The Executive Assistant of the Future: DonnaPro’s Approach to Human-AI Collaboration
DonnaPro, a European executive assistant agency, trains its EAs on AI tools before placement and supports them with 2,500+ pages of operational frameworks. Founder Filip Pesek argues that AI should amplify human judgment, not replace it. The company claims founders reclaim 60+ hours monthly, using a six-stage selection process combining AI-assisted filtering with manual vetting.
The Human-AI Equation That Most Companies Get Wrong
The future of work conversation often overlooks a crucial aspect: the proper integration of AI. While many believe that increasing automation leads to better outcomes, DonnaPro takes a different stance.
“Our executive assistants are real, approachable people who are trained on AI tools before they even start,” explains Filip. “Every modern executive assistant agency should leverage technology. But we go further. Donna is married to AI tools. She uses them every day to deliver better results, faster.”
The distinction matters as the market overflows with AI-powered tools that promise transformation but often deliver frustration. Founders frequently find themselves managing outputs, correcting errors, and filling gaps that a human would have anticipated.
Why Human Vetting Still Matters in an AI Age
AI tools cannot replicate several key human abilities: reading a room, assessing personality fit, or anticipating two steps ahead. That’s why DonnaPro maintains a rigorous six-stage selection process, even as AI technology advances.
The process starts with AI-assisted filtering for efficient volume handling. However, every candidate who progresses beyond this stage undergoes thorough manual vetting by the DonnaPro team. Multiple rounds of interviews, demo task assessments, reference checks, and personality evaluations follow. Then comes two weeks of intensive training before any client work begins.
“We’re not just running people through a checklist,” says Filip. “We’re looking for people who can think, not just execute. AI handles the volume. Human judgment handles the quality.”
What 60+ Hours a Month Actually Looks Like
DonnaPro frequently mentions that founders reclaim 60+ hours every month. But Filip emphasizes that the focus should be on what founders do with this reclaimed time, not just the number of hours.
“If you get 60 hours back and spend them on more tasks, you’ve gained nothing,” he notes. "If you get 60 hours back and use them to close deals, build relationships, and think about where the business is going, that is when everything changes."