“Girl, kaya!” Abi’s story of growth, grit, and discovering her Purple
“P&A Grant Thornton is my second workplace, and I came from a completely different industry with a very different environment and set of people. Being an executive assistant is not an easy role, especially for someone who was relatively fresh out of college and taking it on for the first time. It already requires a lot of skill, patience, organization, and presence of mind to support one executive. Paano pa kaya kung dalawa?
When I learned during my interview that I would be supporting two Partners, Sir Chris and Miss Mai, my first reaction was, ‘Girl, kaya ba ’to?’ That was when the self-doubt started kicking in. I began questioning whether I was ready and capable of handling such an important responsibility so early in my career.
Thankfully, I have this mantra in life: ‘Do it before your mind wanders.’ Before I could overthink the situation or question my abilities too much, inunahan ko na ang sarili ko. I convinced myself that maybe supporting two Partners would not be as intimidating as it sounded, even for a first-time EA like me.
When I accepted the role, I thought I already knew what being an EA would entail. But, tada! Girl, I was wrong. I quickly realised that it goes far beyond administrative work. The role requires you to anticipate needs, manage priorities, solve problems, coordinate with different people, and sometimes handle complicated tasks you did not expect to encounter so early in your career.
There were moments when I found myself managing responsibilities that felt quite complex for someone relatively fresh out of college. May times talaga na napa, ‘Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?’ Girl, yes. Real life na real life.
At first, my relationship with Sir Chris and Miss Mai was purely professional. I maintained clear boundaries, and honestly, I was scared to report to them or make mistakes because they were Partners. In my mind, they were among the people leading the Firm and helping decide its direction, so I really felt the weight of the responsibility.
But as time passed, I became more comfortable and confident. I learned their individual working styles, preferences, and expectations, as well as how I could best support them. Eventually, we built a strong working relationship based on trust and mutual respect.
They treat me really well. More than that, they help me recognise my potential and give me opportunities to grow, not only as an EA but also as an individual. They genuinely inspire me to improve and become more confident in what I can do.
I also knew that I did not want to be viewed as ‘EA lang.’ I wanted to add real value to the people I support and to the Firm. So, I persevered. I took the initiative, developed systems, and looked for better ways to accomplish my responsibilities.
I made a conscious decision not to become a purely reactive EA, someone who only acts when a task is assigned. Instead, I worked toward becoming a proactive EA who anticipates what may be needed, takes ownership, and thinks several steps ahead. I kept asking myself, ‘How can I step up in this role? How can I make things easier and more efficient for the people I support?’
What I find most fulfilling is knowing that my work helps my Partners complete the things that need to be done. It makes me happy to know that, even behind the scenes, I became part of the reason something happened or succeeded. Seeing a meeting, initiative, engagement, or project come together and knowing that I contributed to it is deeply rewarding for me. Hindi man ako laging nasa spotlight, I know that the work I do matters.
To be honest, I knew that earning a promotion within Practice Support, especially as an EA, would not be easy. I thought the Partners might have very high standards when recommending someone for promotion. Despite that, I believed that I had worked hard to become a dependable and effective EA. I focused on doing my responsibilities well, taking initiative, and becoming someone my Partners could trust.
Then, the Business Development team told me to check my email. When I opened it, there it was: Abi Penuelo – Semi-Senior.
I may have looked calm and nonchalant on the outside, but deep inside, nagtatalon na ako sa saya. More than the change in title, one thought made the moment especially meaningful to me: My Partners see me.
They saw my hard work, my willingness to learn, and the effort I put into becoming better at my role. Knowing that the people I support recognised my growth made the promotion even more fulfilling. Girl, kinaya.
Now that I am undergoing different trainings, the promotion feels even more real. The trainings have made me realise that this new role is not only a reward. It also comes with greater responsibilities and higher expectations. There is still so much for me to learn, but instead of feeling intimidated, I feel excited.
I see every training as an opportunity to sharpen my skills, broaden my perspective, and prepare myself for the next stage of my journey. Becoming a Semi-Senior does not mean that I already know everything. For me, it means that the Firm trusts me to take on more, grow further, and become someone others can also depend on.
During my stay at P&A Grant Thornton, the most important thing I discovered about myself is this: I am capable.
Before joining the Firm, I did not fully know how much I could handle. I was relatively fresh out of college, new to the EA role, and suddenly responsible for supporting two Partners. There were many moments when I doubted myself, worried about making mistakes, or wondered whether I was ready.
But through every challenging task, unfamiliar responsibility, and situation that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, I discovered that I could learn, adjust, and deliver. I realised that being capable does not mean knowing everything from the start. It means being willing to learn, having the courage to ask questions, taking ownership of your responsibilities, and trying again when things do not go as planned.
My Purple is the version of me who recognises her own potential. It is the Abi who is proactive, dependable, resourceful, and always willing to improve. She may still experience doubts, but she no longer allows those doubts to stop her. Instead, she uses them as motivation to prepare, step up, and become better.
My best version is not someone who never makes mistakes or has everything figured out. My best version is someone who continues to grow while staying grounded, grateful, and committed to helping others succeed.
If I could speak to the Abi who was just beginning this journey, I would tell her, ‘Girl, masaya tayo.’ Thank you for all your doubts and worries. At the time, they may have felt overwhelming, but they helped you avoid becoming too comfortable or staying in one place. They pushed you to prepare, work harder, and continuously become better.
You will eventually learn that work is not always linear. There will be light and manageable days, but there will also be stressful and challenging ones. You will make mistakes, face unfamiliar situations, and sometimes question yourself. But you will get through them, and each experience will teach you something valuable.
And you know the best part? You will genuinely enjoy what you do.
Thank you for taking the opportunity even when you were afraid. Thank you for trusting the process, persevering, and choosing to stay. Most of all, thank you for not allowing your self-doubt to decide what you were capable of becoming.
P&A Grant Thornton helped me realize that I am capable of doing more than I initially believed. Now, as a Semi-Senior, I am excited to discover how much further this capable version of myself can go.
We did it. Congratulations sa atin!”