Episode 2
· 41:26
Welcome to the Admin Avenues Podcast. I'm your host, Candace Burningham. In each episode, I'll be chatting with admins from all avenues, industry experts and a few surprise guests. We'll be diving into career journeys, practical tools and the kind of honest conversations you've come to expect from me. Whether you're just starting out or leading at the top level, this is your space to feel seen, supported and inspired.
Candice Burningham:Proudly sponsored by our friends with benefits, gift of benefits, because admins deserve more. Now let's go shape the future of admin in Australia one conversation at a time. Hello, and welcome to the Admin Avenues podcast with very special guest today, Chelsea Lewis, who is the executive assistant and office manager at Zimmerman and the founder of Little Jane. Welcome, Chelsea.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Thank you for having me. It's so good to see you.
Candice Burningham:So good to see you. Now Chelsea and I have known each other for a very long time. We used to work together at Channel nine back in my twenties. Were you even in your twenties back then?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I think I was. I think I was. Surely.
Candice Burningham:We had the best time. It was of an era where there was a bunch of us that were young EAs that were just having fun, and we owned, what was it, nine entertainment coaster. We had access to ticket tech, and we had access to fun events. The foodie show was on, and that was, like, the gig to get into. You could get your friends in.
Candice Burningham:And it was just such a cool time and such a great place to work back then. And clearly, we've made friends for life out of that and so grateful for that opportunity where I I just don't think that they would ever be able to make a media company what it was back then.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:No way.
Candice Burningham:No. I think it's way too PC now. This is Yeah. What they call the Packer era or the Kim Jell era.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. I think about this all the time, and I think, you know, when we were there to boys club and, you know, we kind of, we were coming in our twenties and coming up through having that new fresh mentality of, you know, probably shouldn't be like this, but it's very boys club and there's so many great female leaders there now that none of that stuff would fly anymore. But it was an interesting experience to go through in our twenties.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. At such a young age and to be exposed to so many things as well. Like, I do remember, though, there was one powerful woman who she was a tiny rocket, but her name was Amanda. She was the head of legal. Yeah.
Candice Burningham:And do you remember she always had on Louboutins?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. I think she's still there. Well, she's. Yeah. And I think she's one of the powerhouse leaders that I'm thinking about.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. She like, she was a boss lady back then. Was like, damn girl, look at you. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So many good ones.
Candice Burningham:So good. Okay, so for our listeners, can you give them a quick snapshot of who you are and what you're currently doing?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. So I've been in the admin space for over twenty years, and that makes me feel very old.
Candice Burningham:But yes,
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Sorry. But I'm very grateful for those twenty years. So yeah, twenty years in the admin space through different industries. I've had five years experience in the entrepreneurial space and I'm currently working for Zimmerman, the luxury fashion brand here in Sydney as the office manager to our five sites here in Sydney. And I'm also the EA to the CEO, the COO and the creative director.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:It's a huge role.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. Yes. Do you have support?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I do. I've got two girls underneath me, two coordinators that help me. It's probably never enough, but, you know, we make it work. It's good.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. That's good. Okay. So that in itself is such an exciting role, but you have had so many amazing jobs and worked for so many companies. Like, for example, you've worked at Edelman.
Candice Burningham:You've worked as a PA to Luke Mangan, who is one of the most revered chefs in Australia. You've worked at Viacom where there was literally a slippery dip in the building. You've worked at Sony Music. You've worked at Channel nine, and now you're at one of the biggest fashion labels in the world. Also, then you created your own brand.
Candice Burningham:Like, such an incredible career journey. But let's, like, kind of start from Channel nine and talk about how you move through these companies.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I mean, I think it goes even further back than Channel nine. I think it's always helpful to touch on, you know, I don't think I was the person who liked school. So I left in year 10 and my parents were kind of like, you know, we're not paying for you to go to a private girls school to do nothing. So what are you gonna do? So they sent me to Jimjali Watkins business finishing college where I became very refined.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And I did that for a year, and then I got my first job at an accounting firm as a receptionist. And I think when they called me up and offered me the role, they were like, we're gonna offer you, you know, 25 remuneration or 30, I think it was. And I was like, I don't know what the word remuneration is, but sure. Let's go. I was like, this is going to pay for my nights out.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Sure. Done. And then from there, you know, I've I've been very lucky to have many different roles in many different industries that has made me learn what I do and don't like in terms of who I want to work for and where I want to work for. I'm very lucky that I've had those twenty years experience that I can be a bit picky now.
