Subscribe

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Close Pop Up

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The job is hard — surround yourself with great people.

The Why

eaRISE emerged from Kelly Kovacs' journey as an Executive Assistant at a high-growth startup.

In 2010, she stepped into her first EA role, supporting the CEO of a 100-person startup called Twitter. As the company skyrocketed to 4,500 employees and went public, Kelly's role evolved to Chief of Staff. Through this whirlwind journey, one thing became clear: the support and insights shared among fellow EAs were not just beneficial—they were essential to Kelly’s success and the success of the entire company.

Her realization sparked an idea. What if there was a way to cultivate and expand this invaluable network of support?

In 2020, Kelly founded eaMAFIA, a private community for C-Suite EAs in tech. As eaMAFIA took off, it became clear that EAs across the globe were seeking the same connection, growth, and shared wisdom.

That's the need we’re serving with eaRISE.

The What

Our core mission is to support and empower assistants who operate within the fast-paced and ever-evolving sectors of tech, VCs, and beyond.

We strive to foster an engaging and intellectually stimulating environment that challenges EAs to push the boundaries of what is into what if’s. We believe that by elevating the role of the executive assistant, we can enhance the productivity, innovation, and results of the entire organization. Our goal is to create a community where, together, assistants can learn, grow, and thrive.

eaRISE is more than just a professional network. It's a launchpad for EA career growth, a trusted circle for sharing lessons and victories, and a hub for learning the unwritten and ever-evolving rules of executive support.

We are a community built by EAs for EAs, providing the training and resources necessary to uplevel your skills, expand your network, and rise up from the challenges of your role. All of our programs are built around the principles of lifelong learning, so that you remain at the forefront of industry trends and continuously expand your skill set.

About Us

Our members come from diverse backgrounds and career stages. They're united by a drive for excellence and a desire to support one another. Our community is designed for the modern EA—from admin professionals who are new to executive support, to nimble force multipliers building venture firms and rapid-growth startups, to seasoned thought partners navigating Fortune Global 500. Each application undergoes a careful review to uphold the shared values of our community:

Authenticity: Embodies integrity and vulnerability, embracing growth from mistakes.

Purpose: Dedicated to uplifting the EA community through service and contribution.

Mastery: Pursues excellence with thought leadership and high standards.

Impact: Committed to a positive ripple effect, enhancing the success of their executive, team, and organization.

Meet The Team

Mallory St. George

Mallory St. George

Head of Community & Marketing

Kelly Kovacs

Kelly Kovacs

Founder & CEO

Julia Simmons

Julia Simmons

Chief of Staff

Ready to join our community?

Subscribe

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Close Pop Up

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Our members quietly run the show at some of the biggest names in tech and VC.

We're in service to the EA. Everything we build exists to empower EAs to lead the evolution of one of the most demanding and high-impact roles in business.

Where We Started

In 2010, Kelly Kovacs stepped into her first EA role supporting the CEO of Twitter. Over the next six years, she became Chief of Staff and was an integral operator as the company scaled toward its IPO. During this time, Kelly found that the relationships she built with other EAs, both at Twitter and across her network in Silicon Valley, were essential to her success. 

That realization led her to found eaMAFIA in 2020: a private community dedicated to C-suite EAs in tech. As the community grew, it became clear that EAs at every career stage would benefit from the same network, resources, and peer-to-peer learning. 

In January 2024, we launched eaRISE as an expansion of eaMAFIA, designed to welcome EAs from every industry and at every level of support and tenure.

Over the next two and a half years, our community grew from 80 to over 350 members. We doubled attendance at the annual summit year over year, launched our first-ever AI Hackathon, and developed targeted trainings that equipped our members to evolve with the role.

eaRISE allowed us to thoughtfully grow and welcome more EAs into the fold while preserving the close-knit community we'd built through eaMAFIA. 

But as we grew, the distinction between memberships stopped reflecting the reality of our community—a collective of strategic partners and operators who share ideas, solve complex problems, embrace new technology, and help one another grow.

So in June 2026, we went back to our roots and unified the community under one name: eaMAFIA.

Where We Are Now

400+

members

200+

companies

114

cities globally

80+

virtual trainings

520+

summit attendees

120k+

slack messages

Where We’re Headed

Technology is reshaping the EA role in real time, and our members are leading the charge. We're doubling down on the investments that matter: more in-person experiences, career growth opportunities, and AI training that keeps our members prepared for what's next.

Our members have always been grounded by their values: mastery, authenticity, and strategic impact. That shared foundation—plus our commitment to teaching and learning from one another—is what keeps them ahead of the curve. 

Our members are the ones shaping what the EA role looks like next, not waiting to see what it becomes. 

Meet The Team

Kelly Kovacs

Kelly Kovacs

Founder & CEO

Julia Simmons

Julia Simmons

Chief of Staff

Mallory St. George

Mallory St. George

Head of Community & Marketing

Ready to join our community?