What I Learned (and Loved) at the Midlands VA Conference

A little late to post this, but it’s been a whirlwind of work since getting back from the Midlands VA Conference — and what a day it was.

The energy was electric from the start. Dawn opened the event with her no-nonsense, straight-talking style — my kind of vibe — and had the whole room fired up within minutes. She cut through the fluff and got right to the heart of what it means to show up fully and confidently in your business.

We were then treated to powerful sessions from Belinda and Grace, whose talks on brand and mindset really stuck with me. One idea that particularly landed: shifting your mindset can transform your business. That sounds simple, but when you’re deep in the day-to-day, it’s easy to forget how important our internal narrative is. Their words were the kind that linger — and I’m so glad they did.

Sunny delivered a hugely insightful (and slightly alarming!) session on cybersecurity. From password strength (yes, 20+ characters is the new norm) to device security, it was a real reminder that even when you’re working from your home office, you’re not as protected as you might think. I’ve already started making changes off the back of it.

Hamid’s talk on business structure was another highlight, especially for anyone thinking about growth. The difference between operating as a sole trader and a limited company can be tricky to navigate, but his practical, down-to-earth advice made it much clearer. As someone building a VA agency, it really helped me think about what I need to put in place as we scale.

Then came Heather, who delivered a brilliant talk on AI. I already love using ChatGPT, but her session really got me thinking differently. I’ve now started creating dedicated AI project folders and assigning roles like Finance Manager, VA Coach, and Copywriter — and it’s already changing the way I work for the better.

Beyond the talks, one of the best parts of the day was reconnecting with other brilliant VAs. I first dipped my toe into building a VA agency at last year’s Midlands PA Forum, so it felt like a real full-circle moment — a chance to reflect on how far I’ve come and to celebrate that journey with others who are on a similar path.

I’m already looking forward to the 9th annual PA Forum Learning and Development Conference happening this July — if it’s anything like this, it’s not to be missed.