Elevating Leadership with Emotional Intelligence and Executive Support with Paige McPheely

“We celebrate burnout like it’s a badge of honor—but what if the real power move is asking for help?”

In this episode of Business is Human, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession sits down with Paige McPheely, founder of Base, to talk about what truly supportive leadership looks like—and how executive assistants are the unsung heroes behind high-performing leaders Paige shares how Base has transformed the EA matchmaking experience through a unique blend of tech, emotional intelligence, and values-driven service. 

They unpack the cultural narratives that keep leaders stuck in self-sufficiency, explore why asking for help can feel like failure, and reframe delegation as a business growth strategy—not a weakness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why great assistants are more than task managers—they’re strategic partners
• How vulnerability, not hustle, leads to sustainable success
• The hidden emotional and financial ROI of outsourcing your overwhelm

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(03:13) How Base began with a single client’s need

(06:14) Why matching with the right EA is critical

(08:03) What the Base onboarding process looks like

(11:00) The cost of doing it all yourself

(13:24) The emotional side of executive support

(15:50) The hidden barriers to asking for help

(20:26) Base’s commitment to supporting women leaders

(25:00) What makes a support partnership truly transformative

(30:44) How the Reset offering clears inboxes—and mental clutter

(33:54) What flexible support really looks like at Base

Connect with Paige:

Website: https://www.basehq.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigemcpheely

Connect with Rebecca:

https://www.rebeccafleetwoodhession.com/