Candice Burningham:Yeah,
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:yeah. And I've always loved fashion. So when this role came up, I kind of jumped on it. I didn't think I would get the role because I'm kind of like a Gold Coast girl, walk around in my havianas, but dream about fashion all the time, you know? And now I've got the role year I'm three years in, and I'm walking around in silk organza skirts to meetings and on a Monday and things like that.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So it's definitely a change, but I love it. I thrive in it. It's really good.
Candice Burningham:And so you've done you've done the full journey as well. So you've done receptionist through to your leading an EA team now or could look at mentee. Was it like? Like the difference in those kind of things. So there was like you transition, then you became an executive assistant, but then you veered off and became a personal assistant to one of the biggest names in the industry here, Chef Luke Mangen.
Candice Burningham:What was it like moving out of executive and moving into personal work?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Being a PA, you're assisting a person and being an EA, you're assisting a company. So it's really different. I think when I was younger and I first got into that account, that role at the accounting firm, I was the receptionist. I was the go to person. I was the hub of the office.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I was the support base. And I think that's when I realized I really love doing that role. So I think between being an EA and PA, there is a massive difference, but you're also come back to that core root of the role, which is supporting people and nurturing and being there for somebody. So I don't think transitioning into PA or EA is that difficult as long as you really want those roots of supporting somebody and supporting a team. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And I think if you're not in that headspace and wanting to be that person, then it's probably just not right for you. But, yeah, I think you can transition to anything really easily if you've got that mentality.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. And then was it kind of like actually, yeah, I've done this, I've tried this, but I actually prefer the executive setting. What made you move back in the executive world?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Well, I do. It's kind of it's funny because I at the moment, I do everything. So I do there's probably four aspects of my role, which is EAPA, travel consultant and then office manager. So one minute I'm dealing with tradies and then the next minute I'm booking private yacht And then the next minute, know, doing a board report or something for somebody. So I'm lucky enough that I get to do everything.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But I think, you know, one thing with being a PA and you would know this as well, and it goes with being an EA as well, but more PA, you have to get along with that person really, really well. You know, I remember there was one role and I'm not going to you I mean, you can work it out. But I worked for a chef once and the minute I worked for them, I, you know, I knew that our personalities were not right. I knew that there was a personality clash. I didn't really support, you know, the way they worked and I didn't really get the vibe that they were supportive of me either.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So I quickly, you know, I think that takes a big person to really cut that role off and know that if it's not serving your purpose, that you have to leave. And most people find that really, really hard. But and that's probably the first time I had ever done that. But I think, you know, you do have to realise that a PA relationship and boss is super personal. And if it's not right, then it's not going to work.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And you've got to be okay with moving on from roles after three months or a year or whatever if they're not helping you. You know, if you've put your best effort in, great. If it's not helping you move on, find something else. There will be other roles out there and your happiness is most important.
Candice Burningham:Yep. I completely agree. You know, you get that gut feel that this isn't this isn't connecting. This isn't working. Even if you're trying to push it, you know.
Candice Burningham:Like Yeah. I've worked for someone who is very much in the public glamour and they had churned through many PAs and PAs, but we clicked. Yeah. So it worked for us. We if you're not clicking, if you're not vibing, it's just not going to work, especially not if you're working that closely with each other.
Candice Burningham:Like, as you said, you're in their world. Yes. So you you transition to so many different like, admittedly, it's it feels like it's all in media and entertainment. But, like, to to go from entertainment to music, I dare ask, what what does what would a typical day look like for you?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:It's so random. Like I said, I pretty much wear those four core hats. So in the morning, I you know, it's very office management. And I think working for a global company, I know we've got these rules in place that bosses can't contact their staff outside of work hours and things like that. And I do.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. But well, that's a rule, right? That's a legal thing.
