Hey! Do I Need a VA?

Hey! Do I Need a VA?
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Many times overwhelmed entrepreneurs are told to “hire a virtual assistant” but not how to do it or what to look for. The term Virtual Assistant (VA) is not a one-size-fits-all. When clients hire someone without knowing all the facts it can result in bad experiences or worse the entrepreneur walking away from much needed support. This podcast is what actual VAs want potential clients to know about the pros and cons of working with virtual support. We will explore topics like: What is a VA?What can a VA help with?How much does a VA cost?Working with a VA goes beyond your task list.What is the interview process? And who leads it?What preparation should a client do before hiring a VAAnd so much more…Hosted by Rachael Davila with Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance. She brings 18+ years of administrative and business owner experience to the mic, along with a cast of virtual assistant friends and colleagues who bring different backgrounds, view points and skill sets. Listeners will get a peek into the world of virtual assistants and hear stories, strategies and successes to thrive within the virtual workforce. Through our episodes we hope to educate, inspire, and motivate business owners to do the necessary pre-work before navigating the journey to find, hire and work with a virtual assistant.

  1. Sep 25

    AI or VA?

    AI or VA? How Do You Know Which Support You Need? With everything AI can do now, do you still need a Virtual Assistant? It's a question we're hearing more and more, and the answer isn't as simple as AI or VA. In the Season 5 premiere of Hey! Do I Need a VA?, Rachael, Bree, and LeAnn dig into where AI can save you time, where a VA brings something different to the table, and why the best answer may be learning how to use both. AI can write content, generate code, help brainstorm ideas, build automations, and tackle tasks faster than ever. But it still needs direction. It doesn't automatically understand your business, your goals, your audience, your brand, or how you think. And sometimes, it doesn't know which questions it should be asking. That's where the human side of support still matters. In this episode, we talk about: Why clarity matters whether you're delegating to AI or a VAThe difference between completing a task and thinking through the bigger pictureWhy you still need to review what AI creates before putting your name on itHow VAs can use AI as part of the support they provideWhere human experience and context can catch things AI missesWhy AI-generated systems and automations still need checkpoints and oversightThe potential costs, security considerations, and risks of AI toolsWhy the "best" AI tool depends on what you're trying to accomplishSetting expectations with your VA about when and how they use AIThinking of AI as another member of your support team rather than a replacement for the people on itOne of our biggest takeaways? AI can be a thought partner, a tool, and even a digital team member. But that doesn't mean it replaces the value of a human who knows your business, asks questions, sees the bigger picture, and can say, "Have you thought about this?" The question may no longer be AI or VA? It may be: What kind of support does this particular task, project, or decision actually need? Have a question you'd like us to tackle this season? Email us at heyvapodcast@gmail.com. Visit HeyDoINeedaVA.com to find more episodes and resources to help you prepare to find, hire, and work with the right Virtual Assistant. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you'd follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with another business owner who's trying to figure out where AI, a VA, or both fit into their business.

    AI or VA?

  2. Sep 4

    VAs After Dark with Ingrid Carleton

    Sometimes the best support isn't about doing more. It's about creating systems that make everything flow more smoothly. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with Ingrid Carlton, founder of Ingrid's Digital Desk, to talk about her journey from environmental science to professional organizing to building a virtual assistant business supported by a talented team. What began as helping people organize their home offices evolved into helping business owners organize their digital worlds, streamline their systems, and create automations that save time and energy. If you've ever felt like your business has great ideas but too many moving pieces, you'll enjoy getting to know Ingrid. In This Episode How a career in environmental science led Ingrid to entrepreneurshipWhy professional organizing became the foundation for her VA businessHow Ingrid's Digital Desk was born in 2019What it was like growing a business during the shift to online networkingWhy she decided to build a team sooner than expectedHer love of creating automations and simplifying systemsHow technology can help business owners serve more clients with less effortThe coaches, speakers, and consultants she loves helping mostA Little About Ingrid Before launching Ingrid's Digital Desk, Ingrid Carlton spent more than 15 years working in environmental science before transitioning into entrepreneurship through professional organizing. As clients began asking for help organizing digital files, websites, social media, and marketing systems, she discovered a passion for helping business owners create order in their online businesses. Today, Ingrid leads a team that supports coaches, speakers, consultants, and other service-based business owners by creating systems, automations, and workflows that allow them to spend less time managing technology and more time serving their clients. What makes Ingrid unique is her ability to look at a business, identify where things are getting stuck, and create solutions that make everything work together more effectively. Connect with Ingrid 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridcd/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingridsdigitaldesk/ 🌐 Website: https://ingridsdigitaldesk.com/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with Ingrid Carleton

