By Walter Simiyu
I'm a virtual assistant who has worked with many different clients over the years. Just last month in August 2025, I attended a VA outreach event in Nairobi, and what I saw there really opened my eyes. Out of about 100 virtual assistants who showed up, only 5 were men. Five! That moment made me realize we have a serious problem in our industry.
Today, I want to talk about something that really bothers me based on what I've observed throughout my career. Most people think that only women can be good executive assistants. But that's completely wrong, and it's time we change this thinking!
Right now, about 9 out of every 10 executive assistants are women. When people think about hiring an assistant, they almost always picture a woman. This happens so often that many talented men never even consider this career path. Even worse, when men do apply for these jobs, some bosses don't take them seriously.
I've seen this happen many times. Great male candidates get passed over because people have old ideas about who can do this job. This isn't just unfair to men – it's bad for businesses too. Companies miss out on amazing talent because they stick to outdated ways of thinking.
The numbers tell the whole story. Studies show that between 85% and 93% of all administrative support roles are filled by women. But this wasn't always the case, and it doesn't have to stay this way.
Here's something that might surprise you. Long ago, men actually did most of these jobs! For hundreds of years, from ancient times all the way to the early 1900s, men were the ones helping important people with their work.
Think about it – in old movies about kings and queens, who do you see writing letters and keeping records? Usually men! These guys were trusted helpers who kept secrets, organized important papers, and made sure everything ran smoothly. They were respected and well-paid for their work.
So what changed? Around 100 years ago, the world started shifting. More women began working outside their homes, especially during World War I when men went to fight. Companies realized they could pay women less money for the same work. That wasn't right, but that's what happened.
At the same time, new machines like typewriters became popular. Some people started thinking that typing and organizing was like housework, so it should be done by women. This created the gender stereotypes we still see today.
But here's the thing – the job has changed a lot since then. Today's executive assistants do much more than just type and file papers. They're like business partners who help make important decisions. They manage complex schedules, handle sensitive information, and solve big problems. These are skills that anyone can learn, regardless of whether they're a man or woman.
Let me tell you about the special skills that men often bring to executive assistant roles. Remember, these aren't things that only men can do, but they are strengths that many men develop naturally.
Many men grow up playing team sports or working on group projects. This teaches them how to work well with others and support their teammates. In the workplace, this means they're great at helping their bosses succeed and working with different departments.