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Welcome to Exceptional EA.
Welcome to Exceptional EA, which I founded in 2013 to provide professional development for a global community of assistants who approach the role as a career. I’m here for people focused on high performance, whatever your position title and wherever you currently reside on your org chart.
You’ll find 12 years’ worth of complimentary resources right here, from elevating the quality of your minutes to interview prep and strategies, relationship management, communications, resilience, AI and much more. Through my Real Careers interviews, you can gain additional insights and tips for success from your counterparts in 22 different countries.
A professional speaker, I travel internationally to deliver customized training and keynotes that help people elevate performance, confidence and outcomes – for you and your organization.
I draw on extensive real life experience, research and my own ongoing professional development to develop and deliver training that helps you maintain career currency and thrive.
If you’re uncertain about the pronunciation of my name, you’re in good company. I was given the traditional spelling of the name more typically spelled “Sheila”.
i walked your walk for decades
When you turn to me for professional progress, you’re getting someone who walked your walk until 2018. I built a successful office career of almost three decades, primarily in C-Suite environments, in both the corporate world and the public sector.
Whether you’re reading complimentary resources here on Exceptional EA or turning to me for in person or virtual training, you also benefit from a gap in my office career. Before beginning our family, I became a software trainer for the national corporation where I’d started my career. Building on inhouse professional development as a corporate trainer, and in preparation for what I now do, I later invested in higher education for trainers who design and deliver education for adult learners.
helping you succeed, thrive
I help you enhance credibility, image, visibility and confidence, so you can amplify your value in a disrupted world. In addition to presenting in person in 10 countries since 2017,
I also deliver impactful webinar training and courses for individuals and groups in multiple countries around the globe.
I’ve always been discerning about investing time and financial resources – whether those budgets were my own, or my employer’s – in professional development. I treat your investments with that same care, as I deliver inspirational training that’s also pragmatic and relevant.
What clients say
Have a look at a sampling of training feedback from employers, associations, conference organisers and individuals from a variety of countries and workplace cultures. You’ll see you can count on me for quality, relevant education and practical strategies, delivered with authenticity and a healthy sense of fun. It’s always my goal to deliver engaging learning you can convert to progress and positive outcomes.
See below for some of my latest posts. and Invest a bit of time in professional development by checking the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES tab above. Its drop-down menus provide a wealth of articles and resources to help you succeed and thrive, and you’ll find a search screen at the top of your screen for specific topics.
Insights and inspiration from Shelagh since 2013
Scroll down for a sampling of Shelagh’s articles to support your career success. You’ll also find additional posts each Monday to kick off your week with a quote, accompanied by Shelagh’s travel photography and tips, that make you think.
When you’re looking for specific training or resources, hover over the drop-down menus above for a wealth of insights , or enter a specific search term at the top of this page.
About Wednesday’s Words: Whatever the nature of our role or stage of our career, we can benefit by continually learning. Learning the language of those leading our organisations, and terminology…
Mea culpa! I originally published this article with the wrong accompanying excerpt. THIS ARTICLE is about complimentary professional development for you, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM PST/GMT-8 on Tuesday, Jan…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. As we mark Canadian Thanksgiving today (even though many of us had our family gatherings and celebratory feasts…
THIS ARTICLE is about hacks for GenAI users. OpenAI Academy has created “Prompt Packs” designed for specific roles in your organisation – executives, managers, HR, IT, marketing and more. There’s…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. These images: We in Vancouver are enjoying gorgeous weather this first day of fall, and so I was…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. These images are from our stay in Hiroshima, Japan. It’s always a good time to try to resolve…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. These images: How are these for September roses as well as a perspective check? I came across these…
THIS ARTICLE examines how impactful our words can be. Shelagh has recommendations for routine self- audits to ensure your words convey and inspire confidence. You’ll find two helpful lists below.…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. This image, and the videos below: Have you been living it up lately, enjoying (albeit with sunscreen!) the…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. This image, and the video below: Have a look at these doors situated in a field of yellow…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from Vancouver and my travels. These first two shots: sweet peas from our garden, and then some vibrant zinnias. Here in Vancouver, we’re…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot, and the photos and videos below: Over a series of days beginning in late July, Vancouver is home…
THIS ARTICLE recaps how a company has been handling a July 2025 organisational crisis, and speaks to the value in assistants understanding risk management, business continuity planning (BCP), crisis management…
Have a virtual slice of birthday cake! I’ve chosen the dual themes of “better” and “celebration”, since it was on this date in 2013 I launched Exceptional EA as a…
We – and GenAI – have come a very long way in 32 months. This article includes reporting on my past surveys about AI in the assistant career, a caution…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot, as well as photos and videos below: memories from travelling on Scotland’s Jacobite Steam Train one day a…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: This shot, and the images in the slideshow below: St. James’s Park is among my favourite places in…
A thought for your day, featuring photography from my travels. This shot: This May marked my first stay in Nice, France, and I found it a great home base for…
My mission has remained consistent since launching EA in 2013, while working in a demanding governance role. From the outset, I wanted to reach and connect a global community of assistants who approach what you do for a living as a career. I’m here to help you thrive and perform at a high level, whatever your position title.
Authentic, expert and inspiring, Shelagh has presented customized, in person training in 10 countries and has delivered virtual/webinar training for clients around the globe.
Shelagh delivers future-focused education grounded in research as well as years of experience with change and with board-level strategy and priorities ,,, and she’ll ask questions in order to personalize and tailor her training for your audience.
While endeavouring since 2013 to provide accurate and reliable content on this website, provision of such content does not warrant or imply any representations by Shelagh Donnelly regarding the use of – or the result of the use of – any content, links, products or services herein.