  3. Aug 28

    VAs After Dark with Joycelyn Ghansah

    Sometimes the best Virtual Assistant isn't just helping you get things done. They're helping you breathe easier. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with Joycelyn Ghansah to talk about her unexpected path into the world of virtual assistance, the satisfaction she finds in creating order from chaos, and why she loves partnering with overwhelmed business owners who need someone they can trust. What started as an opportunity to fill in for another VA quickly became a career that perfectly blended Joycelyn's strengths in organization, communication, and problem-solving. Today, she helps clients streamline their operations, manage projects, and create systems that allow them to focus on the work they truly enjoy. If you've ever wished for someone who could help organize the moving pieces of your business while becoming a trusted partner along the way, you'll enjoy getting to know Joycelyn. In This Episode * How Joycelyn unexpectedly discovered the Virtual Assistant profession * Why many VAs have been doing VA work long before they realize it * Her favorite ways to help clients get organized * Why project management tools and workflows bring her joy * The importance of trust in a successful VA-client relationship * How VAs help create space for business owners to focus on growth * Why partnership matters more than task lists A Little About Joycelyn Joycelyn Ghansah has been working as a Virtual Assistant for six years, combining strong administrative skills with a passion for helping clients simplify their workdays and stay organized. She loves creating structure behind the scenes, whether that's setting up project management systems, organizing workflows, documenting meeting notes, or helping clients keep track of moving pieces. What makes Joycelyn stand out is her genuine desire to help. She finds fulfillment in taking tasks off her clients' plates so they can focus on their zone of genius and spend more time doing the work that energizes them. Connect with Joycelyn 🌐 Website: https://thejot.co/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycelyndghansah/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with Joycelyn Ghansah

  4. Aug 14

    VAs After Dark with Antonette Artiz

    The best Virtual Assistants don't just help you do more. They help you do things better. They are the one quietly building systems, solving problems, and helping your business run better than it did yesterday. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with Antonette Artiz, a longtime Virtual Assistant whose career spans nearly three decades. Since entering the VA industry in 1997, Antonette has helped business owners, nonprofits, coaches, and meeting planners create stronger systems, improve efficiency, and reclaim valuable time. Through years of experience and a willingness to continually learn and adapt, Antonette has built a reputation for seeing opportunities where others see obstacles. If you've ever wished for someone who could help bring order to the chaos while staying ahead of changing technology, you'll enjoy getting to know Antonette. In This Episode How Antonette became a Virtual Assistant long before remote work became mainstreamWhy building systems is one of the greatest ways a VA can add valueHow technology and AI are changing the way support professionals workThe importance of finding clients who align with your strengths and experienceWhy personalization matters in every client relationshipLessons learned from working with nonprofits, coaches, and meeting plannersHow taking initiative can transform a client partnershipA Little About Antonette Antonette Artiz began her career in the federal government before discovering the emerging world of Virtual Assistance through AssistU. Since then, she has built a successful business supporting a wide range of clients while continually evolving her skills and services. Known for her thoughtful approach and strong administrative expertise, Antonette looks beyond the immediate task list to identify opportunities for improvement. Whether she's helping organize operations, streamline processes, or implement new tools, she focuses on creating solutions that make life easier for her clients. She's also a lifelong learner who embraces technology rather than fearing it, always looking for ways to work smarter and provide even greater value. Connect with Antonette 🌐 Website: https://antonetteartiz.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonetteartiz/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with Antonette Artiz

