Virtual Assistant, from Employee to CEO
As a virtual assistant—or in any business you start—you are not just starting a business to be an employee. You are starting a business to be the CEO.
When we first begin, many of us are not used to doing things the right way, because we’ve never had to lead on our own before. Some of us have experience as employees, managers, or project leaders, but when it’s your own business, you’re the whole enchilada. You have to make leadership decisions for yourself, your clients, and eventually your team.
Being a CEO comes with great responsibility: every choice you make impacts your company, your subcontractors, your clients, and ultimately your legacy.
What Do Clients Want?
At the end of the day, clients want results. Period.
If you’re supporting a business owner as their VA, your role is to deliver on what you promised. And if you’re only doing this to make money, you’ll struggle with long-term success. Clients can see whether or not you’re passionate about what you do.
Your why—your reason for starting your business—is what fuels you, and it shows up in your work. If your subcontractors or clients are not aligned with your vision and passion, they may not be the right fit. This is part of leadership: knowing when to say yes, and when to say no.
What Is Your Why?
Your why is the foundation of your business.
I always encourage entrepreneurs to keep a business journal. Write down your vision and make it plain. God is not a God of confusion, and documenting your journey helps you see what is working, what isn’t, and where you need to adjust.
Sometimes the problem isn’t other people—it’s us. As CEOs, we must do self-evaluations. Is it a communication issue? Did we brush something under the rug? Leadership requires humility, self-awareness, and accountability.
Being CEO isn’t just about the tasks; it’s about how you treat people, how you communicate, and how you carry out your vision through others.
The Responsibility of Leadership
Being a CEO is different from being a friend or a team member. Business is business.
When you form relationships with your team, it’s easy to let feelings get in the way. But if someone consistently makes mistakes, you must make decisions for the good of your business—not based on friendship. That’s leadership.
As the CEO, your team is an extension of you. Whether it’s your editor, social media manager, or project coordinator, they should carry out your vision with excellence. Communication is key. You are the visionary, but they are the executors of your direction.
Starting Solo
Most virtual assistants start solo. You’re doing everything: social media, client work, admin tasks, marketing, and more. That’s normal.
But eventually, if you want to level up, you’ll need to hire others to help. Maybe you’ll expand into an agency, become a coach, or build digital products. That’s when you’ll step further into your CEO role—overseeing projects instead of doing them all yourself.
I run a VA agency with subcontractors and a project manager. But even with that support, I’m still the visionary. I still oversee everything. Why? Because at the end of the day, it’s my business, and I’m responsible for how it runs.
Write the Vision and Make it Plain
If you want to grow beyond solo work, write out your vision. Who will be your second in command? Who will be the doer, the speaker, and the executor of your vision?
When you first start, you wear all three hats: visionary, speaker, and doer. But as you expand, your goal is to move fully into the visionary role. That’s what being CEO is all about—casting vision and building a team to carry it out.
Whether this is a side hustle or a full-time business, decide now what your role is. If it’s just for extra money, treat it as that. But if you want to build a true business, step into your CEO role with confidence and seriousness.
The Leader in You
Being a CEO isn’t something you just wake up and decide to do—it requires growth, experience, and constant learning.
I’ve been in corporate America for over 20 years. I’ve led projects, supervised teams, trained others, and even earned my Six Sigma Green Belt. Those experiences shaped my leadership skills. But even with all that, I still had to learn how to lead in my own business.
Leadership is about constant growth. You will make mistakes. You may get soft sometimes. But as long as you stay committed to developing yourself, you will rise to the next level.
Conclusion
Shifting from employee to CEO requires a mindset change. As a virtual assistant, you are not “just” an assistant—you are a business owner, a leader, and a visionary.
Take your role seriously. Separate business from personal. Hold your team accountable. Treat your clients’ businesses as if they are your own. And above all, remember your why.
When you show up with passion and purpose, your clients, team, and future opportunities will see it—and success will follow.
