VA Interviews

An Interview with Emma Boatman, Boatman Admin Services

29th January 2020

“I distinctly remember being in floods of tears over a template letter.” After 14 years in clinical research, Emma Boatman turned a difficult career transition into a thriving business. Now heading into her fourth year, Emma shares the reality of rebuilding her confidence, the “ugly” side of missing business boundaries, and how a charity skydive proved everyone’s assumptions about her wrong. Discover why she prefers podcasts over “dull” business books and how she balances professional admin with a global travel passion.

An interview with Joanne Manville, Joanne Manville Virtual Assistance

22nd January 2020

Award-winning VA Joanne Manville shares her journey from NHS Executive Assistant to leading a team of ten. Learn why she views herself as a strategic business partner rather than just a PA, and her honest advice on the importance of investing in coaching early to accelerate business growth.

An Interview with Julia Ngapo, Omnia Business Management

8th January 2020

From her beginnings Googling “freelance admin” in a parking lot to becoming a seasoned Marketing Director and business founder, Julia shares the highs and lows of her journey. Discover how she overcame self-doubt, transitioned from Virtual Assistant to a Holistic Coach, and why she believes in leading from the inside out.

An Interview with Emma Conway-Hyde, The Umbrella Tree

18th December 2019

Emma Conway-Hyde of The Umbrella Tree shares her transition from a stressful corporate PA role to a successful Virtual Assistant business. With 25 years of experience, Emma discusses overcoming burnout, the importance of investment in mentoring, and why she is happy to be a secret introvert in a busy industry.

An Interview with Jodye Laxton

4th December 2019

Jodye Laxton, founder of Beyond Admin, shares her journey from stay-at-home mum to successful business owner in the engineering sector. Discover how she balanced family commitments with professional growth, the importance of investing in the VA Momentum Course, and why self-doubt can be a powerful motivator when building a business with integrity.

An Interview with Ellen Williams, Ministry VA

19th November 2019

Meet Ellen Williams, founder of Ministry VA and a graduate of the VA Mastery Course. Ellen shares her journey from corporate learning and development to launching a successful VA business focused on giving clients back their time for fun.

Resilience – A Guest Blog from Rhiannon Stafford

22nd August 2018

Rhiannon Stafford of Blue Grape explores the true meaning of resilience beyond just coping with stress. By examining emotional, physical, social, and spiritual capacities, she explains how resilience can be developed as a proactive tool for personal growth and high performance. Learn how to perform an honest self-assessment to build a stronger, more resourceful version of yourself in an ever-changing world.

An Interview with Emma James on em-powering change

17th November 2017

Former Royal Navy veteran Emma James of Em-powering Change shares a powerful guest post on reclaiming your identity. Emma discusses how life transitions like marriage, motherhood, and career changes can lead to a loss of self. She provides actionable steps to align with your values, rebuild confidence, and move from merely existing to living a life of purpose and satisfaction.

An Interview with Caroline Wylie

23rd August 2017

Title Idea: The SVA Legacy: How Caroline Wylie Shaped the UK VA Landscape Excerpt From her roots in music and advertising to founding the Society of Virtual Assistants (SVA), Caroline Wylie’s journey is a blueprint for the modern VA. Although she has moved on from her leadership role at the SVA, her influence remains the “driving force” behind the UK’s largest professional body for virtual assistants. In this deep dive, Caroline shares the realities of starting up in 2004—from securing Prince’s Trust funding to the “crunch points” of balancing motherhood with a growing business—and why her mantra remains: “I must wear jeans to the office.”

An Interview with Diana Brandl

5th July 2017

“As Assistants, we tend to think that we should perform in the background… this needs to be changed dramatically.” In this inspiring guest interview, VACT sits down with Diana Brandl, a prolific networker and global champion for the administrative profession. From her role as a Senior Executive Assistant at Mister Spex to her impactful #WeAreInThisTogether initiative, Diana shares her journey of leadership, the power of professional networking through IMA, and why it is time for assistants to be bold, vocal, and visible.

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.