There's a quiet drain happening in founder schedules across Europe. It's not dramatic. It doesn't make headlines. But it's costing CEOs thousands of hours every year, hours that should be going toward strategy, growth, and the work only they can do.
The culprit is that tasks have nothing to do with why they started their businesses in the first place.
The European Advantage
DonnaPro was built with a clear focus: European founders deserve support built for them, not adapted for them.
While US-based virtual assistant services can offer administrative support, they struggle to replicate the level of regional understanding and day-to-day fit that European founders expect. DonnaPro's executive assistants are based in the EU, providing:
GDPR alignment: Built-in compliance with European data protection standards
CET/GMT time-zone coverage: No eight-hour gaps in communication or follow-up
Cultural communication style: Shared expectations around tone, formality, and business practice
Regulatory context: Assistants who understand the landscape founders operate in daily
The company was built for founders who want a partner who gets it, without explanation.
What 60+ Hours a Month Actually Means
DonnaPro helps European CEOs buy back 60 or more hours every month. That's not a soft estimate — it's what clients consistently report once their EA is fully integrated and operating at full capacity.
"We stand behind the 60 or more hours per month figure," says Filip Pesek, founder of DonnaPro. "It's not a marketing claim. It's what happens when you have someone who understands your business, anticipates your needs, and handles the layer of work that would otherwise consume your entire week."
The shift isn't just about time. It's about what the founder does with it.
When an executive assistant handles scheduling, inbox management, project follow-ups, research, and preparation, the founder gets their calendar back. They get their thinking time back. They get to work on the business, not just in it.
The System Behind the Support
Every Donna goes through a six-stage selection process: multiple rounds of interviews, demo task assessments, reference checks, and personality evaluation. Once selected, they undergo two weeks of intensive training before touching any client work. Over 2,500 pages of frameworks, training materials, debriefs, operational memos, and know-how form the foundation of that preparation.
Every Donna is also supported by a wider team: an account manager, quality manager, and IT support. Founders aren't managing a solo freelancer. They're working with a professional supported by a system.
"Delegation isn't a transaction," Filip explains. "It's a skill that compounds over time. The goal is to build enough trust, context, and structure that over time your EA can think ahead, make decisions, and remove work from your plate without needing constant direction. That requires a system. We've built that system."
The Real Cost of Direct Hiring
A full-time executive assistant in the UK runs north of £8,000 per month once salary, employer contributions, equipment, office space, sick leave, and overtime are factored in. Add one to three months of recruitment time, plus onboarding and training — and the real cost of a direct hire becomes clear.
It's not the salary. It's everything around it.
DonnaPro absorbs that complexity. The vetting, the training, the support infrastructure — it's all built into the model. Founders get a professional who arrives ready to contribute, backed by a team that makes sure the relationship stays strong.
What Founders Are Saying
I had high expectations, but the reality has been above a 10. Because my EA has a background in my industry, she understands exactly what I need immediately – it feels like she is a core part of the team, not an external hire. I’m no longer losing time managing tasks; instead, I’m using that freedom to focus on the sales team and close deals daily. Donna Pro’s recruitment is on another level; she isn’t just delivering, she is over-delivering.
– Walid Kholmi ; CEO @ hometransformers.nl
I knew I wanted an agency to avoid the hiring hassle – but I didn’t expect how valuable full support would be. My EA is awesome, but what really stands out is having a full team behind her. From onboarding to ongoing tweaks with the account manager, everything feels smooth and high-impact.
– Gonçalo Crespo ; Founder & CEO @ Music&Co.
AI-Trained, Human-Led
DonnaPro's EAs use AI tools strategically to multiply their effectiveness, not replace their judgment. They process information faster, draft better, and research deeper. But the thinking, the relationships, the context- that stays human.
It's a distinction that matters to founders who have watched too many "AI-powered" tools promise transformation and deliver frustration. DonnaPro's approach is different: the best modern tools, deployed by a human who knows when each one actually helps.