Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Smiley is an executive assistant and business partner to the CEO of an MSP, a role she carries out through her own company, Administrative Care, LLC. With roughly 15 years of professional experience, she operates in a chief-of-staff capacity, working across departments to support leadership and drive organizational efficiency. Her career began in retail before she transitioned into corporate life as head of reception at a software database company, eventually stepping into her first executive assistant position, where she supported a CEO for five years. Following an acquisition, she pursued further education, earning a bachelor's degree in human services in 2015, and later gained hands-on HR experience that led to her HR Management certification in 2019.
Throughout her career, Jessica has built a reputation around organization, clear communication, and accountability, qualities she considers central to her professional identity. Her path has not been without hardship; while recovering from brain surgery, she found guidance in the writings of John C. Maxwell and Brené Brown, works that reshaped her outlook on perfectionism and resilience. That period of reflection continues to inform how she approaches challenges today, grounded in persistence rather than pressure, and in loyalty and honesty as guiding personal values. She is currently furthering her education by pursuing a master's degree in psychology.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jessica is deeply committed to community service, volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for children in the foster care system, as well as contributing her time to church ministry and food bank initiatives. Her dedication to both her career and her community has earned her recognition as a featured honoree in Influential Women for 2026. Jessica hopes to inspire the next generation of women entering the workforce by encouraging self-awareness, confidence, and a strong sense of identity as the foundation for professional success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience and tenacity. A pivotal moment came while I was recovering from brain surgery, when I read Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. Those books shifted my mindset, helping me let go of the need to be perfect and recognize that mistakes are part of what shapes us.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is to be persistent. I've learned that persistency is not the same as aggression, and understanding that distinction has made all the difference in how I carry myself professionally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to first spend time getting to know themselves internally, so that when they approach others, they do so with genuine confidence. How you carry yourself, your body language, your demeanor, communicates to the people around you how you should be received.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There is a lot of opportunity for growth and networking in my field right now. At the same time, one of the biggest challenges I've faced is navigating envy and jealousy from others.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty and honesty are the values I hold most important, both in my work and in my personal life.
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