Executive Assistant of the Week: Philadelphia

 
Adriane Davis
Executive Assistant to SVP
WELLS FARGO

Adriane I. Davis, CAP, OM, is an Executive Assistant at Wells Fargo Bank working in the Digital Acquisitions and Payments team. She brings 40 years of administrative experience to the table with expertise in all administrative matters. Adriane is disciplined in her approach to project management and confidentiality. She is extremely detail oriented in her work and in her planning and efficiency. She has held administrative professional positions with Barclays Bank, Bank of America/MBNA America Bank, Skadden Arps et al., and JP Morgan.

Adriane has been teaching and sharing her knowledge with other administrative professionals her entire career. She believes when you know something, pass it on.

Adriane has been a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals since 1995 and has achieved the Certified Administrative Professional, Organizational Management designation. Adriane is a lifelong learner and has passion for the administrative field, technology, and gadgets.When she is not at work, she is crafting, reading, listening to podcasts and audio books, and learning something new.

Adriane will be one of the distinguished contributors at the ELS Forum: Philadelphia on May 23, 2019

1) Tell us about a career accomplishment of which you’re particularly proud.

I am particularly proud of my Certified Administrative Professional, Organizational Management designation (CAP,OM). Many years back, this was a two part exam — one was called Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and the other was called Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). When I took this exam, the Association’s name was Professional Secretaries International (now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals). Nonetheless, very hard exams no matter what the initials are now, but very rewarding when you pass and get your designation. With this designation, you are able to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) towards renewing your designation by taking classes or through leadership. I love having this quality about my chosen profession. It says to the industry and hiring managers that I am willing to continue to learn, participate, and grow.

2) Is the executive assistant role a long-term profession for you?

Yes, the executive assistant role is a long-term profession for me. I knew in high school that I wanted to be a secretary. I took shorthand, typing, bookkeeping, and Honors English to make sure I was ready for the administrative field. While in high school, I worked after school as a clerk in a law office for a year and a half, and then in the President’s office of a union for another year and a half. When I graduated high school, I was hired for a full-time Junior Secretary position at a very prestigious downtown bank. I was promoted several times during my eight years there. I then moved to a law firm as a legal secretary for five years, and then back to banking for the last 26 years. I have had many promotions in my career and have worked for many interesting managers. Banking has changed tremendously over the last 20 years. I look at the executive assistant as a career, not a job. I will retire doing what I love to do. Organizing is my specialty. You do not really want to go on vacation with me because I have an itinerary for every day I am away, laminated for myself, and copied for my husband (he has been spoiled by having his own personal executive assistant)! When I attend conferences and seminars, I am up front, taking notes, even if I know the topic. You can always gain a little more knowledge from someone else if you pay attention.

3) What is your favorite part about being a strategic business partner to your executive?

My favorite part of being a strategic business partner to my executive is always thinking ahead and having the answer to the question before the question is asked. It makes me chuckle when he asks me to do something on a project we are working on, and I have already done it, typed it up in a spreadsheet, and hand it to him! When you know how your executive operates, you can anticipate their needs and be proactive.