Founder’s Executive Assistant (Strategic EA / Founder’s Shadow)
THIS IS NOT A CLERICAL ROLE.
This role exists to protect the Founder’s time, thinking bandwidth, and decision quality.
WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS
Gaurav Verma operates in a high-pressure, high-velocity workplace where:
- Context switching destroys efficiency
- Poorly thought-through problems waste leadership time
- Decisions suffer when inputs are unstructured
- Repetition, excuses, and emotional noise reduce performance
This EA’s job is to reduce noise and increase clarity.
CORE RESPONSIBILITY
Act as a force multiplier for Gaurav Verma by:
- Filtering chaos
- Structuring decisions
- Ensuring only high-quality inputs reach the Founder
DO’s (NONNEGOTIABLE)
1. Founder Time & Attention Management
- Own the Founder’s calendar with authority
- Eliminate lowvalue meetings
- Ensure every meeting has:
– Clear agenda – Preread material
– Defined decision/output
- Push back on unnecessary meetings respectfully
1. ProblemSolving Gatekeeper
Never escalate raw problems. Before escalation, ensure:
- Problem is clearly defined
- Root cause is identified
- 2–3 solution options are prepared
- Tradeoffs are explained
- Clear recommendation is provided
Standard escalation format: “Problem Why Options Recommendation Decision required”
1. Written Thinking & Communication
- Convert chaos into structured written briefs
- Draft internal notes, summaries, and followups
- Maintain a Founder Decision Log:
– What was decided – Why it was decided
– Who owns execution
1.
Information Filtering
- Act as a buffer between Founder and noise
- Decide what truly needs Founder attention
- Track recurring issues and surface patterns, not incidents
1. Culture & Leadership Signal
- Observe leadership behaviour objectively
- Flag misalignment early
- Identify highownership performers and energy drainers
- Be Founder’s eyes and ears, not a gossip channel
1. Execution Tracking
- Track outcomes, not daily tasks
- Follow up only on ownership and delivery
- Escalate only when:
– Ownership is unclear – Deadlines slip repeatedly
DON’Ts (STRICTLY PROHIBITED)
- Do NOT escalate emotional drama
- Do NOT bring halfbaked problems
- Do NOT seek validation or reassurance
- Do NOT overcommunicate
- Do NOT waste Founder time
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience
- 6–12 years experience supporting founders or CXOs
- Startup / fastgrowth environment exposure preferred
Personality Traits:
- Calm under pressure
- Structured thinker
- Comfortable pushing back respectfully
- Zero ego, high ownership
- Dislikes inefficiency
Skills:
- Exceptional written communication
- Strong judgement and discretion
- Business intuition
- Ability to think two steps ahead