Interview with Elizabeth Sutkowska

This week I am excited to be interviewing Elizabeth Sutkowska. Elizabeth is an experienced Executive Assistant with international expertise supporting leaders in fast-paced corporate and startup environments. Her career spans Poland, Cyprus, the USA, and Italy, and she has studied at five universities in fields such as international relations, corporate communication, business psychology, media, and marketing. Elizabeth is the founder of Assistologist, a Poland-based association aimed at elevating the Executive Assistant’s role through global best practices and strategic collaboration. She is passionate about healthy living, mindfulness, and exploring the world.

Elizabeth, your career journey has taken you across Cyprus, the USA, Italy, and Poland, perfecting the "art of getting things done with a smile." How has this incredible international exposure uniquely shaped your approach to executive support and problem-solving?

That’s a fascinating question, and a journey I’m truly proud of.

Before I set foot abroad, my professional roots took hold right after high school in Poland. I wasn’t sure what to study, so I took a five-year gap and began working as an office assistant at the local municipality, supporting the Head of the Spatial Planning Department. It was my first real encounter with the world of administration, and I enjoyed it. My manager, Mrs. Daniela, was incredibly precise and taught me how to format documents properly, communicate formally, and handle interoffice coordination. I was delivering official documents to neighboring towns and getting my first taste of what it meant to “support” with both responsibility and trust. Funny enough, I didn’t see it then as a career path, just a temporary job.

Then, in my early twenties, I moved to Cyprus, where I worked first as a chef’s assistant at an international hotel and later as a waitress & bartender in a lively music bar. The kitchen taught me preparation, discipline, and precision; food had to be served on time, every surface spotless between shifts, and every guest welcomed with genuine warmth. That kitchen was my first “operations center,” long before I ever stepped into a boardroom. Later, as a waitress, I mastered intuitive customer service, reading the room, remembering favorite drinks, even occasionally singing along with guests to their go-to songs. It was high energy, fast-paced, and deeply personal, much like the world of executive support.

In the USA, I spent a year as an au pair, first in sunny California supporting a family with three energetic girls, then a few months in Virginia with a different family, this time a boy and a girl. Each household had its own rhythm, parenting style, and expectations, which challenged me to quickly adapt and fine-tune my communication. From driving the kids to swimming, soccer, and playdates, to making sure they were fed, dressed, emotionally supported, and on schedule; I got a crash course in logistics, emotional intelligence, and time management. I often say I was supporting a “family board of directors,” with the parents as CEOs and the kids as… let’s just say, very passionate stakeholders.

Later, in Italy, I juggled a similar role while completing both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Supporting two ambitious Italian girls with full schedules, while handling my own academic load, taught me how to multitask with grace, plan like a pro, and stay cool under pressure. I became a walking agenda, with a heart. And, of course, living in Milan, one of the world’s fashion capitals, came with its own lessons. Italians have an innate sense of style and presence. My host family was always impeccably dressed, and that attention to detail left a lasting impression on me. It inspired me to be more mindful of how I present myself, not just in how I dress, but in how I carry myself professionally. In Italy, I learned that elegance is not vanity, it’s intentional communication.

Each chapter taught me something new:

• Poland gave me my first real taste of responsibility, structure, and precision; and showed me that even early administrative work can lay the foundation for something greater.

• Cyprus taught me grit, discipline, and the essence of true hospitality; serving others with a smile, even when things heat up behind the scenes.

• The USA sharpened my skills in planning, adaptability, and diplomacy; navigating two very different families on two coasts, each with their own fast-paced demands.

• Italy demanded balance, resilience, and self-leadership. It also taught me the power of presence, how the way you show up, dress, and carry yourself is part of how you communicate professionalism, even before you speak.

These seemingly unrelated roles gave me something more valuable than any single job title: adaptability, creative problem-solving, and a service mindset that’s both strategic and deeply human.

Eventually, I returned to Poland, where I’ve been for the past ten years. I started in an American educational corporation in a sales-like role, where I built a strong foundation in customer service, negotiation, and thriving under pressure. Then came the “happy accident” that changed everything: my first Executive Assistant role. I quickly realized this wasn’t just a job, it was a calling.

For the past six years, I’ve proudly supported leaders in the innovation and IT space. I thrive in fast-paced, tech-driven environments where change is the only constant and thinking ahead is part of the job description. My international exposure gave me agility. My early administrative roots taught me structure. And every role in between sharpened the skills I now use to serve, support, and solve; always with intention, and yes, with a smile.

As an EA to two directors at Asseco Solutions DACH, how do you manage the complexities of supporting multiple leaders, and what's your secret to being "two steps ahead with a solution" when challenges arise?

I'm genuinely grateful to support two Directors who are not only respectful but also open-minded and collaborative, even though they each have a very different working style. One leads our Product and Cloud division, the other heads Software Engineering and IT. They oversee different teams, but they share a common responsibility: the development of our ERP software, APplus.

That’s where I come in, as the bridge between them.

I manage individual tasks for each Director, but I’m also responsible for supporting their shared initiatives, ensuring alignment and clarity on all fronts. It’s a bit like conducting a dual-language orchestra, each with its own tempo, but I’ve learned how to translate their needs and keep things moving in harmony.

Being a multi-executive EA is a rhythm. Like waves, some days are calm, others are intense and fast-paced. When the sea is calm, I use that time to dive deeper: plan ahead, analyze bottlenecks, and prepare for what's coming. That’s my secret to being two steps ahead, using the quiet to gear up for the storm.

