My new adventure...
A life’s organiser
I’ve always been described as an organiser. I enjoyed getting myself involved in admin and projects even from as a child. I can’t help myself; it’s what I do and know how! I love a good system in place, to be in charge and to organise and plan. At our wedding, our best man said that I had handed him such a detailed itinerary that would put a schedule for a NASA space shuttle mission to shame!
It was inevitable that I would fall into a profession that would involve organisation.
But why did I combine business support with Psychology?
After obtaining excellent grades in GCSE Sociology and A Level’s in Psychology and Communication Studies, I found I had developed an early interest in people and behaviour and I went onto study Psychology and Occupational Psychology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at University. I later completed the BPS Registered Test User qualifications in Level 1 and Level 2 Ability & Personality. I became a member of the British Psychological Society, Division of Occupational Psychology and the Association for Business Psychology.
For over 13 years, I worked in an Occupational Psychology consultancy supporting a large team of psychologists and executive coaches and we built an established client base. I began work with the company as an Administration Assistant and worked my way to Manager of the consultancy, running the business and office, as an Executive Assistant to the Director, as well as, providing client, account and project management. I was the central organiser and coordinator, which I thrived on. I also used my experience and project management to obtain Chartership status in Occupational Psychology. I learnt a lot of different skills, enjoyed the variety of the work and ‘wore many hats’!
What was the catalyst to starting ExecutiveVA?
ExecutiveVA was established in 2017 due to a few factors that had occurred in my life at the same time:
- Lifestyle change - I longed for a different working lifestyle after years of commuting to work on 4-hour round trip, via multiple transport means. I had empathy with the film “Trains, planes and automobiles”! It was unsustainable and I had limited work/life balance.
- Dreams of the countryside - I grew up in the countryside and I had dreamed of moving back there again. My husband and I took the plunge and relocated to an area we adore. We have fields and woodlands nearby and are part of a strong community.
- Change in career direction – I had a desire for a different work challenge, to stretch comfort zones and gain new experiences. I was ready for a new adventure!
And so ExecutiveVA was created
I combined my love of psychology with my planning and organising nature, skills and experience. I have a passion for continuing what I enjoy and to be able to share my experiences and work with other busy professionals and organisations.
It was a perfect fit to become a Virtual Psychology Assistant and specialise in providing business support for psychology and coaching professionals!