Candice Burningham:In some countries, it's it's a yeah, it's not in all countries. Definitely not America.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah, definitely. Well, it is. Yeah. And I think I think it's very hard to do when you're working for a global company and when you're working for high net worth individuals who travel the world twenty four seven. So I'm pretty much on twenty four seven, but my day would usually start at seven in the morning or pretty much six when I wake up checking the emails from night before, making sure that there's no crisis that's happened.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Then I get onto talking to Tradies who are in our office doing works. And then I kind of come in to the office and go through my emails from the before, get everything planned and done for the day ahead. And then I'll have a team with with my girls to plan anything for the day. And my girls are really good. They're they're kind of, you know, the they're kind of the directors, the executives, PAs.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So they do the running around and kind of the fun stuff where I know it sounds it sounds not fun, but I mean, I love running the Porsche to get it washed or whatever or, you know, going to get clothes from stores or personal shopping. So they do all those fun little things. And then, you know, I organize a lot of the I organize all of the international travel for the company. So we've got three fifty staff. We've got staff that travel to suppliers all around the world.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:We also do campaign shoots all around the world, fashion week twice a year. So a lot of that travel sort of side of things. So it's a hectic day and no day is ever the same, but I love that. Like, I could never just sit down at a desk and just, you know, sit there at the emails all day long. I love getting pulled into different directions and thinking on my feet and prioritising and just going with the flow.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. There's so much scope, like so much to get involved in so much.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah.
Candice Burningham:That's my kind of idea of what a really good role is, something that has so much scope to it, but also different ways in which you can show your value. Clearly, they rely on you to make the business run. You are the touch point for each executive. You're the touch point for the office. Like, yeah, it's I mean, everyone thinks fashion is such a creative and pretty and fun industry.
Candice Burningham:It's like, no, it's really fast paced. I imagine with America throwing its tariffs on, that's throwing a whole another thing. And that all comes back down to you being like, how are we going to sort this out? How are going do our filming? How are you going to like?
Candice Burningham:Yeah. Yeah. I think people don't think about that side of it. So let's talk about life behind the scenes. So what's it really like being the right hand to high profile creative leaders that you've kind of touched on saying you are pretty much twenty four seven.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. When you're at that kind of role at that level, would you just
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:say that
Candice Burningham:that is what it is?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. I agree. When you're at that level, you and depending on the person you're supporting and what they're doing and stuff. And being a global company, you sort of have to be on twenty four seven. I'm you know, when they're in Paris, which is every second month that I'm pretty much on Paris time and just organizing the most random things can happen, so I'm on twenty four seven.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:It's chaos. Yeah. It's yeah, it's definitely chaos. I don't know how my partner puts up with me because even at Christmas time, I had a couple of weeks on the Gold Coast to see my family and I was literally just on my phone 20 fourseven, just dealing with security guards in Brazil or something random like that. So it's super chaos, but I think it's incredibly rewarding.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:You're doing something so fun and it's, you know, not to this is just my personality, but I like working for the fun and the creative side of things. I think I would not be happy if I was working in finance or the, you know, the mundane sort of things. So as much as it's chaos and it's hectic, it's so much fun. But I think it took me like, I remember even when I first started, I think I called you like a year in or six months in and I was like, Candace, I don't think I can do this. Like, I'm stressed.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I have no personal life. You know, I'm really, really struggling. And then I kind of took a step back and I was like, just go a little bit further. Like, you really love this. It's just a lot of pressure.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And I think it just I say like this to everyone that it just takes time sometimes to get into the flow of of how things work and and the stresses and the pressures. And that's then it's up to you to decide whether you want that world or not. But, I do love this world. It's just full on. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But I
Candice Burningham:love it. It takes your core skills. Like, do you feel like your core skills have set you up to be able to succeed in such a big role like this to be able to, you know, cross such different parts of the business? And there's that core element, I think. Like, if you had have gone from the accountancy firm into a role like this, you just would have been like, no.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:No. No way. I would have struggled big time.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. But Your experience and the people you've dealt with, the companies you've dealt with, the environments you've dealt with, the fire putting out that you've dealt with has made you the success that you can because you're pretty much you're doing an operations role.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. Yeah.
