionally?

I like to begin by asking thoughtful questions to understand the why behind the event.

→ What are the desired outcomes?

→ Is this event tactical, strategic, or generative in nature? (A nod to Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni - a must read!)

→ I also ask the executive what their top 2–3 non-negotiables are (it could be anything from a preferred room setup, strong and reliable WiFi, or always having natural lighting in the meeting space).

→ I’m especially interested in whether the event will help advance the client’s vision/mission.

That clarity upfront helps guide every decision moving forward; from the agenda flow to the choice of venue. I’m a big believer in the power of environment to help shape creative thinking and group dynamics. A strategic planning session might call for a room set up with whiteboards, markers, and a mess of colorful sticky notes (that I’ll inevitably be responsible for decoding after the event, haha). Whereas a leadership retreat focused on long-term vision casting and strengthening new relationships might be better suited to a cabin in the mountains with space for connection and reflection

During the venue research phase, I like to create a nice clean, one-page event overview sheet with all of the known event details and provide it to each venue when requesting quotes. I’ve come to learn that it really helps to cut down on unnecessary back-and-forth emails and allows venues to provide more accurate, comparable estimates. This is especially helpful when budget is a non-negotiable for a client. Most venues tend to really appreciate the extra effort, setting the tone for a strong relationship right out of the gate.

My process starts at the 300,000-foot view and zooms into the 30,000-foot level. Once the purpose and structure are clear, then I move into logistics. I love a good task management system. I’m not married to any one tool specifically. What matters most is understanding how to use it and a commitment to using it consistently and in a way that supports timely execution.

As someone who empowers others to excel, what's one piece of advice you consistently give to your clients, or to other administrative professionals, about maintaining efficiency and well-being in demanding roles?

Stay grounded in who you are and why you do what you do.

It’s easy to chase every new strategy or tool in the name of productivity, which absolutely has its place, but efficiency alone isn’t enough. At least not for me. If you’re not anchored in your values, it’s way too easy to lose sight of what truly matters. And if/when that happens, that’s when I start to feel imbalanced, and my well-being is either at risk or has likely already taken a hit.

You might be tempted to automate a process or implement a new system, but if it doesn’t align with the values or ethos of your business or your client’s business then it’s not a worthwhile investment of time, energy, or resources.

Part of being effective in an EA role is being discerning: knowing when something enhances the work and when it distracts from what truly matters to you or your clients. Discernment is just as important as innovation.

At the end of the day, staying grounded is what allows me to serve with clarity, integrity, and intention; no matter how demanding the role may be.

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From the bedside to the boardroom, Sarah Troth has built a career rooted in thoughtful care, clear communication, and trust. She began her professional journey as a pediatric nurse, where she learned the importance of teamwork, anticipating needs, and helping others thrive, principles that continue to guide her work today.

Now serving as a Fractional Executive Assistant, Sarah provides high-touch administrative and operational support to C-suite executives, consultants, founders, and boards. She specializes in bringing structure and care to executive operations. Her passion lies in creating order, improving processes, and helping leaders maximize their time so they can focus on what matters most.

While much of her experience has been in the nonprofit and mission-driven space, Sarah is passionate about partnering with leaders across industries. Her work is deeply aligned with her values of transparency, integrity, and service, and she approaches each client relationship with loyalty, efficiency, and excellence.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Sarah lives with her husband, Tyler, and their young daughter, Elliot (“Ellie”). Whether she’s managing the day-to-day or serving as a trusted thought partner, her ultimate goal remains the same: to empower others to show up as their best selves and move their vision forward.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-troth/