"In the days gone by, a secretary needed shorthand and typing skills. Today this expertise is not in demand. A management degree from a reputed institute and a course in computers will help provide the necessary skills required to be a successful executive assistant (EA),” stated Kashmira Gamadia, president of the Indian Association of Secretaries and Administrative
Personnel (IASAP). Whether being an EA is a lucrative career choice, Gamadia responded with "An emphatic yes!... There are increased expectations for EA to better understand their organization’s core business functions, market trends and industry standards. Developing strong business acumen and strategic planning skills is crucial. With experience and proven success, executive assistants can progress to more senior roles or executive level positions, such as office manager of human resources or accountant and office manager.”
And what skills should a good assistant possess? "It is essential for an EA to be on top of recent events, emerging trends and advances in technology. An eagerness to constantly learn, apply new learnings on the job and evolve is the key to growing and contributing within one’s organization,” she advised. Additional skills such as new language, how to use new photo/text editing technology or taking online/in person subject specific courses are a few examples. "I continue to develop my skills and knowledge in order to be able to take on more responsibility within the company.”
Gamadia believes that despite the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and it being freely available, the personal human touch and experience of an EA is equally important. "Not only in documentation work but also in various problem solving, overall communication and task based situations…I do not think the EA will be restricted to the senior corporate executive suite due to AI,” she emphasized. AI is the ability of a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require intelligence and discernment.
Kashmira Gamadia (5th from l and top) with delegates to an Asia Pacific conference
About to complete her two-year term as president in November 2023, Gamadia led a delegation of 66 administrative assistants to an Asia Pacific 25th IASAP congress in Bangkok from September 8-12. The gathering was a "veritable mélange of colors, learnings and experiences for 365 members,” Gamadia told us. Moti Vazifdar, their past president wrote to Parsiana that the theme of the congress was "Glow with the Flow — Innovate, Integrate, Elevate.” Topics covered included work-life integration, business acumen and AI, Vazifdar noted.
An alumna of The J. B. Petit High School for Girls, Gamadia completed a diploma in commercial art from Nirmala Niketan Polyclinic. "A few years later the then chairman of Carrier Aircon, R. C. Sarin was looking for an administrative assistant as his EA was retiring. This post just fell into my lap though I had no knowledge of what was expected of an EA… Being a thorough gentleman, my employer patiently put up with me as I was learning on the job with computers coming into India.” With Sarin’s retirement, Gamadia moved to Resource Management (India) Private Limited, a management consultancy started by him. "I have been his EA and colleague for the past 35 years,” she said.
Gamadia’s husband Mackie passed away in August 2021. Daughter Cherina is a chef while son Sean is a finance professional.