The concept of an executive assistant is simple: free the leader’s mind from the noise of administration so they can think clearly, lead decisively, and innovate continuously. It’s an acknowledgment that focus is a scarce resource and that distraction is the enemy of meaningful work. But here’s the irony: while most CEOs enjoy this privilege, it’s the individual contributors—engineers, designers, marketers—who arguably need it more. These are the people who turn strategic visions into reality, the ones in the trenches building the products and crafting the customer experiences that make or break companies. Yet they remain weighed down by the administrative burden their leaders have shed.

The question becomes: why is deep work, which is often heralded as the most valuable kind of work, so poorly protected for those tasked with doing it?

The digital assistant: beyond the executive office

Let’s take a step back and rethink the notion of an executive assistant, not as a human luxury reserved for the upper echelons, but as a fundamental need across an entire organization. We’re living in a time where automation, AI, and hyper-connectivity can do far more than we give them credit for. What if, instead of a person managing the minutiae, we offered every employee a digital suite—a tech stack—that functions like an assistant, ready to remove the burden of trivial tasks so they can focus on what truly matters?

Imagine an executive assistant not as a single individual but as a combination of digital tools, each specializing in a specific aspect of work life. This is not about a single AI platform trying to be everything; it’s about a harmonious orchestra of specialized tools working in concert.

Calendars, communication, and purchases: three pillars of an assistant as a service

The first pillar of this stack is the calendar—a deceptively complex system that, when mismanaged, is a thief of productivity. Executives know the value of protecting their time blocks, and so should everyone else. A tool like SavvyCal, which manages availability, rescheduling, and cancellations without human intervention, can be transformative. Instead of reacting to constant meeting requests or having to monitor colleagues’ availability like a voyeur, employees can proactively carve out time for deep, focused work. Calendars should serve employees, not the other way around.

Next is the communication layer, specifically email. Most email clients are reactive—they invite you to hover over your inbox all day, awaiting the next interruption. That’s not a sustainable model for deep, focused work. In this context, a tool like Hey redefines email management by acting more like a gatekeeper than an open-door policy. It triages, organizes, and minimizes clutter, creating an environment where email is a secondary task, not the core of your workday. This approach acknowledges that people need to stay informed without being consumed.

Lastly, the third pillar involves the administrative tedium of managing travel, expenses, and corporate spending. Traditional systems burden employees with layers of approval processes, receipt tracking, and reimbursement forms—tasks that distract from real work. A modern solution like Ramp simplifies the process with an all-in-one app that provides clarity, autonomy, and transparency. Employees are empowered to make decisions and manage their own budgets, but without the usual red tape. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about trust. By giving people clear guidelines and tools, you free them to operate as owners of their own time and resources, mirroring the freedom an executive enjoys with their assistant.

Empowerment at scale: creating deep work for all

By shifting the focus from a single privileged executive to the collective workforce, companies can level the playing field and ensure that every employee, regardless of title, has the tools to maximize their potential. This isn’t just good for the individual; it’s good for the business. When a company’s most valuable resources—its people—have time to do their best work, to innovate without distraction, the entire organization benefits. It’s not about giving them more tools; it’s about giving them the right tools that work together seamlessly.

So why hasn’t this been more widely adopted? The answer is partly tradition and partly the belief that only executives need this kind of support. But the truth is, deep work is the backbone of any great organization. Protecting it should be the default, not the exception.

The future of work: from perks to priorities

What if every organization shifted its perspective on productivity from one that rewards a few to one that equips all? Imagine a company where every individual contributor feels as supported as the CEO, where administrative burdens are systematically stripped away, and where focus becomes a priority at every level. This is not about tech for tech’s sake; it’s about understanding that people—regardless of their position—deserve the space to think deeply and work meaningfully.

The tools are here, and the mindset is shifting. An executive assistant as a service is not just a product idea; it’s a paradigm shift waiting to happen. If companies can move past the hierarchical view of who deserves to work undistracted, they can unlock a new level of potential within their teams. Deep work, for all, should no longer be a perk; it should be a priority.