Nov 4, 2026

Kelly Muñoz's EA Cheat Code: Bring Solutions, Not Just Problems

00:00

17:09

Episode highlights

Kelly Muñoz shares how EAs can build trust by bringing solutions instead of adding more problems to an executive’s plate, what working 80-hour weeks taught her about burnout and boundaries, and why a simple “thank you” can matter so much. She also tells the story of being handed an executive’s Tesla in the middle of traffic on her second day at work... without knowing how to drive it.

The EA cheat code: Bring solutions, not just problems

Kelly builds trust with executives by showing up, being credible, and staying ahead.

When she identifies a problem, she doesn’t simply hand it to her executive and wait for direction. She arrives with a plan:

“This is what I’ve already put together. If you don’t like that option, here are two others. Let me know if any of these resonate. If not, I can pivot.”

She is also clear about what she knows, what she doesn’t know, and where she needs the executive’s input.

To Kelly, asking an overwhelmed person, “What can I do to help?” isn’t always as helpful as it sounds. It places the responsibility back on that person to figure out what they need and assign it to you.

What feels more supportive is arriving with specific actions you’re prepared to take or something useful you have already done. That makes the person feel taken care of and gives them the confidence to accept your help.

If Kelly doesn’t have a strong solution yet, she turns to her EA community. Someone else may identify a risk she missed, challenge one of her ideas, or offer an entirely different approach.

The trust doesn’t come from solving one problem perfectly. It comes from consistently showing that you understand what your executive needs, think ahead, and arrive ready to execute.

Also in this episode:

• Why Kelly created the EAs to the Rescue community and why every member has a role in sustaining it
• How her mother taught her to solve problems instead of expecting someone else to do things for her
• Recognizing burnout after working roughly 80 hours a week while raising her son
• The physical and emotional warning signs she initially failed to recognize
• Setting boundaries around her time, availability, and the expectation of an immediate response
• Why disconnecting and making time for yourself isn’t selfish
• Taking over an executive’s Tesla at a traffic light on her second day at work
• Why appreciation is essential to a healthy executive–EA relationship

Kelly is a fractional Executive Assistant with more than a decade of experience and the founder of EAs to the Rescue, a global networking community where EAs exchange advice, recommendations, and support.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro
0:23 Kelly’s EA work and EAs to the Rescue
1:57 The Spirit Halloween meme and making costumes
3:45 EA cheat code: Bring solutions, not just problems
6:32 Recognizing burnout and building boundaries
10:47 Recovering from burnout and making time for yourself
11:27 Taking over an executive’s Tesla in the middle of traffic
15:09 Why a simple “thank you” matters
16:47 Outro