Candice Burningham:That's really what it is. And that's often what EAs are, is that the operations of the business. So that's very, very cool. But let's talk about your entrepreneurial spark as well. I'm a big believer that EAs are entrepreneurial.
Candice Burningham:I just feel like it's a business lesson working in these environments and these people that you don't even realize you're getting a diploma in entrepreneurial skills. Yeah. So talk to us a little bit about Liljang. What sparked your idea to to start your own brand?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So I was kind of finishing up with Viacom, so I was lucky enough to get a redundancy from them. And I was kind of in this, you know, stagnant point. Had had a personal life. I'd split up with a partner and my personal life. So I was kind of at I wouldn't say rock bottom, but I was at a point where I was a bit lost and didn't know what to do.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And then, you know, I kind of just was like, I need to feel a now and I need to feel that buzz again. I need to feel something. And I love, you know, I think I've got a creative mind. I think creatively. I love fashion and things like that.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So I just started sketching one day and I was like, okay, I'm really loving what I'm doing here. This is cool. Got some samples done. Went over to China, met with suppliers, came back and then started doing all the marketing, the branding, the website, everything started setting up the photoshoot, the models. So from start to finish of this brand, lingerie and intimates brand, it was such a learning curve.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But I learned, like, all of my skills that I've learned over the years being an EA was kind of brought into this because, you know, you're working with all these different departments and you get a little dabble into everything and you kind of understand what goes on. But we are also as EAs, we are so organised. We know how to get things done. And so I was like, come on, I can do this. I can absolutely do this.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And so then launched a few years ago. And so, yeah, it's been really, really good. And I've been able to do that whilst I had my career going as well. So I didn't have much of a social life, had to put everything on pause of social life, which is so rewarding and worth it. And now I've got, you know, that under my belt of having a a business, so it's great.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. I love that. And I think I was gonna ask the question of how do you manage your creative side while balancing a demanding full time EA role, But I think you're made for it. But there's some years that are built for this. There are some years that are built for the nine to five.
Candice Burningham:Well, not finances a nine to five job, but accountancy, Deloitte, you know, where you can tap in, tap out. And then there's people that are built for this kind of entrepreneurial world where they they can manage their demanding EA role, but they can also have their own business. Yeah. But I've I've heard on the grapevine that you might be adding a new role to your repertoire.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. So I'm fourteen weeks pregnant, so I'm going to be going through the experiences of being a career woman, having my own business, and then also being a mom. So it's failed. First one for me. So I'm I'm learning as I go.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But you know what? I'm pretty resilient and agile, so I think I'll easily get this done.
Candice Burningham:I think you will, too. I think you've got the tenacity for it. I think you also having the girls there that to have the extra support, to have knowing that there's a job still there for you. There's no threat that, you know, if you step out to raise a family, there is still always a job for you there that you don't won't have to drop your salary to come back into the market. If anything, you'll probably get more money because you're they'll realize how much they
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:need you in the Yeah. Business when you step
Candice Burningham:But it is something that a lot of women, and this is a 98% professional industry of women, it's a real something that we need to talk about of women going in and out of the career to have children and to prove the point that you can have a career in this industry and come back to it and come into the role that you're in. So I'm very excited for you, and I can't wait to hear how all that goes. But what are some of the biggest lessons you've probably learned from running your own small business versus, obviously, you've got logistics in Zimmerman With your own business, like what especially having to do it on the side. You're dealing with people in China. You're dealing with shipping orders not happening.
