What does an EA for a design executive do?

Robert Martin discusses 852 Hz high-frequency sound patterns, inspiring children in the arts, and understanding executive priorities

What do you do at Adobe?

I support three people—Rachana Rele (VP of Design, Generative AI, Emerging Products, & Adobe Ventures), Archana Thiagarajan (VP of Design, Digital Experience), and Ann Rich (Senior Director of Design, Digital Experience). A big part of my job is thinking ahead about what's coming up for them so I can keep them prepared, on track, and informed about all the things they don't have time to focus on.

Of course they’re all bombarded with meeting requests (almost all of which are a priority) on top of calendars that are already totally packed, so it’s important that I block time into their schedules knowing those things will happen. Another part of that is making sure not to book their calendars with back-to-back meetings (although we have those days) because they also need prep time, so they can go into meetings prepared. And, unless it’s critical, I try not to schedule meetings for them at 6:00pm, because everyone has families, personal obligations, and lives outside of work.

Since I don't always have an opportunity to discuss things with my executives before needing to make decisions for them, the more information I have about their top priorities, the easier it is for me to make decisions. It can be difficult sometimes to know exactly what they need on a daily basis, and to make decisions for them that affect their time, but it’s my contribution to easing their workloads. I feel most successful when I can predict things for them, find solutions to problems, and figure out how to optimize their time, so that they can move through their days, put their stamp of approval on things, and just keep going.

What's your team working on?

Most EAs have two teams: the executives they support, and a broader team of people across the company who are in similar roles. Those two teams intersect more than people might think.

Managing the details of daily support for three executives is my ongoing focus. It’s not one specific thing, for one particular person, at a single point in time, but a steady fine-tuning of multiple daily details that makes things run smoothly for them. Interestingly, it’s when that work involves a larger event (like a team offsite) that the work I’m doing for them intersects with the broader EA community at Adobe.

Although we don’t work together as a group, we do work alongside each other with the understanding that our tasks are similar, and our executives are all in the same boat. If I have a question about an event or an offsite is taking place in a location I'm not familiar with, I have a network of amazing people willing to answer my questions and drop what they're working on to help me—and they know that I’ll do the same for them. We work together to try to accommodate each other's requests and to come up with creative solutions to challenging situations, but the most important part of having a network of EAs to lean on, is having people available to listen to and help.

What essential tool, product, or platform helps you do your best work?

Outlook for sure, but I might go as far to say my most depended-on tool is Slack. If I need to get in touch with, or communicate with someone, Slack is where I do that, but there’s a cultural piece that’s equally important—what people are experiencing daily. Because we’re not often together in person, a lot of rich conversations happen in Slack channels that help me keep my executives connected to issues and help them plan for what’s ahead (because I know they don’t have the time to watch it closely). While I may not understand everything that's happening in these conversations, knowing about them helps me communicate with people on the fly when things are moving at a rapid pace.

What skill do you consider a superpower?

Relationship building. Making connections and building relationships within a team is critical to my job. It’s also something I really enjoy. It goes back to what I was saying about how everyone has become more physically disconnected... finding ways to build emotional connections is more important than ever.

What's on your heads-down, time-to-focus playlist?

I have three children who keep me up to date on some of the latest music, so my playlist is all over the place. But what I listen to depends on what’s going on. If I need upbeat motivation, I’ll listen to Robyn, Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, or Chappell Roan. When it’s time to focus, contemporary classical, and instrumentals help me do that—Riopy, a French pianist, is one of my favorites. But probably the most unusual music on my playlist is Solfeggio frequencies—852 Hz high-frequency sound patterns. There’s evidence that they regulate the nervous system and improve well-being but what I know is that they improve my focus and concentration.

What's the best professional advice you've ever received?

This came from a senior EA at Amazon, who in many ways was a mentor of mine, and it’s a piece of advice I’ve always remembered: “Never show up late to a meeting with a fresh cup of coffee.” It speaks to being prepared, showing up on time, and putting your best self forward. There’s always time for coffee later.

What excites you most about the work you're doing?

I have a BFA and although I wouldn't say I'm necessarily the most creative person in the world, I've always been around artistic people, and I enjoy supporting creative people and creative teams. But beyond that I feel fortunate to be supporting three executives whose values, the way they work, and the way they interact with people, align with what feels important to me. It also makes me feel good at the end of the day that I work for a company like Adobe that fosters a diverse working environment and a sense of inclusion by bringing together different ideas, backgrounds, cultural and personal preferences, and abilities. The best part is that these diverse ideas and perspectives show up in our inclusive designs.

What’s a dream project you're currently involved with or want to take on?

Rachana is the executive sponsor of the Pride at Adobe employee network and, although it’s not my principal job, I’m all in whenever she asks me to work on it with her. But, in a world where art and creativity are more important than ever, one thing that I’ve done throughout my career and would like to find time for again, is helping to get our designers into schools to mentor children in the arts. To spend all day with young people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, helping them better understand the creative careers available to them, and inspiring them to pursue them, is extremely rewarding.