  5. Jul 31

    VAs After Dark with Lisa Sanders

    Sometimes the best support isn't just getting tasks off your plate. It's having a trusted partner who understands your business, helps carry the load, and gives you the freedom to focus on what you do best. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with Lisa Sanders, founder of LRS Executive Solutions, to talk about her journey from a 25-year corporate career as an executive assistant to supporting entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and growing businesses as a Virtual Assistant. Lisa shares how an unexpected layoff became the catalyst for a new chapter, allowing her to bring decades of executive-level experience to business owners who need support but aren't quite ready for a full-time hire. If you've ever wished for someone who could step into your business, understand the big picture, and help keep everything moving behind the scenes, you'll enjoy getting to know Lisa. Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/PU26QpUnj2w In This Episode How Lisa transitioned from the corporate world into virtual assistanceWhy a layoff ultimately led her to a more fulfilling career pathWhat "fractional support" really means for growing businessesWhy she loves supporting visionaries and entrepreneursThe role trust plays in successful client relationshipsHow executive assistant experience translates into strategic business supportWhy collaboration is at the heart of her workA Little About Lisa Lisa Sanders spent more than 25 years as an executive assistant in the corporate world before launching LRS Executive Solutions. Today, she partners with entrepreneurs, coaches, EOS Implementers, attorneys, and other business owners who need reliable, high-level support without hiring a full-time team member. Her experience spans administrative operations, project coordination, client communication, marketing management, and executive support. What makes Lisa unique is her ability to become a trusted extension of the businesses she supports. Whether she's coordinating marketing initiatives, managing client communications, or helping streamline operations, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to every partnership. Connect with Lisa: 🌐 Website: https://www.lrsexecutivesolutions.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lrsexecutivesolutions/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with Lisa Sanders

  6. Jul 17

    VAs After Dark with LeAnn Erimli

    Sometimes the best Virtual Assistant isn't the person who knows all the answers. It's the person who genuinely enjoys figuring them out. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with tech VA and problem-solver extraordinaire, LeAnn Erimli, to talk about her nearly three decades in the virtual assistance industry, how she built a business around helping clients untangle technology challenges, and why she still loves learning something new every day. LeAnn shares how becoming a VA began as a way to create flexibility while raising her special-needs twins, long before "virtual assistant" was even a recognized profession. From receiving handwritten presentations by fax machine to today's complex technology integrations, she's seen the online business world evolve from the very beginning. If you've ever wished for someone who could make all your technology "talk to each other" without the stress, panic, or judgment, you're going to enjoy getting to know LeAnn. Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/OE-UrCfM7jI In This Episode How LeAnn became a virtual assistant before the industry really existedWhat it was like building a business while raising special-needs twinsWhy she's passionate about solving technology puzzlesWhy a sense of humor is one of her favorite client qualitiesHow coaching robotics teams reflects her love of learning and problem-solvingHer famous reminder that "you can't break the internet"A Little About LeAnn LeAnn Erimli has spent nearly 30 years helping business owners navigate the ever-changing world of technology and online business. Known for her calm approach and ability to troubleshoot just about anything, she specializes in helping business owners connect the dots between systems, tools, and processes that aren't quite working the way they should. A self-proclaimed geek, LeAnn genuinely enjoys learning new technology, staying ahead of trends, and finding creative solutions to challenges that leave most people frustrated. If you've ever found yourself saying, "I did all the things and it's still not working," LeAnn is exactly the kind of person you want on your team. Connect with LeAnn 🌐 Website: That Geeky Lady https://thatgeekylady.com 🌐 Website: Handling Business https://handlingbusiness.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannerimli/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with LeAnn Erimli