Candice Burningham:Like Yeah. How how you're able just to do all of that?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I think, like I said before, you know, my role has set up so much for having my own business and going through all those different roadblocks or, you know, personalities. And I think the one thing about EAs is just, you know, we we get things done. We get it done no matter what. So it's been really interesting, but I think it's I think for me, it's you've got to have passion. So for what you're wanting to do, if you don't have passion for that side business, you're not going to a it's not going to work.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:That's going to come through in your business as well. But I also would say for anyone that wants to do that on the side, I think you should be really okay with the fact of failure, like be okay to fail, be okay to get things wrong. You know, I don't have any background skill in being an EA and look where I am today or starting my own business and look where I am today. And, you know, there's definitely been companies that I've been at that I haven't enjoyed and I've quit after three months. And there's definitely been times with my business where I've cried, drank a bottle of wine and gone, what the hell am I doing?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. You know, But we're so resilient and, you know, I just am huge female advocate that we just are so strong and powerful when we get things done. So I think just being passionate about what you want to do and just being okay to fail is my my lessons for out there. Yeah.
Candice Burningham:And it is like you're taught you're kind of taught it's not okay to fail when you're in your career because so many things happen that rely on you. But when you're trialling something in your career and you're trialling like at Man Avenue, its original purpose was a failure. It was meant to be a
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:job board.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. It failed. It did. It didn't take off. And I was like, alright, pivot.
Candice Burningham:Let's turn it into a community. We're turning it into events. Like, it took three years to get it here. Now we're doing a podcast. Like Yeah.
Candice Burningham:But it had to fail to grow to its evolution.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah.
Candice Burningham:So I think that's a really good point to bring up. Now working in fashion, I've got to say, looking at you and how beautiful you look right now is very different to how I'm representing our twenties days. Let's talk about style and professional presence. So working in one of the biggest fashion houses
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:in
Candice Burningham:the world, has it had a big impact on your own professional style? Like, do you feel like it's influenced how you want to show up at work?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I think so. You know? And it's I think you have to feel obviously, you know, bring your personality out in your style, of course. But, you know, at the end of the day, and I don't make sound, you know, like old school here, but you also need to remember that you're representing the company and you're representing your executives. So there is a level of professionalism that you need to bring in, but that doesn't mean that you have to wear a black jacket and pants all the time.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Go and get yourself a tailored jacket and really one of those powerful women's suits or add some color to your wardrobe or whatever you want. And I think all four don't this day and age also wear such a freedom, you know, of speech and expression of how we feel and what we want to wear and things like that now. So I think, you know, wear the bold stuff. Like I said, I'm at work wearing organza, silk organza skirts and thousand dollar dresses and things like that, which is something I never thought I would do, but you should always just bring your style into your dress sense at work. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But, yeah, keeping that mentality that we are representing a business here that is paying off.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. I couldn't agree with that more, but just touching on that, like, just remember when it wasn't acceptable for you to have more than one earring or you had tattoos, you had to cover them.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. Things
Candice Burningham:like that. Like in most places, they're hiring you for you now. They're not hiring you because you've hidden your tattoos. I mean, obviously, there's still some places that are old school, but I think we're in a better world where they want you to and you you when you turn up authentic, you are authentically you and you're to have a better experience. You're going to give your best self.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. I think, yeah, we're in a much better world for that. I remember back in England when I worked for NBC Universal, it was summer for five days and one of the guys asked if he could wear shorts and they said no.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah,
Candice Burningham:you know, like tailored shorts, like chino shorts. They're like, no. Yeah. I remember just laughing being like, it's five days, guys. Come on.
Candice Burningham:Like, you only get to see the sun in this country for five days. Let him wear shorts. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Exactly. They
Candice Burningham:were like, no. Don't care. That's what it is. I was like, alright. That's Yeah.
Candice Burningham:But very
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:It's stuff like that that you just go, you know, you've obviously got limits, but you go, you know, is this a company I really want to work for if this is something that I feel strongly about that they're going to say no to, you know, you being comfortable and expressing yourself. So I think it's always important to research your company before you go into it first to make sure it aligns with your values and your goals and what you want and your style as well.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. As such good advice is when you are interviewing, it's two ways. You need to be asking those questions right back at them. Is this a good fit for me? Absolutely.
