Black History Month Interview Series

Meet Lacretia Adamski, Senior Executive Assistant at Salesforce

Lacretia Caldwell Adamski has 15 years of experience supporting C-Suite executives in multiple industries including SaaS, health administration, and higher education. Throughout her career, she has also formed and managed administrative teams, including a team of soon-to-be 14 that globally supports approximately 1,000 employees.

As an advocate for executive assistants’ access to professional development, Lacretia offers coaching services and has been a guest panelist at events dedicated to advancing administrative professionals. In 2020, she was recognized by WashingtonExec as a finalist for Executive Assistant of the Year, cementing her reputation as a trailblazer within the executive support community.

Let’s get to know Lacretia!

Tell us some fun facts about yourself.

Cooking is one of my passions and I love creating my own recipes. After spending hours behind the computer screen, something about cooking helps me feel rooted and present. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of recreating restaurant dishes at home. But lately, it’s come in handy since some of our favorite restaurants have gone out of business due to the pandemic.

Some of my ultimate crowd favorites include buttermilk pancakes, beef bourguignon, and chicken marsala.

Pictured are my flaky buttermilk biscuits from Sunday.

 

My second passion is planning or hosting events, which allows me to be creative in a different way. Whether it’s big or small, personal or professional, I love facilitating opportunities for people to gather. I always know I’ve done a great job when people take pictures of an event I’ve created. Here is a picture from a dinner I did for our management team in 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the past few years, I discovered a third passion: wine. In 2019, I earned a WSET Level 2 certification (with Merit) and it’s been a gamechanger in my cooking and event planning. Now that I have a much better understanding and appreciation of wine, I’ve gained confidence in working with sommeliers for both casual and private dinners, and team-building events. Because there’s so much to learn about wine, I’ve continued doing self-study in my downtime.

More fun facts: 

In my early 20s, modeling was my side hustle. As a hair model, I’ve been featured in a few national hair magazines. I was also signed to a boutique modeling agency that specialized in bridal wear. I’ve literally worn hundreds of wedding gowns and yes – it’s just as much fun as it sounds!

What do you LOVE about your role?

I love the diversity and varying scope of the work that hits my desk everyday. My organization has grown rapidly over the past 8 years so there’s always a new challenge and many opportunities to push myself out of my comfort zone. That’s what excites me because it’s within those opportunities where growth happens.

I also love building relationships which can be more challenging on some days than others. I’m really fortunate to have cultivated an amazing community who not only support me, but also inspire me to become a better version of myself. My tribe is everything, and I hope that I return as much support as I receive.

Tell us about a defining moment in your personal and/or professional life.

The trajectory of my career changed when I began working for the president at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Before that, I was a public administrator at the university. In 2006, an assistant professor I’d previously worked with was initially promoted to Executive VP before later becoming President. A few weeks into her post, she hand-selected me to join her team as special assistant.

Until then, I’d never considered a role in executive support. But since this was a newly created position, I saw it as a great opportunity to define the role. I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed being in a visible position as the president’s right hand, attending strategic planning meetings, and working on a wide range of special projects – which included implementing a pilot internship program with the daughter of a former President of the United States. Eventually, I was given oversight of all of the administrative personnel and operational activities in the President’s Office.

The special assistant role really opened my eyes to how interesting and influential executive support can be. With the right executive, it can be an engaging, strategic role. Looking back now, that opportunity gave me the perfect foundation for my current role at one of the most successful Fortune 500 companies.

What are you most proud of in your career?

It would be an understatement to say that 2020 was a challenging year, but it was also a pivotal year for me professionally. Something about working 100% remotely allowed me to engage others differently than before. As a result, I was named Salesforce Woman of the Month (July 2020), a recognition given to me by the global Women’s Network — the largest Equality group in the company. In October, I was named a Finalist for the Executive Assistant of the Year by WashingtonExec. Both recognitions were initiated by my colleagues, making it truly humbling to know that I’m seen as a valued member of my organization.

What is the best career advice you’ve received? What is your favorite piece of advice to give?

Best advice received: Do your best to leave [people or an organization] in a better position than how you found them.

Advice most often given: Instead of spending energy on why something won’t work, think of ways to overcome the obstacles.

At ELS, the role of the executive assistant has been described as the culture carrier. What are some of the pressures of having to be a culture carrier and a person of color that leaders don’t even realize?

While executive assistants play a huge role in promoting corporate culture, leaders should not assume Black assistants are equipped to develop DEI initiatives for the organization or can handle the emotional burden of leading those initiatives. Leaders that are truly committed to the cause will dedicate resources to hire DEI experts to develop a meaningful strategy.

That said, I do believe all assistants should continue advising our executives and leadership teams on issues impacting team culture, including diversity and inclusion.

Is there a specific Black leader who inspires you? What do you admire about this individual and is there a quote you’d like to share?

“You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you….We are all in that room with you applauding you on…. So you use that voice and be strong.” -Vice President Kamala Harris

After 15 years as an assistant, there have been many times when I was the only POC and/or woman in the room. While I may not have an executive title, I believe true leaders can lead from any seat. As a member of my executives’ leadership teams, this quote reminds me to feel empowered in contributing to the conversation because I have a unique perspective to offer.

Is there a Black writer, podcast host, Black-owned business or something else you’d like to spotlight?

What drew me to Utenzi Miller, a NJ based optician, is that she has access to amazing eyewear and offers virtual fittings. After a short consultation, she will send a curated box of frames for you to try on from the comfort of your own home. She is incredibly gifted at her craft, and I always enjoy working with her.

What do you want others to know or remember as they celebrate Black History Month?

While it’s important for all Americans to learn from our (collective) painful history, Black History Month should also be a celebration of Black resilience and Black joy. There is so much more to being Black than centuries of oppression and intergenerational trauma. It’s also important to honor the past by sharing uplifting messages, recognizing modern Black achievements, and appreciating Black Excellence.