An Interview: The Virtual Assistant Industry

Nicole began her career at Virtual Assist USA just shy of a decade ago, starting as a Virtual Assistant. From her first day, she never missed an opportunity to learn, elevate our services, or help someone else on the team. Noticing her natural talent for operational organization and drive to succeed, she earned promotions that eventually led her to become our Chief Operating Officer. She has been a trailblazer in the Virtual Assistant industry, using her abilities to develop our team of Virtual Assistants to being the top ranked #1 Virtual Assistant agency. 

We asked Nicole questions about the future of the Virtual Assistant industry in this interview.

What makes Virtual Assist USA stand out amongst other Virtual Assistant companies?

For me, it’s the people working here. I come to work and am surrounded by incredible talent every day, but there is also heart, integrity, respect, and generosity.  I am so honored to be able to be a part of this talented team of experienced Virtual Assistants. We have some team members who have been here for years and have so much knowledge and passion for what they do, helping small businesses grow by outsourcing. We also have many new hires that have resulted from our recent growth.  It is great to see them so excited to learn new skills from some of the best in the industry.  Each employee, from our veterans to our new hires, takes great care of each client.

What are you proud of accomplishing at Virtual Assist USA?

I am proud to provide a work environment that allows employees to work from home flexibly while still providing team building activities and continuing education opportunities to expand their skill sets and careers. I am also incredibly proud of jointly creating a thriving business with Danielle Cuomo, our CEO, from growing from a crew of contractors to a large organization with full time employees and team leaders. Finally, I'm proud that our Virtual Assistants are employees and not contractors and that working for Virtual Assist USA isn't a short-term gig. We are all about creating long-term, rewarding partnerships with our US-based Virtual Assistants, which means that our team will make Virtual Assist USA their career choice for years to come.

What do you like best about working at Virtual Assist USA?

I love working in an environment that supports my hard work and recognizes my worth. There has not been a day that I have worked at Virtual Assist USA in which I thought to myself, "I don't want to get out of bed and go to work." A large majority of the workforce feels this sense of dread when going to work, and it is life-changing when you don't ever have to think about that.

What are the biggest changes you've seen in the industry since you started here in 2017?

The most significant changes have been in the acceptance and recognition of how effective virtual assistance can be and how cost-effective it is for a company rather than hiring an employee and all the overhead that comes along with it. I have also seen a big change in the gap between US Virtual Assistants and offshore assistants. The gap in the skill set and capabilities is growing and is noticeable.

What do you appreciate most about your team?

I appreciate the team's devotion to improving their clients' companies. The 'can do' and 'team' mentality is what business owners need to feel supported in whatever endeavor they want to accomplish. We believe hiring a Virtual Assistant is essential for business growth, and that our team is doing valuable work.

What are some things you hope to see the Virtual Assistant industry accomplish in the near future?

I know we will continue to see growth in the industry, especially as we assist solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. Virtual Assist USA offers a team to our clients, where hiring an employee limits you to one person's skill set. I look forward to seeing business owners run with this business model so that new doors can be opened to the effectiveness of their day-to-day needs and projects. Lastly, I hope to see more leaders training their team members on how to advance their capabilities in a way that supports what success looks like to them. Being a leader in this industry requires a vast knowledge base and an understanding of every facet of business. Therefore, this allows us as leaders to teach and expand Virtual Assistant's capabilities and professional careers.