Candice Burningham:Because there's yeah. If you're not scoping that out, if they are going to have an issue with you being your authentic self, need to think about where that sits with you. Are you happy to be a different person for most of your working career?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Exactly. Yeah. Most of your
Candice Burningham:last tips. Yeah. Okay. Speaking of tips, what are your kind of tools, tips, hacks? Are there any, like, go to tools, apps or systems that you're like, yep, this is what keeps me organized?
Candice Burningham:Like, I don't have project management tools, especially since you have to share your work with two other people.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I am so old school and I don't you know, I am I'm only just getting, you know, my head around ChatGPT.
Candice Burningham:Oh, welcome. Welcome.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. Thank you. I actually, you know, I'm going to New Zealand for a holiday. Well, we'll try and make it a holiday as much as possible as long as I don't answer my phone and emails. But and my partner was like, just ask ChatGPT how you want the route to be or what you wanna do and everything.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And I was like, but how does it know? They came up with the best itinerary ever. And I was like, oh my god. I need to use ChatGPT for everything. But in terms of work, you know, I don't really use it at all because I'm kind of old school.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I also, you know, in the way I work, it's so fast paced. I don't have time to sit there and ask ChatGPT to translate an email for me. Yeah. So, and I'm hoping that with my twenty years experience that I can write emails and I there's there's something about, you know, the authenticity of having something real as well. I know I need to get up with the times because the world will fully be, you know, AI and everything.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But I kind of like the authenticity of just writing my own email and it coming from me or or anything like that. But in terms of for my personal, my business, there's definitely heaps of apps that I use for marketing and, you know, the website and things like that, that definitely help and streamline my life and my time. So that's definitely. But in terms of career, no, I don't. I need to get up with it.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I need to learn. I need some 20 year old to teach me.
Candice Burningham:They they can find some some ways while you're on holiday.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. Exactly. So
Candice Burningham:how do you manage your time and energy between your corporate role and your entrepreneurial work? Like, are you just you just said automation and things like that? Like, have you cut pretty much like now what you're doing so that the business can run itself because it is product based? Then just focus.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah.
Candice Burningham:It's not just you're working hours. So let's be real. You can focus on
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:It's definitely when I started Zimmerman, I definitely by little Jane took a backwards step. Definitely took backwards step for a good year while I was navigating my role and getting into the groove of things and finding my feet and getting my comfortability. I was, you know, working way more than anyone should, but you know, I really wanted this role and I never wanted to let myself down, let me down, not them. I didn't want to let me down with this cause it's something I wanted. So I really needed to just put my little Jane aside for a year and focus on Zim.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And now I feel like I'm in a good groove and a good space with Zim and that I this just happens naturally, you know, the role and I know how to do it and I know what to expect and everything. So then My Little Jane gets the little attention on the side, but it kind of rolls
Candice Burningham:as it does. Automated.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Exactly. So I don't know how I'll go with a child, but yeah, so I don't know. My little Jane might have to really be pushed aside or maybe it might be coming to the front of Zimmer Zimmerit will be I'll be on maternity leave.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. Yeah. And maybe there might be a little baby Jane. Yeah. Little Well, election, little baby jack suits.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. Well, little Jane is definitely started when I was trying to empower women and postpartum and things like that. So definitely more I'll be more experienced for that. Maybe I'll come out with another line that's, you know, maternity.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. I love that. All right. Let's do a quick quick fire round. What's your coffee order?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I don't drink coffee, and I have a V energy drink every morning. Stop the big school
Candice Burningham:drink thing. I know.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I've had to quit for the last three months, though, so it's painful.
Candice Burningham:What are you having instead?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Nothing. Water. And it's so boring.
Candice Burningham:How do you feel if you're not having that?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I don't feel any different, to be honest. Like, I've got no alcohol and no pee energy drink. Like, this is a struggle for me, but there's a bigger thing in the world that I want. So Yep. It's worth the sacrifice.
