VA Interviews

An interview with Louise Mackie – LM-VA & Co Ltd

17th June 2020

Louise Mackie of LM-VA & Co Ltd is a prime example of what true dedication looks like. Balancing a young family and a day job, Louise worked tirelessly to transition into a full-time Virtual Assistant. Now a successful business owner in North Wales, she shares how she built a flexible career that allows her to prioritise family while delivering high-level support to her diverse client base.

An Interview with Sandy Hearn – Elite PA Solutions

3rd June 2020

Sandy Hearn, founder of Elite PA Solutions, shares her journey from being a sole provider and “workaholic” to leading a thriving team of associates. A graduate of the VA Training Academy Sandy discusses the reality of building a business on a tight budget, the necessity of taking calculated risks, and how she transitioned from being an undervalued employee to a multi award-winning business owner.

An Interview with June Whiteman – Virtually There

27th May 2020

June Whiteman, founder of Virtually There, was the first Virtual Assistant to establish on the Isle of Man. A graduate of the VA Momentum Course, June shares how her corporate PA background and a leap of faith led her to specialise in supporting Independent and Non-Executive Directors.

An interview with Fliss Murdoch – Your Virtual Angel

29th April 2020

Meet Fliss Murdoch, the tenacious founder of Your Virtual Angel. In this interview, Fliss shares her high energy journey from swimming teacher to business owner. She discusses the importance of ethical alignment, the reality of the 3 am wobbles, and why she believes the worst day being self employed beats the best day in a corporate role.

An Interview with Nancy Benn – Direct PA Services

22nd April 2020

Nancy Benn of Direct PA Services shares her journey of building a successful VA business while living as a digital nomad in Spain. From redundancy to international freedom, Nancy discusses the importance of quality training, overcoming procrastination, and the reality of working from the beach. Her story is a testament to the flexibility and resilience required to thrive in the virtual assistant industry.

An Interview with Penny Cooke – Virtual Ms Friday

15th April 2020

Penny Cooke of Virtual Ms Friday joins us to discuss her transition from a thirty year office career to running her own successful VA business. With a refreshing dose of “stubbornness” and a keen sense of humour, Penny shares how she overcame the fear of failure and “FOBFO” (Fear of Being Found Out) to build a life of flexibility. From investing her redundancy to finally getting her dream dog, Bella, Penny’s story is a masterclass in tenacity and the importance of professional networking.

An Interview with Becky Adams – Your Productive PA

25th March 2020

Becky Adams, founder of Your Productive PA and VACT Community Manager, shares her journey from the Royal Navy to running a thriving VA business. Becky discusses the importance of professional training, the value of associate work, and how a military background helps her maintain a direct, no-nonsense approach with her clients. She provides an honest look at overcoming self-doubt and the reality of balancing family life with a growing team.

An Interview with Linda Semeins-Allen – Clever Pins

19th February 2020

Former primary school teacher Linda Semeins-Allen shares how she built Clever Pins, a specialist Pinterest marketing agency, while living overseas. From navigating international moves to mastering a high-growth visual search engine, Linda discusses the power of niching down and why investing in the VA Momentum Course was the turning point for her global business.

An Interview with Natalie Andrews, NA Business Services

12th February 2020

“Some call me the pocket rocket—I’m a trained dancer but was born to be a VA.” Natalie Andrews’ journey from a freelance PA for an international choreographer to the founder of a thriving associate-led agency is a masterclass in resilience. Having navigated the “lows” of postnatal depression and the “highs” of a growing business, Natalie shares why “who you know” is just as important as “what you know.” Discover how she traded admin time for her first logo, her secret to surviving “rollercoaster” days, and her past life working with stars like Paul Whitehouse and Cat Deeley.

An Interview with Anne Clarkson, Strawberry Office

5th February 2020

Anne Clarkson, founder of Strawberry Office, shares her journey of building a Virtual Assistant business as a military spouse. From payroll and hotel management to supporting rural businesses, Anne discusses the challenges of balancing a side hustle with full time employment and why high quality training is vital for gaining the confidence to succeed.

About AMANDA

Amanda Johnson is not just a mentor; she is a catalyst for transformation in the Virtual Assistant industry, helping professionals not only start but scale their businesses to new heights. Her dedication to her clients’ success is matched only by her commitment to integrity, honesty, and empowerment.