It teaches you how people work, how organisations function, and how to stay calm and think clearly when everything around you is moving at pace. You gain confidence, emotional intelligence, and a level of self-awareness that follows you into every part of your life.

Yet despite how rewarding the profession is, it remains that around 97 percent off EAs and PA’s are women and only 3 percent are men. This is not a criticism. It simply shows that many men do not realise what this career can offer them, and the industry is missing out on people who could bring something valuable to the space.

Over the years the EA role has been shaped by outdated stereotypes, from old fashioned secretary ideas through to characters like the Sebastian off Little Britain. They are humorous, but they do not represent the modern EA role. Today, EA work is strategic, relational and central to how leaders operate. If more men understood that, the gender balance would naturally start to shift.

Growing as a Male EA

My early journey into the profession was full of excitement. After completing my Level 3 apprenticeship with a distinction and moving into my first post-qualified PA role, I had the chance to support three departmental managers. It felt like a big step. When I was promoted ten months in, that was the moment I realised I could actually be good at this.

Working in a profession largely made up of women has shaped me in the best possible ways. I have learned from colleagues who are emotionally intelligent, grounded and highly skilled in people management. They helped me understand that decisions are not always about analysis alone. Sometimes you have to sense what is right for the situation or the people involved. The balance between logic and emotion is a skill in itself, and it is something many of the women I have worked with have modelled exceptionally well.

One of the biggest things I had to learn early on were the hidden etiquettes of different teams. Every area of an organisation has its quirks and ways of working. Over time I became better at reading the room, adapting my approach and understanding what my role needed to be in different contexts. These are skills you do not learn from a textbook. You learn them through exposure, patience and support.

Finding Community: The Male EA Network with EAvolve

Another important part of my development was joining the male EA network through EAvolve. Emily Partridge reached out to me after my National PA Awards interview, and it felt like the right opportunity at the right time.

I already have a fantastic mentor currently who is a woman, but I also wanted the chance to speak with men who had experienced the same subtle challenges that I’m navigating. From the first meeting it felt familiar. There was shared humour, shared lived experience and a sense of understanding you cannot always articulate. These men had been exactly where I am now. Some are much further along in their careers, and hearing how they navigated their journeys has given me perspective, reassurance and motivation.

It reminded me that part of succeeding in this profession is finding people who get your world. Not to replace diversity, but to complement it.

What Men Can Bring to the Profession

Men do not bring better skills, just different ones. And difference is what makes teams stronger.

Men bring their own lived experiences, communication styles and ways of approaching challenges. That variety gives leaders and organisations a broader, more balanced view of the world around them. A wider talent pool means better collaboration, better problem solving and a profession that looks more like the diverse society it serves.

For me personally, the EA profession has strengthened qualities I value: composure, emotional maturity, situational awareness and confidence in high-pressure environments. Those traits benefit any workplace, and they grow even faster when you work in a diverse, collaborative team.

How We Encourage More Men Into EA Work

One of the barriers is that the EA profession does not have a clear pathway. Unlike law or medicine or teaching, there is no single route in. Everyone gets here differently, which makes it harder for young people, especially young men, to picture themselves in the role.

Apprenticeships can change that. I am a strong advocate for them. They offer structure, real training and a way for young people to build confidence while learning the fundamentals of business. Awareness is also key. Many people still think EA work is solely diaries and admin, when in reality it involves strategy, judgement, diplomacy, influencing and being a trusted partner to leadership.

And one of the biggest selling points is that it is one of the rare careers where you can work in almost any industry you choose. You can support a CEO in a charity, a director in local government, a founder in tech or a senior leader in finance. That flexibility is a huge advantage, and something careers advisors should talk about more.

My perception of the profession changed as the opportunities grew. Being highly commended at the Oxfordshire Business Awards for my apprenticeship journey, and later winning a national award, showed me how impactful this career can be when you commit to it fully.

A Message to Young Men Thinking About This Career

If you are a young man considering becoming an EA: go for it.

If you value people, if you are organised, if you want to grow, learn and contribute, you will thrive here. But be realistic. You build your way up step by step. You learn from each environment and each experience. And you find the setting that matches your values. For some that will be corporate finance. For others public service. For many it will be something in between.

There is no one type of EA. That is what makes the profession exciting.

Being an EA has shaped my career, my confidence and my character. I genuinely believe it could do the same for many more men, but visibility matters. We need people who look like us and think like us to show that this profession is more than people realise.