Transitioning to Virtual Assistance - Heather's Journey
Posted on 22nd November 2024 at 12:10
Transitioning to Virtual Assistance - Heather's Journey
Heather Walker, a farmer’s daughter and countryside lover lives in the small village of Melbourne, outside York with her husband, two teenage children, and their pet Cavapoo.
Having grown up in Berkshire and completed a degree in English and German, Heather spent a formative year in Freiburg, Germany, which enriched her language skills and broadened her cultural awareness. After university, she pursued a career in education, moving between various roles, from teaching to university and charity administration.
Now, Heather is preparing for a new chapter in her professional life — launching her own virtual assistant franchise under Alchemy VA!
CAREER PATH
After university, Heather trained to teach English as a second language and worked as a teaching assistant in a secondary school. Her career path then led her to the University of York, where she worked as an Administrator for IT Services, supporting various IT projects and the procurement of IT equipment for the University.
Heather went on to work at the NSPCC, where she held the role of centre administrator. This position was both challenging and rewarding, exposing her to sensitive cases of child safeguarding and family support.
She managed confidential case files and had to navigate the emotional toll that comes with working in such a field. This experience gave her valuable insights into the importance of empathy, confidentiality, and effective communication.
Returning to university administration, Heather held several roles in student support and research administration including working on a project related to mental health within the criminal justice system. Here she honed her organisational and people skills and developed a talent for process management, stakeholder engagement, and understanding the needs of diverse groups, including academics, students, and external partners.
TRANSITION INTO VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE
Although Heather found fulfilment in her administrative roles, she yearned for more flexibility and autonomy. During a career break, she explored the idea of social media management with the goal of becoming self-employed. While the timing wasn’t right initially, this period planted the seed for her eventual transition into the Virtual Assistant space.
Heather was drawn to the Virtual Assistant industry because it aligned with her skills in administration and her desire to work from home. She saw it as a way to maintain the variety of tasks she enjoyed—managing resources, organising meetings, proofreading, and scheduling social media content—while also providing the flexibility to be present for her family and enjoy the countryside life she loves.
Heather’s decision to join Alchemy VA was shaped by the franchise’s family-run nature and the supportive, team-based structure. She recognised that being part of a franchise would provide the accountability and camaraderie she sought, making the transition to self-employment less daunting. The franchise option, in her words, gave her the "integrity and warmth" she was looking for, as well as the reassurance of a supportive network.
SKILLS & STRENGTHS
Heather's background has provided her with a wealth of transferable skills such as:
• Empathy and Communication: Her ability to listen to & relate to a wide range of people has been crucial in all her roles, especially when dealing with sensitive situations at the NSPCC.
• Organisational Skills: Heather enjoys working systematically, managing processes, and ensuring things run smoothly. This strength will be essential as she manages multiple clients and their various administrative needs.
• Attention to Detail: Her experience in proofreading, managing databases, and supporting research projects highlights her meticulous attention to detail, a key trait for any successful VA.
• People Skills: Having worked with a broad spectrum of stakeholders—from academics and GPs to students and families—Heather is approachable and personable, qualities that will help her build strong relationships with her future clients.
LAUNCHING HEATHER'S VA FRANCHISE
Heather's Virtual Assistant franchise will offer a wide range of services to businesses across York, including resource management, proofreading, travel bookings, meeting organisation and minute-taking, social media scheduling and much more.
Although equipped to work with businesses from all sectors, her specialism in the education sector will allow her to leverage her deep understanding of academic environments and processes.
For Heather, the ultimate goal is to achieve flexibility and autonomy while ensuring client satisfaction. She understands that her success depends on her ability to help her clients grow and she is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to meet their needs.
CHALLENGES & MOTIVATION
Heather’s journey into self-employment is marked by both excitement and apprehension but her experience in balancing complex tasks and working independently has prepared her for the challenge. She acknowledges that there is "never a right time" to make such a leap and encourages others to take the plunge and "make it work."
Heather’s transition into virtual assistance is a testament to her adaptability, resilience, and passion for helping others. Her rich career history in education and social care has equipped her with the skills needed to succeed in this new venture and by joining Alchemy VA, she has found a balance between independence and support, giving her the confidence to launch her business in January.
With a clear vision, strong skill set, and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction, Heather is poised for success in her virtual assistant journey...
WHAT NEXT...
Are you interested in chatting with Heather about what level and type of Virtual Assistant support will make the most impact to you? You can get in touch with Heather Walker here.
Perhaps you're not yet sure if you're ready for a Virtual Assistant? Why not take our free VA 'readiness' evaluation to gain valuable insights and personalised advice on maximising the outputs of a Alchemy Virtual Assistant.
Or if you'd like to explore taking on your own Alchemy VA franchise, you can download a copy of our VA franchise information pack.
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