Hi, I’m Heather (she/her)
I started my Virtual Assistant business in August 2022, working alongside self-employed business owners and supporting them with the day-to-day running of their businesses. From managing websites and systems to client communication, marketing and administration, I became a trusted part of many businesses behind the scenes.
Being so closely involved gave me deep insights into what business owners were really experiencing beyond the polished social media posts. I saw the pressure of wearing every hat, the mental load of running a business, and the constant balancing act of trying to keep everything moving while navigating life outside of work.
As I supported more clients, I noticed many of those in their 40s and 50s were experiencing perimenopause alongside their businesses, often feeling their energy shift, their confidence wobble, and their priorities begin to change. They weren't looking to build bigger businesses at any cost; they were searching for a way of working that felt more sustainable, more human, and more aligned with the season of life they were in.
Those conversations planted the seed for The PAUSE Network® (a community for perimenopausal business owners). It became a natural extension of the work I was already doing, combining my experience supporting business owners behind the scenes with my passion for creating spaces where people feel understood, supported, and less alone.
My values and experience
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Integrity, authenticity, inclusivity and empathy shape the way I work. They’re the foundation of everything I create and offer.
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Before becoming self-employed in 2021, I spent more than twenty years working in the corporate world in roles such as project manager, office manager and team assistant.
Much of that time was spent quietly behind the scenes, supporting the structure and flow of businesses. It gave me a deep understanding of what it really takes to keep things running, beyond how it all appears from the outside.
In 2021 I trained as a therapeutic coach. While traditional full-time coaching didn’t feel like the right path for me, the training deeply shaped how I listen, ask questions, and support people through uncertainty and decision-making.
What became clear was that my natural place sat somewhere between practical support and reflective conversation.
That insight led to the creation of my Virtual Assistant business, where I worked closely with a range of self-employed clients supporting the practical side of running their businesses.
Because I was often embedded in the day-to-day workings of their work, our conversations naturally expanded beyond tasks and into the bigger picture. Direction, confidence, decision-making, and how their business was evolving alongside their life.
Over time it became clear that what I was offering wasn’t just practical help. I was also helping people think more clearly about their work, reconnect with their instincts, and move forward with greater confidence.
That blend of practical business experience and emotionally attuned support now underpins everything I do.
What sets me apart
For me, being a Virtual Assistant was never just about ticking off a to-do list.
I cared about understanding the person behind the business just as much as the tasks they needed help with. The more I understood their goals, challenges and way of working, the better I could support them.
With over 20 years' experience in business operations before launching my VA business, I brought more than practical support. I was able to spot opportunities for improvement, simplify processes, solve problems proactively and become a trusted sounding board as well as an extra pair of hands.
Clients often described me as someone who just "got it". They didn't have to explain everything twice or worry about whether things would get done. I took ownership, communicated openly, and genuinely cared about helping their business run more smoothly.
I believe the best support comes from building real relationships. That's why I worked as a partner in my clients' businesses rather than simply a service provider—bringing reliability, initiative and thoughtful support that gave them the space to focus on the work only they could do.