Diary & inbox management
Your calendar arranged around what matters this quarter. Meetings that need you get time; the rest get delegated, shortened or politely declined. Email is triaged daily with drafts ready for your sign-off.
You run the company. I run everything around it.
I work alongside founders, CEOs and leadership teams to run the diary, the inbox, the board pack and the hundred moving parts in between, so your hours go on the decisions only you can make.
Your diary
Monday
- 08:30 Leadership syncAgenda circulated Friday Prepped
- 10:00 Deep workNo meetings, phone on silent Protected
- 13:00 Investor callBriefing note in your inbox Brief sent
- 16:30 Board packPapers out to directors Circulated
Inbox, 8am
6 of 142 need you
The rest are answered, filed or drafted for sign-off.
I work with founders, CEOs, managing directors, boards and family offices.
What I take on
Pick one area or hand over the lot. Every engagement is shaped around how you already work and where your time is leaking today.
Board & governance
Board packs out on time, agendas set with the chair, accurate minutes and action logs tracked to done.
Operations & projects
Suppliers, onboarding and the cross-team projects that land on the CEO's desk because nobody else owns them.
Travel & logistics
Complex itineraries across time zones, visas and contingency plans. One briefing per trip.
Events & offsites
Leadership offsites, investor dinners and AGMs. Venue, agenda, guests and follow-up, within budget.
Stakeholders & comms
A steady point of contact for your board, investors, clients and team. Correspondence drafted in your voice, sensitive matters handled with discretion.
How we get started
-
01
Intro call
Thirty minutes on your role, your week and what's getting in the way. No obligation.
-
02
Time audit & proposal
I review a typical fortnight of your diary and inbox, then send a written proposal with a fixed monthly fee.
-
03
Onboarding
We agree access, preferences, approval rules and who I can speak to on your behalf. You decide what I can decide.
-
04
Ongoing rhythm
A short weekly planning session, a Friday summary and a quarterly review to adjust scope as the business changes.
Ways to work together
Each engagement is quoted after the intro call, based on scope and hours. Fees are fixed monthly, so there are no surprise invoices.
Retained support
Ongoing, remote or hybrid
- Dedicated hours each week
- Diary, inbox and travel
- Weekly planning session
- Friday summary report
Executive office
Full support for a CEO or MD
- Everything in retained support
- Board and governance
- Operations and project ownership
- Events and offsites
- On-site days by arrangement
Interim & projects
Fixed term
- Parental leave or hiring-gap cover
- Setting up an executive office
- Recruiting and training your EA
- One-off events or relocations
Hi, I'm Sarah.
I've spent my career in the executive office, supporting leaders who carry a lot and have little time to spare. I know how a well-run diary changes the shape of someone's week, and how much calmer a board meeting is when the papers went out on time.
I take on a small number of clients so each one gets proper attention. Everything I see stays confidential, and I'm happy to sign your NDA before we speak in detail.
- Discreet
- Organised
- One step ahead
Common questions
Something else on your mind? Ask me directly.
Do you work remotely or in person?
Mostly remotely, with on-site days for board meetings, events or planning sessions where being in the room helps. We'll agree the mix during the proposal stage.
How do you handle confidential information?
Carefully. I'm happy to sign an NDA before our first detailed conversation, I use your systems and accounts wherever possible, and access is reviewed and removed at the end of an engagement.
How is this different from hiring an EA?
You get senior experience without recruitment fees, payroll, leave cover or a long notice period. Many clients start with me and later ask me to help recruit and train a permanent hire.
What tools do you use?
Whatever you already use. I'm comfortable across Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Teams, Notion, Asana and the common board portal platforms.
How much does it cost?
It depends on scope and hours. After the intro call you'll receive a written proposal with a fixed monthly fee, so you know the cost before you commit.
Is there a minimum term?
Retained engagements start with a three-month period so we can settle into a rhythm, then roll monthly. Interim and project work is quoted for its fixed term.
Let's talk
Tell me a little about your role and what you'd like taken off your plate. I reply to every enquiry within one working day.
hello@sarahthurn.com