AusMumpreneur is proud to partner with Ingrid Bayer, founder of VA Institute as the naming rights sponsor for the new 2021 AusMumpreneur VA Business Excellence Award. If you know of a superstar Virtual Assistant (VA), nominate her now!
>> Send in your nominations HERE <<
Ingrid Bayer is a thought leader, transformational thinker, and one of the brightest minds in the VA Industry today.
For over 30 years, Ingrid has worked across many industries including, Photography, IT, Entertainment, Stockbroking, Legal, Real Estate and Medical.
In 2008, Ingrid started operating as a Virtual Assistant (VA) from her home office in regional New South Wales, Australia. Within two years, she had grown her business to include managing and overseeing a team of VAs. Her sound knowledge of business administration, together with her ability to think outside the square, facilitate conversations around ‘possibility’, and then move forward to implement winning processes and ideas ensures her clients’ success.
Ingrid now devotes her time to working strategically with the Australian VA Industry and its stakeholders, and specialising in working with EAs and PAs from around Australia, and around the world, in making the transition to becoming a successful VA.
Ingrid’s passion and life purpose is to make a tangible difference in the lives of VAs and their clients by uncovering and exposing the ‘elephant in the room’; that is, identifying the missing ingredients in the VA toolbox in a way that empowers, transforms and inspires the VA Industry and its stakeholders to be the best, expect the best, and deliver the best beyond mere technical skills.
When did you start your business?
I started VA Institute in 2017.
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
I had long believed that the Virtual Assistant Industry was and ‘idea whose time had come’, and with a background of over 30 years in business, and 13 years as a Virtual Assistant myself, I had watched many VAs get started but ultimately fail because they had either not set their business up properly or didn’t really understand the principles of running and operating a small business. I knew that the majority of VAs had amazing skills, but lacked the understanding to get a good business off the ground, and established the VA Institute as the vehicle whereby I could assist and provide the ongoing support that was lacking.
What are you most excited about in your business?
Building an industry that is ‘gold standard’… that is renowned as THE industry to go to for a mix of service providers who deliver the very best in their area of expertise.
What has been the most challenging thing about starting your business?
Changing the perception of business owners who are considering engaging a VA to look for value over price.
What are your top 3 tips for other business owners who are thinking of adding a Virtual Assistant to their team?
- Be clear about what services you need covered, and what outcomes you need.
- Look for professional standards when engaging a VA: insurance, contracts, clear processes, testimonials.
- Your VA will only ever be as good as the information you provide them with, so spend time with your new VA to induct them into your business, and run through the various tasks and expectations with them.
What do you believe is the secret to running a successful business?
It’s not secret… the cornerstone of running a successful business will always come back to your ability to clearly communicate with all stakeholders in a way that builds credibility, trust and mutual respect.
What’s happening next in your business? Any big plans for the future?
As well as continuing the work we are doing to assist startup VAs, we are starting to work with existing VAs in the next stage of their growth – helping them build momentum. We are very excited about this as we have many runs on the board with VAs achieving success after undertaking our program, and we knew that we needed to take it a step further… which is what we’re doing now!
To learn more about VA Institute, please visit the website, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
SAVE THE DATE – 2021 AUSMUMPRENEUR AWARDS!
Nominations open Monday 3 May 2021.
AusMumpreneur Awards Nights 8-10 September 2021
Conference and Awards Presentation 14-16 September 2021.
>> Nominations are OPEN! Nominate your business or a business you love here <<
