Gina Cotner – Speaker
Gina Cotner is the founder and CEO of Athena Executive Services, a firm that pairs virtual Executive Assistants around the United States with busy business owners, entrepreneurs and executives. Her team of high-caliber Executive Assistants work part-time, from home, taking many administrative tasks and projects off the plate of successful people, leaving them free to spend their time where they are needed most.
She, herself, has worked remotely for over 10 years on national and international teams. For the last 5 years she has been focusing on the work-life balance, wellness and satisfaction of busy professionals.
She is masterful at living from her calendar and coaching others in how to have their calendar be the canvas on which they paint their life. Her coaching on time management (and how we relate to “time” altogether) leaves people as the author of their day and their week, rather than having to be heroic and simply survive what’s coming at them.
She was born and raised in the Seattle area. After earning her dual degree in Human Resources and Public Relations, she went on to have her career center around training and personal development. She has led seminars for one of the world’s leading Personal Development organizations. Currently she spends 75% of her year living and working out near Alki Beach in Seattle, and 25% of her year living and working in Pismo Beach, CA.
Podcast Guest
Looking for a podcast guest who is insightful, knowledgeable, and always engaging? Gina is available to discuss topics such as virtual vs. on-site assistants, time management, leadership development, and more.
THE PERFECT RIA PODCAST with Matthew Jarvis
Inspection over Expectation – with Gina Cotner [Episode 2]
SOLOPRENEUR MONEY
Effective Delegation to Your Rock Stars with Gina Cotner, Ep #32
Growing Your Financial Business the Woman’s Way
A conversation with Gina Cotner & Robyn Crane
The Leader Assistant Podcast
Ep #21: Gina Cotner – CEO and Founder of Athena Executive Services
Erin Keam’s Conversations about Closets with my Closest 1000 friends
Gina Cotner from Athena Executive Services on creating partnerships for growth, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, delegating thinking and fuzzy sweaters.
The Competitive and Challenging Business of Executive Assistants
A conversation with Gina Cotner and Carol Schultz on the Authentically Successful Podcast.
ENGAGING VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS
Gina was a featured speaker at the BASE Empower Summit for Assistants. In these two clips, Gina shares with a large audience of assistants two of the eight characteristics that we say makes for a High Caliber EA.
Base is an online platform that helps assistants future-proof their role by tying clear ROI to their workflow.
Signature Presentation:
I’m going to live a balanced life, as soon as I find the time
Key Elements/ Points:
- Money can be made. Time cannot. If you waste $1000 in Vegas you can earn it back. If you had a day recently where you were overwhelmed and took on too much, and it left you tired and cranky, not being great with your kids, and gave you a headache, you don’t get that day back. There is no “do-over” on that day.
- Unlike
Money - Is having a peaceful and sane schedule that serves you, selfish? No. Why? We will explore and get present to the benefits to you and those around
you, when you choose to live a balanced life.
Presentation:
Delegation: Do you Want Control Or Do you Want Time?
Key Elements/ Points:
- Why delegate when you can do it better and faster, and don’t have to spend time explaining it to someone?
- Giving up control (eek!)
- Costs to poor delegation + How to delegate badly
- How to delegate well + The bonus for your company if you take this on
What People are Saying
“Thank you again for your presentation on Time at the WBO luncheon. I shared with a very accomplished group of business women about the concept of how we look at money and time – finite or infinite. As I profess that it’s not brain surgery but it’s a simple concept with a deep message. They ALL loved it. You have an important message to share.”
“Hi Gina. I just wanted to reach out and tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation to WBO on Thursday. I had some amazing takeaways that I began implementing immediately…beginning with blocking out time on my calendar for ME and following-through on making that a priority in honor of myself. 🙂 Thank you for the inspiration!”
“Thanks Gina. Presentation was A+ and I’ll be spreading the word about you and Athena.”
“It was so great hearing your talk and meeting you yesterday! I also coach business owners how to have balance in their work and you taught me some new things and perspectives! I was sharing on Facebook how after your talk, I went and sat on my porch in the afternoon instead of rushing in to do work. I’ve NEVER done that before, so THANK YOU! It’s very inspiring to see someone who was an executive assistant, now have her own business and doing public speaking as well!! I may want to interview you at some point for an article for my career coaching clients. You are a great speaker and you gave great insights to everyone in the room. I will definitely be happy to refer business to you!”