"Attitude always trumps aptitude,” stated Bapsy Patel, assistant vice president at Tata Realty. She was a panelist at a discussion titled "The Influential Assistant: Shaping Strategy, Steering Success” at the Administrative Professionals (AP) Day organized by the Indian Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals (IASAP) on April 27, 2024 at Hotel Ginger. "We are ourselves responsible for our own upgrade… There are many educational kits and tools out there that one can use to hone skills… Always keep in touch with soft skills for these will help you cope with a range of situations and curve balls…”
From l: Rashna Ardesher, Moti Vazifdar, Bapsy Patel, Dr Vaishnavi Sharma,
Vijayalaxmi Amin, Zarine Commissariat, Maria Pontes, Binaifer Daruwala
Another panelist, lifestyle coach and past president of IASAP Maria Pontes told the audience that they should think of the office like a football game. "The chief executive officer is the team captain, but the administrative professional is the quarterback… Always one step ahead…They make sure everyone’s in the right place at the right time, guiding the team towards success with their smart thinking and quick actions.” Panelist and IASAP honorary secretary Rashna Ardesher advised, "Be multi taskers, prioritize your work in case of work pressure, be cool, calm and composed, be effective in your verbal and written communication skills… most importantly, be flexible in the mind.”
Independent economist and panelist Dr Vaishnavi Sharma’s words summed up the AP Day: "Secretaries or admin professionals are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, keeping the gears of day-to-day operations running smoothly… Their invaluable support allows the boss to focus on strategic decision-making… Without them, the boss is left juggling countless tasks,” stated a note on the event sent to Parsiana by past president Moti Vazifdar. The panel was moderated by past IASAP president Zarine Commissariat.
The IASAP newsletter, The Professional Secretary, compiled and edited by Vazifdar, was released at this event by Sharma and Patel. The vote of thanks was delivered by IASAP’s governing council member, Kashmira Pastakia.
Headed by Vijayalaxmi Amin as all-India president, IASAP is a non-profit association and has its headquarters in Bombay with a presence in six cities.