Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Awards
Community Service
Affiliations
Timeline
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KEISHA L. SMITH

KEISHA L. SMITH

Wheaton,IL

Summary

Results-driven Sr. Executive Assistant with 12+ years of experience supporting C-Suite executives. Highly accomplished with a proven track record of ensuring seamless daily operations, high-impact project execution and strategic communication. Passionate about leveraging technology, optimizing workflows, and fostering executive success through unparalleled administrative support.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Sr. Executive Assistant to President, Commercial Division

Lessen
06.2023 - Current
  • Manage and coordinate complex schedule for President, scheduling meetings, and appointments, prioritizing tasks, blocking time for focused work, resulting in a 25% increase in available time for strategic decision-making and 15% reduction in scheduling conflicts.
  • Successfully coordinate regular team meetings, developing and implementing a standardized meeting agenda process to streamline decision-making and improve collaboration
  • Handle sensitive company information with discretion, earning the trust and confidence of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
  • Proactively facilitate communication between President and internal/external stakeholders, ensuring clear and timely information flow
  • Identify and resolve operational and administrative challenges, minimizing disruptions to President’s schedule
  • Manage complex domestic and international travel arrangements, ensuring seamless itineraries and efficient logistics
  • Provide comprehensive executive support to President in her external commitments including service on external boards
  • Hybrid

Executive Assistant to Executive Vice President Chief Transformation Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Wesco Distribution/Anixter International
07.2013 - 08.2022
  • Provided executive support in a one-on-one working relationship to EVP, supporting ever-changing needs in his role as CFO (Anixter) and contributing to the successful integration of Wesco and Anixter, in his role as CTO (Wesco)
  • Completed a broad variety of high volume administrative tasks that facilitated the CTO/CFO’s ability to effectively lead the organization(s), including but not limited to: assisting with special projects; producing complex professional documents and spreadsheets; designing, editing and compiling presentations/materials; collecting and preparing information for staff, senior leadership and other internal/external meetings; composing/preparing correspondence; anticipating his needs in advance of meetings, etc.; facilitating the processing, reporting and consolidation of expenses
  • Sophisticated management of CTO/CFO’s extremely hectic calendar, including, prioritizing inquiries; responding to requests for time; troubleshooting conflicts; making judgements and recommendations to ensure smooth day-to-day engagements
  • Served as “gatekeeper” providing a bridge for smooth communication between CTO/CFO and his staff, demonstrating leadership to maintain credibility, trust and support
  • Acted as primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on all matters pertaining to CTO/CFO, including those of a highly confidential or critical nature. Prioritizing and determining appropriate course of action, referral or response, exercising judgement to reflect his style and the organization’s policy when applicable
  • Coordinated and managed domestic and international business travel, for CTO/CFO and his staff, including scheduling/booking flights, ground transportation and accommodations. Prepared materials including itineraries and was available 24/7 to handle changes or unforeseen issues that arose while traveling, ensuring a seamless travel experience, within my control
  • Supported CTO/CFO’s staff, arranging and handling logistics for meetings, dinners and other events: coordinated schedules; drafted agendas; developed, compiled and distributed presentation materials; arranged meals; etc. other tasks as requested
  • Provided comprehensive executive support to CTO/CFO in his external commitments including service on external boards
  • Served as administrative liaison to Anixter’s Board of Directors and managed Board activities, which included: coordinating all Board and Committee meetings and dinners; new Board member orientations; arranging hotel accommodations for out-of-town Board members; processing travel reimbursement request; generating agendas, compiling, assembling, and distributing Board and Committee meeting materials; and maintaining Director’s and Executive contact and email distribution lists
  • Remote (2020 – 2022)
  • (note: Anixter was acquired by Wesco June 23rd, 2020. Anixter’s CFO whom I’d supported for 7 years prior to acquisition, asked me to stay on with him in his new role as CTO until his retirement August 2022)

Public Affairs Manager

The Nielsen Company
10.2007 - 10.2009
  • Coordinated ongoing large-scale special projects, including Nielsen’s $2 million brand awareness campaign
  • Managed special projects in several major markets across the U.S., connected with elected officials, social services, civic and business organizations
  • Supported corporate vision and initiatives through the coordination of national community events, the organization of trade shows, and conferences
  • Collaborated with senior management to launch Diversity Council and African-American Employee Resource Group to promote an inclusive work community
  • Public Affairs Manager (Apr. 2007 – Oct. 2009)

Community Affairs Coordinator

The Nielsen Company
06.2006 - 04.2007
  • Successfully managed communication between all Nielsen Community Affairs offices
  • Managed sponsorships and professional relationships on a local and national level
  • Managed ongoing relationships with public relations agencies and consultants
  • Developed corporate communication plans to address community affairs related key messages from the organization
  • Developed and led branding initiatives and created the Conference/Tradeshow Manual and contributed to the branding strategy
  • Planned and coordinated large scale internal and external events, including logistics, event coordination and the sharing of information

Sr. Administrative Assistant

The Nielsen Company
10.2004 - 06.2006
  • Supported large-scale projects through daily administrative tasks by planning and coordinating large-scale events, trainings, managed travel, governing of calendars and prioritized needs to increase productivity
  • Collected and analyzed data and disseminated information for executive reporting
  • Developed communications, complex presentations, and strategic action plans
  • Consulted and provided direct problem resolution as a trusted advisor

Skills

  • Innate Sense of Organization
  • Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Relations
  • High-Level Calendar & Inbox Management
  • Internal & External Board of Directors Preparation, Planning & Support
  • Confidential Business Support & Crisis Handling
  • Global Travel Planning & Event Coordination
  • Travel & Expense Management
  • Team Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Support
  • Meeting, Project & Operations Management
  • Systems and Process Management
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Being Proactive and Anticipating Needs
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • SharePoint
  • Teams
  • Zoom
  • Nitro
  • Social Media Applications

Awards

2009 Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence Award, 2008 Greater Lights Mentoring, Inc. Outstanding Woman of the Year

Community Service

Bernie’s Books, Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity, Feed My Starving Children, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement

Affiliations

  • The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
  • The National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS)
  • The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC)

Timeline

Sr. Executive Assistant to President, Commercial Division

Lessen
06.2023 - Current

Executive Assistant to Executive Vice President Chief Transformation Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Wesco Distribution/Anixter International
07.2013 - 08.2022

Public Affairs Manager

The Nielsen Company
10.2007 - 10.2009

Community Affairs Coordinator

The Nielsen Company
06.2006 - 04.2007

Sr. Administrative Assistant

The Nielsen Company
10.2004 - 06.2006

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