Candice Burningham:Okay. And what's, like, a go to song or something like that to reset your mood at work? So I imagine there's times where you're just like Yeah. Reset.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. You know, I like anything that's female powerful. So little Beyonce, little Lizzo, anything like that that's, just go, you've got this. Like, female encouragement. It's always helped me go, yeah, I'm strong.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I'm wonderful. I can do this.
Candice Burningham:Yep. My one is Beyonce, you won't break my soul. Yes. You won't break me. Nope.
Candice Burningham:Not today. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:The best bits of advice I was given from another lady I worked for who was an EA, and she told me I hated the job so much and I was not happy. I was crying every day. My boss was mean. And she said, Chelsea, it's just a job. It's just a job.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Don't take it don't take it home. And it's just people like, it's just a job. And I do that sometimes here as well. And when there's high pressured people around me and they're yelling at this and yelling at that and I go, I don't care. Like, it's just a job.
Candice Burningham:You know, you're not saving lives.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:No, we're not curing cancer here. It's just a job. Calm down. You'll get your coffee.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. Yeah.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So, yeah,
Candice Burningham:that's good advice to remind yourself. I often have to say that to myself. I get so disappointed at myself. I don't get enough done. Yeah, what what what happened by you not having four extra emails in?
Candice Burningham:Did the world not spin?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Exactly. Yeah. Anyway.
Candice Burningham:All right. This sounds a bit of a fun one. What's your favorite story or moment from our Channel Nine date?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Definitely my first day at Channel nine. So I rock up at 9AM or whatever, and do you have to cross the car park to get to the reception? And there was two large giraffes in the car park and they were just about to film for Today Show. And I was like, where on earth am I? Like, this is not real.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:This is not normal working conditions. Like, there were so many random things. And just at that time when the Today show was filming, there were so many random things in that car park. Do you remember any random?
Candice Burningham:Oh, gosh. Yes. I remember when One Direction came. Do you remember that day? Yeah.
Candice Burningham:Was and it was before we had the proper security fencing. Yeah. So there was these babies that were just screaming and desperately wanting to see their favorite boy band. I remember coming in and I couldn't get to the staff car park. And then so I parked somewhere else.
Candice Burningham:And I remember this young girl was just, like, crying and excited. And I was kinda, like, trying to move her, like flagging to her mom, like, can you move over? And she threw up on my car. No work. She just got so worked up and she just and I remember, like, saying to security, can someone hose my car down?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Oh my god. The poor thing.
Candice Burningham:It was. It was wild.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Was. The
Candice Burningham:things that would go on there did oh gosh. If we weren't gagged by NDAs, we could write for our memoirs. Alright. So what would you say is your most underrated strength?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I would say I think my ability to read a room and read people and read moods. I think it's so important in our role to have. It's such a selfless thing as well. Really good to read, you know, what your boss's person like mood is in that day or what's going on. You know, us with the tariffs at the moment, I'm 10 steps ahead going, okay, this is going to be a hell week for them.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I'm going to, you know, shuffle things in their diary and just give them some breathing room or, you know, they're going to be locked down or when we're doing reviewing our range for the next, you know, show and stuff like that, I'll be like, okay, they're going be locked down. I'm going to get them lunch or whatever. Or, you know, it can be the simplest thing of seeing somebody in the office and going, hey, I think they're a little bit off like and then going over and having a chat to them and just being like, hey, is everything okay? You just don't seem yourself. So I think it's a really important skill to have, but it's such an unknown skill that us EAs have that we know how to read the roman and pick up on things when you can tell something's going on and you react to that in a way that needs to happen.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. I would say you're bang on there because your EQ was always on point. You always knew when something was up, you had a a spidey sense for
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:it.
Candice Burningham:Yeah. And they'll clearly still do it.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Emails. Okay.
Candice Burningham:So what would be the top thing that you would spend your rewards on through the admin avenues gift and benefits portal?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Well, now that I'm having a baby, anything for me. So spas and adventures. Yep. Helicopter. I don't know.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Just something something for me. Everything
Candice Burningham:for you. That's exactly right. Everyone will buy everything for the baby. You need to focus on spoiling you.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Exactly. And I'm all for that. Yeah.
