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Virtual Ventures

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by Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland

7 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

Virtual Ventures is the podcast for Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers who are building sustainable, professional businesses. Hosted by Cat Tobin and Ellie Clogher, co-founders of the Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland, the show dives into the real conversations happening inside the industry. From client relationships and contracts to boundaries, systems, pricing, and growth, it’s all on the table! Expect practical advice, shared experiences, and thoughtful conversations that support you at every stage of your virtual business journey.

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Publishing Since

4/30/2026

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Recent Episodes

July 7, 2026

Behind the Laptop with Anne Marie Maher

In this Behind the Laptop episode of Virtual Ventures, we're joined by SVAI member Anne Marie Maher, founder of Maher Support Solutions, to hear how she went from redundancy to launching her own virtual assistant business just five months ago. If you're thinking about becoming a virtual assistant, or you're brand new to the industry, this episode is for you!Anne Marie takes us through exactly what it looks like to start a VA business from scratch: taking time to figure out what she actually wanted after redundancy, using supports like her Local Enterprise Office and a career coach, along with doing the SVAI Bootcamp to get herself moving.We talk in detail about finding your first client as a brand new VA, the imposter syndrome that comes with saying yes to work outside your comfort zone, and why you don't need a niche, a website, or a social media presence before you get started.Anne Marie also shares how she's built a varied portfolio of clients rather than specialising in one service, why leaning on community and mentors is better than trying to figure it all out alone, and how she manages work-life harmony now that her business is based at home.Tune in for practical, honest advice for anyone at the very beginning of their virtual assistant journey, including the two words Anne Marie says changed everything: just start.New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.About SVAI The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.Learn more about us: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/ Join SVAI: https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/Connect with Anne Marie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-maher/ 0:00 Intro 0:12 Behind the Laptop with Anne Marie Maher 1:12 How Anne Marie got started 5:47 Discovering the term "virtual assistant" and finding SVAI 10:04 The Bootcamp, mentors and Local Enterprise support 11:45 Landing her first client 13:14 Building a varied portfolio of clients 16:14 Introvert vs extrovert, and networking without it feeling like networking 21:36 Capacity, onboarding and where she's at now 24:31 Saying yes before feeling fully ready 30:32 Work-life harmony working from home 32:25 Anne Marie's advice to her day-one self 34:44 Business bucket list and where to find Anne Marie 37:08 Community, not competition 38:03 Outro

June 23, 2026

Income Ceilings For Solo VAs: What To Do When You Reach Yours

In this episode of Virtual Ventures, we're talking about income ceilings as a solo Virtual Assistant, what they are, how to recognise when you've hit one, and what your options actually look like when you get there.We share our own experiences of reaching that point in business, from trying to work more hours and taking on more clients to realising that doing more isn't always the answer.We explore some of the most common ways VAs can break through an income ceiling, including reviewing rates, auditing your client base, moving away from purely time-based work, creating packages, specialising, introducing additional income streams, and looking at one-to-many offers such as digital products, training, and consultancy.We also talk about the mindset side of hitting a ceiling, including comparison, frustration, burnout, and the feeling of being stuck, and why having a community around you can make it easier to see the opportunities that are available.Tune in to hear practical ideas, real experiences, and questions you can ask yourself if you're looking to increase your income without simply working more hours.New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.About SVAI The Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.Learn more about us: <a href="https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/" target="_blank">https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/</a> Join SVAI: <a href="https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/" target="_blank">https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/</a> Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/</a> Connect with us on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/</a>0:00 Intro0:18 What is an income ceiling?2:28 The mindset side of hitting a ceiling5:03 Cat's experience with burnout and overworking7:34 Raising your rates and creating packages10:15 Ellie's experience hitting an income ceiling12:15 Diversifying your income streams14:07 You don't have to break through every ceiling14:46 One-to-many offers and passive income16:01 Done For You, Done With You and DIY offers20:22 Specialising and increasing your value21:36 Auditing your client base24:13 Where to start when you've hit a ceiling26:48 You're never stuck in a box27:38 A question to help you move forward28:11 Outro

June 9, 2026

Behind the Laptop with Donna McCullagh: From Corporate Life to Foundry HQ

In this Behind the Laptop episode of Virtual Ventures, we’re joined by SVAI member Donna McCullagh, founder of Foundry HQ, to talk about her journey from corporate life to building a thriving online business and team.Donna shares how she started out in web design while working full time, discovered the Virtual Assistant industry, and gradually evolved her business from a solo service provider model into a growing collective offering operational, administrative, and digital support to businesses.We talk about finding those first clients, learning difficult lessons around pricing and boundaries, the importance of networking, and why social media wasn't actually the source of most of Donna's growth.The conversation also explores bringing associates into a business, building trust with clients, managing a team, avoiding burnout, and creating a business that supports the life you want to live.Tune in to hear Donna's honest reflections on growth, leadership, confidence, and doing things before you feel fully ready.New episodes of Virtual Ventures are released every second Tuesday.About SVAIThe Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland is a professional community supporting Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers to build sustainable, well-run businesses.Learn more about us: <a href="https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/" target="_blank">https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/about/</a>Join SVAI: <a href="https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/" target="_blank">https://virtualassistantsireland.ie/join-as-a-va/</a>Follow us on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/virtualassistantsireland/</a>Connect with us on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualassistantsireland/</a>0:00 Intro0:12 Behind the Laptop with Donna McCullagh1:21 Donna's journey from corporate life to Foundry HQ6:05 Learning web design and landing a first client11:02 Building a business around what you enjoy14:07 First VA clients and early lessons16:02 Networking, referrals and finding clients21:23 Why networking matters more than social media23:04 Growing a team and scaling the business27:10 Leadership, delegation and trust31:15 Building the right team36:00 Client trust and communication39:31 Avoiding burnout and creating boundaries46:01 Advice that changed everything: Do it scared49:50 Donna's recommendations for VAs and OSPs51:10 Connect with Donna52:04 Outro

7 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Virtual Ventures?: Virtual Ventures is the podcast for Virtual Assistants and Online Service Providers who are building sustainable, professional businesses. Hosted by Cat Tobin and Ellie Clogher, co-founders of the Society of Virtual Assistants Ireland, the show dives into the real conversations happening inside the industry.

From client relationships and contracts to boundaries, systems, pricing, and growth, it’s all on the table! Expect practical advice, shared experiences, and thoughtful conversations that support you at every stage of your virtual business journey.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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