Lynsey Pirie - My Journey to Self-Employment with Alchemy VA
Posted on 27th January 2025 at 09:08
Lynsey's Journey to Self-Employment with Alchemy Virtual Assistance
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Lynsey Pirie lives in Currie with her energetic 7-year-old son, Lucas. As a single mum, family is a key part of her life and growing up in a large, close-knit family, Lynsey’s upbringing has certainly shaped her resilience and strong sense of community. Over the years, her career and life experiences, especially her journey with Muscular Dystrophy, have influenced her decision to pursue self-employment.
Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive condition that impacts many parts of Lynsey’s life, but despite the challenges she’s never let it define her or hold her back, it’s only made her more determined. In her previous roles, workplaces were adapted to her needs, allowing her to thrive without barriers. However, after being made redundant at the end of 2024 and searching for new employment, Lynsey found it increasingly difficult to secure roles that offered the accessibility and flexibility she required.

“Edinburgh is a historic city with Grade A listed buildings, and finding offices which are accessible with parking presented real challenges when I was searching for new opportunities. I knew I needed a work environment where I could manage my condition and also integrate regular physiotherapy into my routine.”
“My redundancy led to a pivotal moment in my life, and although initially daunting, it became the catalyst for change. I’ve always looked for ways to progress professionally and I had long dreamed of running my own business but was hesitant about balancing the financial responsibilities of single parenthood with entrepreneurship."
"After briefly exploring employed roles, I soon realised self-employment could offer both the flexibility, and autonomy I need whilst driving my career to new heights."
Lynsey’s career has included roles at Lloyds Banking Group as a Personal Assistant in Learning and Development, positions in event management and product development, and most recently as an Executive Assistant for nearly 12 years in a specialist green investment business in a large global asset management firm.
“I’ve always enjoyed roles where I could be proactive, streamline processes, and anticipate needs, it’s the variety and the opportunity to make a real impact that I love. In my role as an Executive Assistant I thrived on the variety and fast-paced challenges such as managing executive diaries, coordinating complex international travel, organising investment committee logistics and liaising with stakeholders across multiple time zones. I enjoyed building authentic relationships with my executives and their teams to truly understand their ways of working. As an Executive Assistant, you’re not just providing business support, you are a sounding board, a reliable confidant and a trusted partner and I think this experience really sets me apart from other VAs in the industry.”
“Being a business owner can be lonely at times and so having a trusted VA is having someone that can not only help you save time, but can help you become more productive, improve your time management, handle stress and most importantly save your sanity.”

Photo: Left to right - Lysney Pirie, Suzy Sanders & Laura Barley.
Laura is an Executive Franchise Partner of Alchemy VA's based near Glasgow & Lynsey's supporting Mentor.
Choosing Alchemy VA
The idea of working from home in a virtual role became an appealing solution and being able to balance her health and career in a supportive environment was key to Lynsey’s next move. The decision to join Alchemy VA as a franchisee came after thorough research and Lynsey explored multiple VA franchises and even sought advice from a respected coach in the virtual assistant industry, but it was Alchemy VA’s culture, values, and personalised support that really stood out.
“I clicked with Suzy straight away. Alchemy’s values, integrity, empowerment and growth aligned perfectly with my own, it’s a small franchise with a real sense of community and collaboration and the one-to-one coaching and personal touch set it apart from others, which felt more corporate, and sales driven.”
Lynsey officially joined the Alchemy VA family in December 2024 and is set to launch her franchise in February 2025 bringing with her a wealth of experience. Her new business will focus on providing high-quality support to service-based businesses, across all sectors but especially in the investment and wealth management sectors, where her skills and experience shine. Core services will include diary management, board administration, project support, social media, executive communication and much more.
Looking ahead, Lynsey envisions growing her business into a thriving team of virtual assistants and her goal is to support purpose-driven businesses while creating a flexible, empowering work environment for herself and her team.
“I want to work with businesses that have a positive impact and help people or the environment. That’s where my passion lies.”
Outside of work, Lynsey enjoys spending time on the sidelines of Lucas’ football matches, indulging her love of cooking - especially spicy food, and staying active with Pilates and swimming. These hobbies, along with her supportive family, provide the balance and joy she needs to thrive both personally and professionally.
Lynsey’s journey to self-employment is a testament to her resilience, determination, and passion for supporting others. By joining Alchemy VA, she’s found a way to balance her career ambitions with her personal needs, creating a business that aligns with her values and strengths. Her story is an inspiring example of how challenges can lead to transformative opportunities.

What next?
Share this post: