I have some big news, that I wanted to share with you personally, an important update regarding Up Close & Virtual.

Sadly, I’ve taken the very difficult decision to pause my podcast recording. I’ve been handed the most fantastic opportunity with a long-term client, whose business I’m passionate about. However, with the increased responsibilities and time constraints something has to give.

It’s been a tough decision to make; I’ve loved every single recording and got to know some truly inspirational VAs and business owners. Each and every guest has invested in me or given up their precious time to chat with me and share their experiences, which I know has empowered lots of people to set out on their own business journey. 

To all the esteemed guests, I extend my sincerest and most heartfelt thanks. Your willingness to share your insights and expertise has meant the world to me, and I'm truly grateful.

To our loyal listeners, thank you for tuning in! I’ve been amazed at the growing number of you who regularly listen, comment, and send your words of encouragement. I promise to keep you updated on any developments regarding the podcast's return.

Thank you all for being part of my podcasting journey. Your support fuels my passion, and I can't wait to reconnect with you all very soon.

It’s not goodbye, just au revoir.

Kx

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Robyn Greaves of Start Sort Scale joins me this week.

Robyn is a full-time digital nomad and start-up founder. She spends her time travelling the world and collaborating with business owners to automate their processes and set them up to scale. She is passionate about giving people the freedom to work from anywhere and live life on their own terms.

Prior to launching her business, Start Sort Scale, Robyn spent 15 years as an Executive Assistant across diverse industries including not-for-profit, media publishing, and digital businesses. In 2021, Robyn won an Australian Admin Award for excellence in a multi-functional admin role.

Robyn's passion for the pivotal role of Assistants led her to create "Mastering the Power of ChatGPT: a Guide for Executive Assistants and Virtual Assistants" and the online course "Intro to AI for Executive Assistants." She has emerged as a leading voice in this space, empowering administrative professionals to leverage Artificial Intelligence and get their work done faster, with less effort.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-greaves/

Instagram: @start.sort.scale

Buy the ChatGPT Guide: https://startsortscale.com/chatgptguide/

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I'm delighted to welcome Amy Goss of onethreefourcreative to the show this week.

Amy is a creative freelancer and Virtual Assistant and was recently runner up in the Best VA Newcomer category at the UK VA Awards in 2023. 

Having started her career at a creative design agency which specialised in Sci-Communications; Amy gained invaluable insights and experiences into how some of the world’s biggest household named brands are run. After nearly three and half years and a late diagnosis of ADHD, using the skills and knowledge she’d acquired in the role, Amy decided to take a leap of faith in mid-2022 and branch out on her own. 

A venture born out of the belief that small businesses and neurodivergents deserve the same level of support as their larger counterparts. Amy’s goal is to not only assist small business owners, but also fellow neurodivergents in reaching their full potential and to help her clients become the best version of themselves and reach their goals.

Learn all about Amy on the links below:

Website: https://www.onethreefourcreative.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onethreefourcreative 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onethreefourcreative 

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My first guest of 2024 is the lovely Amy Russell, a multi-award winning VA, with over 30 years in administration, HR and Office management.

She manages a team of 15 based across the UK. Her passions are finding efficiencies within businesses and providing flexibility for her clients and team. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management and an accredited VA with The Society of Virtual Assistants. Her accolades include Winner of Lead VA with a Large Team & Runner Up Outstanding VA - UK VA Awards 2022, Winner of VA of the Year - PA Hub Awards 2022, and Runner Up North East VA of the Year 2021.

A keen runner, she regularly takes part in parkrun, and other 5K road races. She loves collecting racing “bling” – runners speak for medals! To relax she enjoys a good crime thriller or autobiography, as well as a tough jigsaw and has just rediscovered her love of sewing. Amy loves to travel within the UK and overseas, with her husband and daughter.

Learn more about Amy on the links below:

https://crescentva.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyrussellcrescentva/

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It was an absolute pleasure to have Caroline Marshall on the show this week.

Caroline is the founder of a multi award winning Virtual Assistant Agency, Upsource: a team of VAs who provide expert Virtual Assistance to Entrepreneurs, HNWs, Startups, Scale ups and SME’s.

She launched Upsource in lockdown 2020: not sure of where she stood in her career, pregnant with her second child, having previously been made redundant before her child had turned one.

She went back to what she excelled at – providing businesses invaluable support as a Virtual Assistant. The plan was to build the business for 6 months, and then take some proper maternity leave. By the time Caroline was ready to welcome her second baby they had grown to a team of 5!

2023 has seen Upsource grow to a 30 woman strong Business & Lifestyle support agency and the launch of passion project, the Bump to Business Owner podcast.

