Louise's Journey from Corporate to Virtual Assistant
When I first met Louise Sverud, I was immediately struck by her calm, no-nonsense approach - but spend just a little more time with her, and her sharp humour and knack for storytelling quickly shine through. Louise has this wonderful ability to make you laugh one moment and make you really think the next. Since she joined Your Digital Garden, I’ve gotten to know her better, and I’m often inspired by the way she brings those qualities into her work.
After years in corporate administration, Louise found herself at a turning point. What could have been a setback became the start of a whole new chapter for her. She’s now a multilingual virtual assistant, blending her love of languages with her ability to simplify and organize, all while building genuine connections with the people she works with.
I’m so excited to share Louise’s story with you - her journey, her passion, and what makes her tick. Let’s dig into the Q&A to hear from her directly.
Louise's Q&A
What do you do?
I help international entrepreneurs grow their business by managing some of the back office tasks. I am a multilingual virtual assistant.
Why do you do what you do?
I was made redundant having worked with administration for big corporate all my life. I came across Virtual Assistant and realised this was something I could do . I also realised there was a niche for me as a multilingual to help international entrepreneurs all around the globe.
I am passionate about helping solopreneurs as I have seen first hand how they often drown in their to-do list and their never-ending admin. They end up exhausted and burned out. I want to help them free up time so they can focus on business growth in a healthy way.
I love working with international entrepreneurs as I get to use all my languages. I love all my clients and quite often we become friends as a result of working together. And even if I work digitally and remotely I always make an effort to try and meet my clients at least one time if the opportunity arises. I have a pretty good track record for this so far.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Seeing how the overwhelm eases from clients and they can start focusing on their business again
What is the best thing about running your own business?
The relative freedom it gives me. All the new connections I get through it, the people I meet and all the new stuff I get to learn.
What have you found most challenging about running your own business?
Finding the balance between work and life. I love working, so not working too much can be a struggle for me.
What strategies have helped you move forward in your business?
Getting better at saying no. Finding a better balance and not working too much. Learning new things. Keeping calm even when business is slower than usual.
If you could go back to when you first started your business, what advice would you give yourself?
Stay calm, you are in it for the long run. It is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
Who should connect with you and how can they do that?
International entrepreneurs and small business owners especially in the educational field.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louise-sverud
Instagram: @lsva_sverud
Website: www.lsvasverud.com
Email: [email protected]
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