  7. Jul 3

    VAs After Dark with Bree BV

    Sometimes finding the right Virtual Assistant isn't about a list of services. It's about connection. In this episode of VAs After Dark, Rachael sits down with Bree BV to talk about her journey from running a childcare business for more than 20 years to building a thriving virtual assistant business focused on strategy, support, and helping clients create meaningful change. Bree shares how a simple desire to help a friend organize her business led her to discover an entirely new career path. One built around problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creating safe spaces for clients to grow. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work with someone who loves finding the gaps, creating a plan, and helping you move forward with confidence, you'll enjoy getting to know Bree. Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/ETtOAmHdbW0 In This Episode * How Bree accidentally discovered the world of virtual assistance * Why strategy is one of her favorite parts of supporting clients * The importance of understanding a client's vision before building systems * How her background in childcare influences the way she supports business owners * Why connection and trust matter just as much as task completion * The types of clients she loves working with most A Little About Bree Bree works primarily with coaches, consultants, and healers who are looking to make a bigger impact through their work. She combines strategic planning, implementation support, and a collaborative approach to help clients move from overwhelmed to organized. What stands out most about Bree is her ability to create a supportive partnership where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to take the next step. Connect with Bree: 🌐 Website: www.beeveepro.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bree-bv/ Looking for a Virtual Assistant? VAs After Dark is a companion series to the Hey! Do I Need a VA? podcast, designed to help you get to know the talented Virtual Assistants featured in the directory—not just what they do, but who they are. Because sometimes finding the right support comes down to more than skills and services. Sometimes it's the vibe. Connect with Rachael for Directory support: https://extrahandsva.com/hire-a-virtual-assistant/ hello@extrahandsva.com Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs After Dark with Bree BV

  8. Mar 20

    VAs and LinkedIn with Sue Gresham

    We couldn’t have asked for a better guest to wrap up Season 4 –our season of experts– than Sue Gresham to talk about LinkedIn and how VAs can help! Sue Gresham is a LinkedIn Coach and strategist who helps coaches, consultants, and service providers get seen, get clients, and grow with confidence. With her signature Link to Success Framework and Midwest warmth, she makes LinkedIn feel doable—even fun! Sue’s all about real strategies, real results, and real relationships If you’re interested in anything within the realm of LinkedIn, this episode is definitely worth a listen! Sue dives into different tips and tricks, as well as how to fully harness LinkedIn’s potential. She also discusses what to hand off to a VA and what’s important to be done yourself as a business owner. If you’re interested in seeing what Sue’s up to, here are her pages: Innovative Client Solutions: https://www.sue-gresham.com Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/suegresham If you’re interested, here’s the LinkedIn information for the rest of the cast: Rachael Davila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaeldavila/ LeAnn Erimli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannerimli/ Bree BV: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bree-bv/ Quinn Hubbard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinn-hubbard-8377782a9/ Have a question? Email us at heyvapodcast@gmail.com, join our Facebook group Find, Hire and Work with a Virtual Assistant (VA): https://www.facebook.com/groups/findavirtualassistant or find our contact details here: https://linktr.ee/heyvapodcast Please leave a like, comment, or review, and share our podcast with someone you know who could benefit from our content.

    VAs and LinkedIn with Sue Gresham
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About

Many times overwhelmed entrepreneurs are told to “hire a virtual assistant” but not how to do it or what to look for. The term Virtual Assistant (VA) is not a one-size-fits-all. When clients hire someone without knowing all the facts it can result in bad experiences or worse the entrepreneur walking away from much needed support. This podcast is what actual VAs want potential clients to know about the pros and cons of working with virtual support. We will explore topics like: What is a VA?What can a VA help with?How much does a VA cost?Working with a VA goes beyond your task list.What is the interview process? And who leads it?What preparation should a client do before hiring a VAAnd so much more…Hosted by Rachael Davila with Extra Hands! Virtual Assistance. She brings 18+ years of administrative and business owner experience to the mic, along with a cast of virtual assistant friends and colleagues who bring different backgrounds, view points and skill sets. Listeners will get a peek into the world of virtual assistants and hear stories, strategies and successes to thrive within the virtual workforce. Through our episodes we hope to educate, inspire, and motivate business owners to do the necessary pre-work before navigating the journey to find, hire and work with a virtual assistant.

Information

  • Creator
    Hey! Do I Need a VA?
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hey! Do I Need a VA? 2023
  • Show Website
    Hey! Do I Need a VA?