Athena Assistant vs Traditional assistants
Athena offers unmatched security through global legal accountability, rigorous in-person vetting, cyber insurance, and advanced device monitoring so you can delegate fearlessly.
Athena Assistant
Traditional In-Person Assistant
How It Works
Our process is designed to help you delegate with confidence. While you define your priorities, your assistant prepares to become your second brain.
01
Two-Way Fit Call
Join an informal chat to learn more about Athena and see if we’re the right fit.
02
Discovery Session
Take a deep dive into your life and goals so we can create your personalized user manual.
03
Meet Your Assistant
Get to know your assistant and their dedicated coach.
04
Guided Onboarding
Follow a structured process to build a strong partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Athena?
How does working with Athena differ from a virtual assistant or a traditional staffing company?
Athena is different in two ways. First, our mission is a win-win for you and your remote Executive Assistant. With Athena, you'll form one-to-one partnerships where your goals become your Assistant’s to help you reach your highest potential. And your Assistant will access an incredible career opportunity not readily available for them locally. Second, your dedicated Assistant is more than just a one-off task taker. You'll leverage significant impact across your career and reach new levels of fulfillment, health, and stronger relationships. The goal of an Athena Assistant partnership is complete integration into the landscape of your life.
Why should I hire an Athena Assistant instead of hiring an EA on my own?
We hire and train the world's best Executive Assistants. We start with the top 1% of applicants, perform thorough background and reference checks, and provide ongoing training and education, so your Assistant continuously improves their skills. Every Assistant has a personal coach and an extensive network of peers they can rely on to answer their questions and conquer almost any obstacle. And to take additional work off your plate, your Assistant is employed through Athena and receives fair compensation, benefits, and more.
Does Athena offer delegation inspiration?
Yes, Athena teaches you how to delegate like the best in the world. Our Playbook Library is stacked with inspiration designed to supercharge the partnership with your Executive Assistant, sharpen your delegation skills, and take back more time. Playbooks use real-world experiences tested by delegators and their Assistants.
Explore the Library
Assistant Recruitment & Training
How does Athena select Assistants?
We have an incredible employer reputation and receive nearly 1000 EA applications daily. Of which only 1% of applicants are accepted. Every Assistant undergoes our rigorous recruitment process. We screen each candidate for soft skills and enormous potential. Before being eligible to be partnered with you, they must take personality, cognitive, and English tests before undergoing immersive training on real-world tasks, including calendar, travel, and inbox management.
What training does Athena provide my Assistant?
Your Assistant undergoes extensive training, including on-site classroom work, apprenticeship, shadow sessions with Athena leaders and high-performing, experienced Assistants. They also receive ongoing, one-to-one mentorship from their operations manager and continuing education to elevate their skill sets.
Your Partnership
How can my Assistant help me?
Our onboarding is designed to focus your attention, optimize your time, and manage your presence. You’ll take incremental (but meaningful) steps toward teaching your EA to become an extension of you. After that, the sky’s the limit for what your Assistant can take on.
By the end of your first 100 days, you’ll have:
A daily overhead view of your top goals, priorities, and commitments
A spotless inbox with zero unread emails and personalized, ready-to-send pre-drafts
A streamlined full-life calendar engineered to help you achieve more and live better
A seamless travel experience, wherever your leisure or business itineraries take you
Does my Assistant work with any other clients?
No, your Assistant works with you and no one else. We believe in the power of a one-to-one relationship to maximize leverage in your professional and personal life.
Can I share my Assistant with my executive team and or business partner?
No. Athena offers one-to-one, dedicated partnerships. Your Assistant will occasionally support colleagues and loved ones (organizing a team offsite or family trip), but you are their one-and-only delegator. We do not allow sharing because your Athena Assistant is unlike any other direct report—their primary focus is to help you achieve goals big and small so you can live a fuller life.
What time zone does my Assistant work in?
Our Assistants are located overseas but work on a schedule determined by your needs. Whether your Assistant works during your time zone or asynchronously is up to you.
Are there best practices for setting up my Assistant's work schedule?
We recommend a fixed working schedule with daily overlap between you and your Assistant, especially at the beginning of the partnership. Most Assistants start one hour before their client to complete inbox sweeps and brief them at the top of the day. As the partnership evolves, you can shift to whatever schedule works best for you and your Assistant. Some clients build a team of Assistants to increase coverage and capacity.
How many hours a week does my Assistant work?
Every Assistant works 40 hours per week (five business days) with two consecutive days off. You can discuss your preferences with your Assistant.
What happens if my Assistant works more than 40 hours some weeks?
Some weeks are busier than others. But if your Assistant consistently works more than 40 hours a week, we recommend bringing on an additional Assistant.
How do I provide feedback on my Assistant's performance?
Our most successful partnerships provide real-time, direct feedback on a daily cadence. During onboarding, we'll check in regularly, facilitate feedback sessions to get you up and running and send out regular surveys to ensure your partnership is progressing.
What happens if the partnership with my Assistant isn't working out?
Substantial leverage is born from long-term partnerships between a Member and an Assistant. But sometimes, a partnership doesn't work out. If this happens, your Client Success Operations Manager will address any concerns or performance issues and work to resolve them. We will partner you with a different Assistant if things don't improve.