VC-backed scale-ups in the UK and US trust us to build their admin teams
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Traditional EAs often come from structured corporate environments, where their role is clearly defined and task-based. They’re highly capable within a narrow scope, but often struggle in fast-moving scale-ups where problems are ambiguous and initiative is required.
MDT gives you access to a different kind of EA. We source and hire highly capable South African talent - ambitious graduates from top local universities or go-getters with broad operational experience, who can think independently and adapt quickly - for half the cost of onshore hires.
- Together, we define what a strong EA looks like for you
- Align on the profile, priorities, and must-have qualities
- Define a clear hiring roadmap
- We curate a shortlist of the top 0.1% of South African EAs
- You interview and make final hiring decisions exactly as you would for an onshore hire
- We handle vetting, references, contracts, and onboarding
- You manage priorities and day-to-day direction
- We take care of HR, payroll, and compliance
- Your offshore EA works from our incredible Cape Town office
Offshoring EA roles gives you access to high-capability support at a more affordable cost - but not all Executive Assistant profiles are the right fit for a scale-up. In many cases, traditional EAs are trained for more structured corporate environments and can be too narrow for roles that require ownership, adaptability, and independent problem-solving.
By partnering with us to build teams in South Africa, you gain access to a different kind of EA: highly capable operators or ambitious graduates who can think independently, adapt quickly, and grow with the role. Combined with native-level English, UK-aligned working hours, and flexibility for US teams, that gives you exceptional support for up to 50% lower cost - while creating more leverage for you and your leadership team.
Not always - and that’s often intentional. Traditional EA backgrounds can be too narrow, particularly when transitioning to a scale-up, where priorities shift quickly and the role often extends beyond scheduling and admin. We prioritise candidates with the capability to operate broadly, solve problems independently, and grow with the needs of the business - even if they don’t come from a conventional EA background.
The distinction varies. In many cases, a PA is considered a more junior version of an EA. In others, PAs focus more on personal tasks, while EAs focus on professional support. In practice, the scope of the role matters more than the title - and we help define that with you.
We run custom assessments focused on attention to detail, organisation, and written communication - all critical for EA roles.
No - your team manages priorities and workflows. We handle employment, HR, payroll, and retention.
All hires are covered by The MDT Guarantee. As your partner in building your offshore team, we’re committed to finding you the perfect hire. But if a hire doesn't work out, we'll find an alternative option ASAP.
Once we begin the process, we typically deliver a curated shortlist of high-quality candidates within two weeks. From there, timelines depend on your interview process.
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