Olympia’s National Hall in London was buzzing with activity over 12-13 September as 3,687 attendees came out in force to support the third edition of office* and its 2nd annual National PA Day.
As the UK’s leading event dedicated to meeting the business, training and networking needs of Britain’s office professionals, office*’s free Keynote programme is renowned for attracting big ‘inspirational’ names from the world of business; with former headline Keynote speakers including Karren Brady, Michelle Mone and Jacqueline Gold.
This is year was no exception – and it was top entrepreneur Deborah Meaden’s turn to draw in the crowds for 2012. Best known as one of the dragons from BBC2′s hit show Dragons’ Den, Deborah’s session on Thursday 13 September certainly didn’t disappoint the waiting crowds!
Commenting that he had “never seen the Keynote Theatre so full” in his introduction, Carsten Holm, managing director of the show’s organiser Diversified Communications UK, was just one of hundreds of attendees held in rapt attention by Deborah’s session.
Offering candid entrepreneurial tales of her successful investing career, Meaden’s inspirational Keynote offered a refreshing counterpoint to her Dragons’ Den persona. The much anticipated Q&A at the end of the session saw a relaxed and receptive Meaden answering topical questions that ranged from top tips to business start-ups and delegation techniques to the qualities that she looked for in a PA. Responding to the latter, she was unhesitating in praise for her own PA Charlotte Clark, who she called “the best PA in the world”, citing “honesty, directness and a sense of humour” as key attributes.
Whilst a question via twitter after her Keynote session on whether she thought “a good PA was vital to the success of a modern business?” drew a succinct but immediate response from @DeborahMeaden: “Quick answer…ABSOLUTELY!”
This may not be news to the thousands of PAs and executive support professionals attending this year’s office* – but it’s certainly worth reaffirming. And it’s reassuring to hear that Deborah, for one, certainly doesn’t take her PA Charlotte (“the real power behind the throne”) for granted.
To read the full post-show press release , please visit www.divcom.co.uk/office-shows-move-to-olympia-hailed-a-resounding-success.