Success starts with the right match: Jamie on her role as a VA

Could you start by telling us a little more about your background?

I’ve always done lots of different things and spent a long time searching for what really suited me. Eventually, I studied Fashion Business, focusing more on the business side than the creative. Although I worked in that industry for a while, I soon realised it wasn’t quite the right fit. Still, I use the knowledge I gained about buying and marketing in my work today.

Quite quickly I moved into management. I was store manager at a clothing shop in Amsterdam, responsible for branding and purchasing, and later worked at head office. After that, I shifted into e-marketing at a start-up that helped clients with shopping ads. I stayed there for a long time and took on many different roles: from team lead to temporarily handling finance tasks and picking up office manager responsibilities. Like in many start-ups, it was very versatile—I was really a jack of all trades.

Still, I realised that a 9-to-5 life, where someone else decides when I can take a break, didn’t suit me. I also wanted more personal space for things I find important, like self-development. These days I also give breathwork sessions, which I combine with my VA work. That’s an area in the wellness world I’d like to develop further in the coming years.

How did you come across Moneypenny?

I was looking for something more meaningful, because I didn’t like only working to earn money. On top of that, my partner and I want to move to Valencia, and working through Moneypenny makes that possible. I’d dreamt of it for years, but I never thought this kind of work actually existed—I’d never even heard of it.

Then suddenly it crossed my path. A friend of mine also works as a VA, though as a freelancer. I considered going down that road too, but since I also have other pursuits, I didn’t want to spend too much time setting up a business or finding clients. I’d rather just be matched with clients I can focus on—that’s what I enjoy.

I had already quit my job because it was time for something new, and I gave myself some space to re-orient. That’s when I found Moneypenny via Google, and it immediately felt right. It’s a perfect fit: I get to work with different clients, still do the things I’m good at, but with much more oversight and ownership. It really feels as if I’ve been doing this for years.

I’d dreamt of it for years, but I never thought this kind of work actually existed.

Could you tell us about the clients you support and what you do for them?

At the moment I work for four different clients, each with very different types of work.

For a matching agency that connects professionals to high-level assignments, I support one of the co-founders with his agenda and handle the financial onboarding. As soon as a project begins, I make sure all details are in the system for proper invoicing. I also follow up on payments. Since it’s a scale-up, new tasks keep coming in, which keeps the work varied.

I also work for a non-profit that helps financial institutions operate sustainably. Think of partners like Rabobank, who are guided through the platform on sustainability and increasing their positive impact. I started by supporting the migration to a new platform. Now I’m platform manager and handle all the content. I also take care of part of the financial administration.

For a property company, I manage a range of administrative tasks. That includes setting up Slack, arranging insurance, and other office management-type work.

My fourth client is another non-profit organisation, active in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, governance, and economics. They run many European projects. I support them on a structural basis with their board meetings and with their monthly and bi-monthly consultations. I take minutes, follow up on action points, and work with my client to keep an overview of what’s still open. I’m a sort of extra pair of eyes.

I also take on various other tasks for them. For example, I recently set up the HR and OA handbooks. For that, I used AI (ChatGPT). At first there was some hesitation due to privacy concerns, so we kept its use limited, mainly to general laws and regulations that apply across Europe. Of course, I always check whether the content is correct—I don’t trust AI blindly. Sometimes it comes up with something completely wrong, so I stay critical.

How do you experience working remotely?

Overall, I find working remotely very positive. The first week with a new client can take some adjusting, since everyone works differently. But you get used to it quickly.

Many of my clients also work fully remote themselves, or only go to the office once a week at most, so they’re used to it, which helps. Personally, I didn’t need to adjust at all; I was actually looking forward to this way of working. No more cycling to the office or having to be somewhere at 9 a.m.—that freedom immediately felt like such a relief.

No more cycling to the office or having to be somewhere at 9 a.m.—that freedom immediately felt like such a relief.

How do you experience the support Moneypenny offers to Virtual Assistants?

Working with Moneypenny is very pleasant. You can always reach out to your account manager or buddy, and they respond quickly. Contact with other VAs is also very accessible, and there are multiple ways to connect.

I actually really enjoy not working in a traditional team. In previous jobs I was often a team lead, but I feel much better in my own little “space” at home. This really suits me—Mondays suddenly feel a lot lighter.

This really suits me—Mondays suddenly feel a lot lighter.

Are you curious after reading Jamie’s story about what a Virtual Assistant could mean for your organisation? Feel free to contact us—we’d be happy to help you find the right match.