Before I was a recruiter, I was an Executive Assistant.

I spent years supporting executive boards.managing priorities, protecting focus, and being the person leaders depended on for nearly everything. I understood the role from the inside: the trust it requires, the pace it demands, and the instincts that take years to develop.

When I moved into recruiting, I expected to find a process built on that kind of understanding. What I found instead was a system designed for volume: job boards, keyword filters, and résumé stacks with very little thought given to the relationship that would actually need to work.

Placements fell apart. Talented EAs were landing in wrong-fit roles. Executives were frustrated and blaming the hire.

The problem was never the talent. It was the process.

I founded Joelle Paban & Associates to build something different. We’re a boutique firm where every search starts with the question most recruiters never ask: what does great support actually look like for you?