The Visionary VA Podcast

How do you go from 19 years as a primary school teacher, through two redundancies, to fully booked as a VA within six weeks? This week I am joined by Any Other Business founder, Martha Kilner, who shares her story. We also talk about how she's transitioned into being the operational backbone of the businesses she works with, and why Virtual Assistants should embrace AI rather than shy away fro...

From the outside your VA business looks like it’s doing really well. You have good clients, decent money and a jam- packed calendar. How could there possibly be a problem? Well, the issue is there’s a stage in business that is deceptive; instead of building a business you may have accidentally created yourself a job. "Technically, you absolutely have a business, but functionally, you may have...

Why did you start your virtual assistant business? No, I mean the real reason. What was the life you were trying to create? Was it more freedom, flexibility, financial independence, or more time with your children? Eight years in business has taught me those dreams can become a reality and the obstacle isn’t a lack of information, but not having the right support around you. "Sometimes you do...

Would you be upset and offended if someone described your business as boring? I've spent eight years running my business, and have come to a very different conclusion: one of the biggest signs of a healthy business is that it's a little bit boring. "Most successful businesses aren't built through huge breakthroughs. They're built through hundreds of ordinary days done well.&qu...

Eight years ago, I was sitting at my shiny new desk with a laptop, a huge amount of determination, and a VA business called Virtually Priceless - and if I'm honest, I had no idea if it would work. I started without any clients, a team or roadmap, and I was dealing with major challenges in my personal life. Fast forward eight years and so much has changed. We've worked with incredible clien...

What if the easiest way to grow your business isn't finding more clients, it's keeping and developing the ones you've already got? "Clients don't stay with us simply because we're good at the work. They stay because working with us is easy, professional, reliable, consistent and they feel looked after." In this episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, I’m walking you thro...

Ever said yes to something and then immediately regretted it? Maybe you squeezed in one more five-minute task, worked later than planned, or took something on that was actually out of scope, because you genuinely wanted to help. If that resonates with you, this episode is for you. "Clients don't usually value you because you answered emails at 9pm or because you squeezed in another task o...

School holidays are just around the corner and if you're already feeling the dread, this episode is for you. There’s an alternative to six weeks of juggling client work, childcare and guilt. "A sustainable business isn't one that only works when life is quiet. A sustainable business works alongside real life and real life includes school holidays, sick children, family commitments, an...

If your virtual assistant business isn't growing, the problem probably isn't what you think. It's not your marketing, fierce competition, or AI making you redundant. The issue is that you don’t have strong enough foundations. “ Most struggling VA businesses don't have a marketing problem at all. They have a foundations problem.”  Successful businesses aren't built on hacks, tre...

You are not “just” a VA. The sooner more people in the industry start believing that, the faster their business (and confidence) will grow. “ I hear it all the time, ‘I'm “just” a VA. I “only” do admin. It's “nothing special”.’ And every single time, I want to stop people mid-sentence, because there is nothing “just” about what we do." This week we tackle one of the most damaging (and...

It’s a myth, there’s no such thing as work-life balance – at least not in the way it’s often talked about. “Work-life balance has been sold to us as this end goal, this perfectly even split where everything feels calm and controlled and equal all the time.” Achieving the perfect work-life balance just isn't realistic for most people who are growing something and that's because growth requi...

Have you heard about the very exciting new virtual assistant conference coming to the heart of Manchester? The Manchester VA Conference is a brand-new event dedicated to VAs and OBMs who want to upskill, connect with like-minded people, and learn from inspiring speakers. "It's just so nice to get out and meet people face to face that are doing the same thing that you are doing, that are f...

This episode is a really special one. Joanne Munro, founder of The VA Handbook, joins me to share some exciting news about the next chapter for the business and community she’s built. After years of growing The VA Handbook and supporting so many VAs on their journey, Jo has made the decision to step back - and I’m incredibly proud (and honoured) to be taking it forward. In this conversation, we ta...

Don’t let the fear of hiring the wrong associate for your virtual assistant business get in the way of growing your team (and business). “One of the biggest fears people have when they start building a team is hiring the wrong person. What if they’re not good enough, they let the client down or create more work instead of less?” If you’d love to grow and build a team but too afraid of hiring the w...

Do you feel like you’re constantly busy but unsure if you’re actually moving the business forward? This episode is for you, as we explore strategic business planning and the importance of weekly CEO check-ins. “If you don’t create space to lead your business, you’ll spend all your time reacting to it.” In this week’s episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, we’re exploring how you can switch from deli...

Is it important to take risks and be brave in your virtual assistant business? Yes, absolutely! If you stick with what is comfortable, you won’t push yourself or grow. “And that’s the thing about growth. What once stretched you eventually becomes your baseline. And if you don’t deliberately stretch again… You get stuck.” In this week’s episode of The Visionary VA Podcast, we’re talking all about h...

Is it good to be VAT registered? Virtual assistants usually avoid hitting the VAT threshold, because they think it's bad news. However, if you’re approaching the point where you’re required to be VAT registered, that’s not a problem; it’s proof your business is doing something right. “VAT doesn’t have to be scary, it’s just another stage of growth.” This episode tackles one of the biggest mindset...

Have you ever had a quiet month or two in your business and immediately thought: "What am I doing wrong? Maybe I'm not as good at this as I thought"? Bad months happen and they do not get to decide who you are as a business owner, a leader, or a VA. "A bad month doesn't mean you're bad at business. It means you're in business." In this episode, we're diving...

From corporate EA to franchise founder. Find out how Suzy Sanders built Alchemy Virtual Assistance UK to a thriving franchise. She also talks about why she believes success comes down to three powerful Cs. "If you're not out there and you're not visible, then you're going to be the best VA in the world with no clients." Holly is joined by Suzy Sanders, founder and franchiser...

A hard year does not get the final say on who you are and your capabilities. If 2025 knocked your confidence, this episode is about closing one chapter properly, without dragging it into the next one. We’ll cover how to set yourself up to move into 2026 feeling steadier, clearer and confident. "Confidence doesn't come from never struggling. It comes from knowing you can handle it when you...

If you've ever felt that knot in your stomach when looking at your business finances - or found yourself undercharging because you're afraid to ask for what you're worth, this episode is for you. Today we're dropping the shame around money and getting informed about the numbers that matter in your virtual assistant business. “If you're informed, you're empowered. If you&#39...

What if you could build a thriving agency whilst solo parenting and navigating an ADHD diagnosis? Anna Bunch, founder of Psych VA, turned the chaos of running a practice into a seven-year success story. This proves that the right systems and support are key. In this episode, Anna opens up about her journey from solo VA to agency owner, building Psych VA into a specialist team that supports psychol...

Less than six weeks left of the year and this is the moment most people either switch off or get intentional. If you listen/watch this podcast, I can guess which camp do you want to be in. "Goals without alignment become chores, but goals built on intention pull you forward." You know that feeling when the year suddenly catches up with you? That's exactly where we are right now. I am...

You know that moment when you realise you're the one breaking your own rule? Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do as leaders is to slow down, zoom out and make decisions that keep us aligned - even when it feels uncomfortable. "Doing less doesn't mean lowering your standards - it means raising your focus."   In this episode, I share a personal realisation – that I was spr...

What started out as a slightly terrifying idea has turned into one of the most rewarding things I've done so far. This week, we're celebrating a whole year of The Visionary VA Podcast, and I'm revisiting conversations from incredible guests who've shifted my perspective on leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build a thriving VA business. "You don't have to...