Candice Burningham:That's my My friends have babies. I bring them champagne.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yes. I know. And this is why I love you.
Candice Burningham:The mother needs to be celebrated. I
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:want champagne in the hospital straight after birth. Done.
Candice Burningham:Done. Amazing. So our final bit here, because I'm also keeping you on a long weekend. So thank you so
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:much for
Candice Burningham:What doing keeps you passionate about being an air, especially after working in this profession for so long and in so many different sectors?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I think being around the people. It's also, you know, you're this EA that cares about everyone, but you do have people that care about you. And it's such a nice role to have people go, Hey Chelsea, can I get you something? Can tell you're really busy today. So I think the thing that keeps me passionate is the people that you work around and also your bosses as well.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Like if I didn't get along with them or like them, then I would not be passionate about being here or this industry or anything. But I have such amazing bosses and they really look out for me. They care for me. They go above and beyond for me. And there's such also, I think as well, I really admire them and look up to them.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:And I think I've learned so much from them. So I think that's what keeps me passionate as well.
Candice Burningham:And what would you say to admins who are multi passionate or thinking about pivoting into something new?
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:I would say go for it. You know, it's like I touched on it before. It's, you know, if you want to start a new business, if you want change your role and do something else, just do it. The worst that can happen is you might fail, but you've learned something in that failure. You've learned that you don't like this or do like that or more into this different industry or whatever, like just do it.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:There there's really nothing that can happen that's gonna rock your world that much. You'll get another job. You'll do something else. You'll start a new business, whatever. Like, just do it.
Candice Burningham:I agree. Well and I'll drag that into our career life as well and say, always ask the question. Like, the worst I can do is say no. Yes. If you if you have an interest in something else, like, if one of your girls said to you, Josie, I really want to try something in marketing.
Candice Burningham:The worst you can say is no. We need you to focus on this. Or you can say that would be amazing if you could put some time into that and bring that into the role. Like, yeah, what's the worst that can happen? Okay.
Candice Burningham:So where can our listeners connect with you? Are you a good good LinkedIn or are you Yeah. Obviously, in the next nine months, you're not going to be all that
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah. Well, maybe I I feel like I might be on social media heaps more because I'll just be sitting there nursing a child. I have no idea. I'm probably crazy. There's probably not going to be any time at all.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:But, yes, I'm on LinkedIn, Chelsea Lewis, or if you want Bye Little Jane stuff, you can go to the website, www.buylittlej.com.au. So you can do that. I'm on
Candice Burningham:the show notes as well.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:So
Candice Burningham:it's nice and easy.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Yeah.
Candice Burningham:Well, thank you so much for joining me today, especially on a long weekend. And so if you've enjoyed this episode, please connect with Chelsea. Please check out Little by Little Jane. I don't need to say please check out Zimmerman because if you're an Australian, I know you know what Zimmerman means. But don't forget to subscribe and like, follow, share, leave a review, all the things that you meant to do with podcasts.
Candice Burningham:And before I always forget this, I'd like to say huge thank you to our sponsors, Gifted Benefits, for making this podcast possible and shining a light on the Australian admin community. So thank you again so much, Chelsea. Really, really great to share your story with the profession.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Thank you. So good to see you.
Candice Burningham:You too.
Chelsea Lewis | Zimmermann:Bye. Bye.
Candice Burningham:Thanks for tuning into the Admin Ammun News podcast. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, leave us a five star review and share it with your network. A big thank you again to our sponsor, Gifted Benefits for making this podcast possible. Gifter Benefits is more than just a rewards platform. It's your go to for employee recognition, member perks, customer loyalty, and student incentives.
Candice Burningham:Whether you're celebrating a team win or looking to boost engagement, Gifter Benefits makes it easy to show appreciation in a way that actually matters. Make Gifter your friend with benefits. Check them out at giftedbenefits.com.
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