Learn more about Caroline below:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinepooley/

https://www.instagram.com/weareupsource/

https://www.instagram.com/bumptobusinessowner/

https://podfollow.com/1695056315

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Sam J Hogwood from Escape From The City is my lovely guest on the latest episode of the podcast.

After 20 years as an EA in London, Sam embarked on a new adventure as a VA in 2019. As her business grew, so did her love of writing. Sam's business evolved through the pandemic, and after training & working with a couple of fantastic copy coaches and mentors, she became a copywriter and researcher. 

Sam helps business owners straighten out messy ideas in their head by writing impactful, persuasive copy that tells the story of them and their brand - copy that resonates with their ideal client. She writes what you want to say in the form of website copy, blogs, case studies, articles, newsletters, and more. Sam has always been interested in people and what makes us tick, and especially likes to help people who find it difficult to be heard above the noisy digital chatter. 

A detail-orientated person, she also has in depth research skills. She loves the challenge of unravelling large amounts of information into concise, easy to digest information. Her city days had her managing large, complex diaries and inboxes as well as being the communication glue between depts and that’s where those skills developed.

Learn more about Sam on the links below:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-j-hogwood-escape-from-the-city-content-creation/

https://www.instagram.com/sam_escapefromthecity/

https://www.facebook.com/samjhogwoodescapefromthecity

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It was a pleasure to have Hana Gray, the founder of the The Office Management Group, on the show this week.

The Office Management Group, is a unique, specialist consultancy and space for office and administrative professionals worldwide via an online Portal and Course, as well as the Awards and other initiatives.

Underpinned by her core belief that offices and office personnel are the backbone of any business, Hana’s mission is to support, and ultimately empower, professionals across all aspects of office operations.

Far beyond helping to build efficient and profitable office operations, the wider vision is to elevate, celebrate and recognise these amazing multi-tasking and multi-talented individuals and the office management profession as a whole. 

Learn more about Hana on the links below:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-gray-theomg/

https://www.instagram.com/theofficemanagementgroup/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu32FyA4tsIHukDUpvWCuww

https://www.facebook.com/theOMG2020

https://open.spotify.com/episode/51x5SQlbo2VHXCziA1GaMA?si=cbc61a68e2f64803

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It was a pleasure to welcome the lovely Holly Copsey, founder of the award winning Virtually Priceless, to the show.

Holly launched Virtually Priceless following a successful City career, where she was the right-hand woman to senior leaders in the financial services industry. Her background includes the roles of EA to the Global CEO of Barclaycard and for the Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group. She is now focused on building an exceptional team to support ambitious clients and helping them to achieve their goals.

Holly brings a wealth of experience and provides strategic advice to clients, often becoming a highly trusted partner in their businesses. She is adept in dealing with a range of influential stakeholders and understands how to manage senior relationships effectively. She is particularly passionate about supporting business owners through periods of rapid growth and strives to provide excellence and flexibility to clients.

Holly has a degree in Business Studies and a Pitman Executive PA qualification. When she’s not looking after clients, she loves spending time at the stables with her horses and two young children, hiking around the Essex countryside or working on her dream garden project.

Learn more about Holly here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycopsey/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtuallypriceless

https://www.instagram.com/virtuallypriceless/

https://www.facebook.com/VirtuallyPriceless

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The lovely Bee Higgins joined me this week.

Bee is a creative copywriter, content writer and messaging mentor for heart-led small business owners ready to express their unique magic with words. From 1:1 mentoring sessions, done-for-you offerings and her group membership, Bloom With Bee, there are a myriad of ways to work with Bee to attract kindred clients and nip copy and content overwhelm in the bud. 

When she's not at her desk, you'll find her reading secondhand books, padding the village fields with her dog, and seeking poetry in everyday moments.

Learn more about Bee here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bee-higgins/

https://www.instagram.com/bloomwithbeecopy/

https://twitter.com/BloomWithBee

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The award winning Joanne Manville is my guest this week and I was delighted to welcome her to the show.

Joanne worked for over 10 years as an Executive PA and launched Joanne Manville Virtual Assistance in 2015. She had a very exciting few years, growing her business to include a team of specialist associates and winning UK Outstanding VA in 2019 and 2020. Drawing on her love of admin and organising, Joanne and her team support growing businesses by giving them the time and space to focus on what they do best. Joanne loves assisting business owners, coaches and entrepreneurs strategically, helping them understand what to outsource and what approach will benefit their the business the most.

Aside from her passion to support growing businesses, Joanne enjoys walks with friends on Dartmoor, the challenge of Escape Rooms and a good giggle at a Comedy Night.

Learn more about Joanne here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannemanville-virtual-assistant/

https://www.joannemanville.co.uk/

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