When things heat up, I’m ready. I rely on prioritization tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish the urgent from the important, but truthfully, my personal approach is simple: if I receive a task and have the capacity, I do it immediately. I don’t delay. I treat every task with importance, because any small delay today might cause a domino effect tomorrow.

That habit of acting early and thinking ahead creates the mental space I need when unexpected challenges pop up. I stay calm, focused, and able to offer solutions without panic. That’s what it means to be a steady anchor in a sea of shifting priorities.

What's been the most surprising or challenging aspect of transitioning from a dedicated EA role to also leading your own venture, and how do you balance these two demanding roles?

To be honest, I’ve never been the kind of person to stick with just one thing at a time. Life shaped me into someone who always has multiple plates spinning, and I’ve come to realize that’s just who I am. Even during my student years, across five universities, I never had the luxury of just “being a student.” I was always working, learning, and growing. So now, balancing my full-time role as an Executive Assistant, building my own venture (Assistologist), and occasionally supporting another company with social media, feels more like a natural continuation than a dramatic shift.

That said, the level of challenge is different. Founding a nonprofit, especially in a space as the Polish EA community, requires a whole new toolkit: legal frameworks, fundraising, marketing, operations, networking… and learning all of it as I go. It’s not just a passion project; it’s a calling that came to life.

The idea for Assistologist had been growing in me for a while. I was heavily inspired by the English-speaking EA world, especially the UK, USA and Australia, and found myself craving that same sense of empowerment and community here in Poland. Eventually, I realized I had learned enough to start giving back. With the encouragement of my incredibly supportive partner (who also saw I was full of ideas and energy), I decided to stop waiting and start building.

Balancing both roles isn’t always easy, especially at the beginning, when everything feels urgent. I dedicate my full energy to my Executive Assistant role during the day, and outside those hours, I switch hats and focus on building the association. But I’ve also learned that balance isn’t just about time management, it’s about energy management. That’s why I start each morning by prioritizing myself: I wake up early to workout, meditate, write in my gratitude journal, and set the tone for the day. Only when my cup is full can I pour into others.

And yes, I’m lucky to have a partner who reminds me to practice lagom, a beautiful Swedish word for “just the right amount.” He reminds me that love, partnership, and simply living are just as important as professional success.

So how do I balance it all? I lead myself first. Then I serve others, with clarity and intention.

Can you describe a particularly creative or complex event you've coordinated, and how you ensured its success while maintaining a "low-stress" approach?

One of the most memorable events I coordinated was during my time supporting my first Executive in the startup world, a space where creativity isn’t optional, it’s survival. The initiative was called Startup Hansa, and the goal was to connect startup hubs from across Europe by bringing together high-level speakers, investors, and innovators for a cross-border exchange of ideas.

My CEO entrusted me with leading the coordination of the event, from crafting the agenda and curating the speaker lineup, to managing logistics and acting as his representative when reaching out to high-profile guests across several countries. It was my first time inviting such senior experts on behalf of an Executive, and I had to quickly build credibility, craft compelling outreach, and handle all the back-end planning: hotel bookings, dinner arrangements, and making sure everything ran smoothly on-site.

It was complex, fast-paced, and, since I was new to the role, definitely a stretch opportunity. But it didn’t feel stressful. Honestly, it felt like a rush of adrenaline and creative energy. I love that feeling of taking ownership, being trusted, and seeing the dots connect. I stayed calm by breaking things down into clear milestones, communicating openly, and anticipating where things might go off track.

In the end, the event was a success. Guests showed up inspired, logistics ran like clockwork, and my CEO was proud of what we delivered. I was, too.

As an administrative leader and advocate, what's one global trend or opportunity you're most excited about for the administrative profession in the coming years, and how can admins leverage it for collective growth?

One of the most exciting global trends, and biggest opportunities for our profession is the rise of AI and smart automation. And no, I don’t see it as a threat. I see it as an upgrade.

Artificial Intelligence is here to assist us, not replace us. It gives Executive Assistants the power to offload repetitive, mundane, or time-consuming tasks, things like scheduling, data entry, or inbox management, and reclaim our time for deeper, more strategic contributions. Instead of being stuck in execution mode, we can shift toward insight, foresight, and impact.

But here’s the key: we can’t wait for someone to hand us the manual. We need to be proactive learners, exploring tools, experimenting with tech, and sharing knowledge with our peers. That’s how we stay ahead of the curve and bring others along for the ride.

I believe this is the decade where we move from "supporting the business" to "shaping the business." By embracing AI and innovation, we’re not just making our jobs easier, we’re evolving our profession into something more strategic, intentional, and future-proof.

And the best part? We don’t have to do it alone. Collective growth happens when we share what we know, lift each other up, and lead by example. That’s the kind of assistant community I want to help build, and the one Assistologist is all about.

__________________________________________________________________

Elizabeth Sutkowska is an experienced Executive Assistant with international experience supporting leaders in fast-paced corporate and startup environments. Her career spans Poland, Cyprus, the USA, and Italy, where she has held diverse roles and developed a broad, interdisciplinary skill set.

A lifelong learner, Elizabeth studied at five universities, including four international institutions, earning degrees in international relations, corporate communication, business psychology, media, and marketing. Her unique blend of experience and education fuels her commitment to redefining the Executive Assistant profession.

Driven by purpose and passion, she recently founded Assistologist, a Poland-based association dedicated to elevating the EA role and promoting global best practices. The vision behind Assistologist is to shape a future where Executive Assistants and leaders engage in Holistic Partnership 2.0, strategic, intentional, and growth-focused collaboration.

Outside of work, Elizabeth is an advocate for healthy living, mindfulness, and exploring the world with curiosity and joy.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-sutkowska/

Check out Assistologist: https://www.assistologist.com