Meet Irene, the founder and CEO of Admin Army and one of the directors of Streamline Business Group, Admin Army’s holding company. She oversees a team spread across different continents and time zones, manages countless tasks, and spearheads the company’s growth and expansion.
Beginning the Day
Not one to start before sunrise, Irene is typically at her desk around 8:45 am. Her first order of business is a meeting with her Executive Assistant, Rhea, to run through the day’s plan. Irene’s role is extremely diverse; her days are packed and always variable. Despite everything being remote, she’s never too far away from a video call, interacting with team members, partners, and clients from New Zealand to Australia, Fiji and India.
Tasks and Responsibilities
As CEO, Irene’s tasks are as varied as they are numerous. From driving business strategy and mentoring the team, to overseeing sales and marketing operations, her role is about as non-prescriptive as it gets. She jokingly refers to her main responsibility as “world domination,” which, given the company’s growth and expansion, isn’t too far from reality.
Tools and Tech
To manage her vast responsibilities, Irene relies on a suite of tools and technology. Her workspace includes a standing desk and three screens, while her digital arsenal features software like Xero, Microsoft 365, Teams, and Zoom. Her organisation and time management needs are adeptly handled by her EA, Rhea.
Memorable Achievements and Challenges
One achievement Irene is particularly proud of is her experience with offshoring. Initially sceptical, Irene’s mindset changed entirely as she found ways to do outsourcing differently, building a team of exceptional individuals across multiple time zones.
However, being CEO doesn’t come without its challenges. Irene acknowledges the pressure of being the last resort for problems unsolvable by others in the team. But she handles these challenges head-on, turning them into opportunities for growth and learning.
The Joy of the Job
When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Irene highlights two things: interacting with the incredible team she’s built and seeing the difference Admin Army makes in the lives of their clients. For Irene, these human connections are the core of her role and fuel driving her daily.
Work-Life Balance
Irene hasn’t always found it easy to balance work with her personal life. In 2020, after facing burnout, she made it a priority to take better care of herself. These days, she rarely works more than 10 hours a day and enjoys her weekends off. Though she may always be thinking about work, she recognizes the importance of stepping away from her desk.
Role Evolution and Company Culture
Irene’s role has evolved significantly since she founded Admin Army. What started as a business built around her skills as a bookkeeper and administrator has morphed into a role that aligns with her passion for business development and sales.
The culture at Admin Army supports this evolution, with a focus on mutual respect and treating team members as individuals, not just workers. The team shares their lives with each other, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun.
Advice and Transition into Personal Time
For anyone aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Irene’s advice is to find your ‘North Star’ – a clear vision for what you’re building in your business. For Irene, this vision was to create a machine, a goal that allowed her to remain open to new opportunities and growth.
As for transitioning into personal time, Irene keeps it simple – a visit to the liquor cabinet helps her shift gears from work to rest.
Fun Fact
Despite her powerhouse persona, there’s one thing Irene can’t stand – jam! This quirky detail adds a dash of humour and humanity to the otherwise intense life of this CEO.
In a nutshell, a day in the life of Irene, CEO of Admin Army, is a whirlwind of meetings, management, and making a difference in the lives of her team and clients. Balancing her packed schedule with the need for personal time, Irene is a testament to what can be achieved with a clear vision, a passion for what you do, and a dose of self-care.