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VA Connect and Collaborate

kristie • Jan 04, 2021

VA Connect and Collaborate

In 2020 our lives were thrown into turmoil by COVID-19, our family and working lives were disrupted and will continue to be until the virus is brought under control. The good news for 2021 is that the coming vaccines give hope for a bounce back to a new normality and we all need to be ready to respond and play our part in the anticipated economic upturn.


For those of us who are self-employed it is so very important to capitalise on any business opportunities that present themselves in a rebounding economy to make up the losses incurred over the last year.

Networking has kept me engaged with business colleagues

Networking has kept me engaged with friends and business colleagues, and my new venture, (ETA Girl Friday) as a Virtual Assistant, has kept my head above water and maintained my sanity. Just over 2 years ago, I co-founded Network & Thrive and am extremely proud of the group we’ve become and the variety of business connections, friendships and network of support that has developed.


I’m passionate about helping people where I can and since the end of July, I’ve been building my own networking community, COBRA Thrive, as one of the first leaders within the COBRA Group (A Virtual Office Building for positive business interactions and meetings). 


Coronavirus has forced many people to work from home to both keep their companies operational and ensure the maintenance of an income, moving more people into the realms in which VAs already operate. VAs, early adopters of ZOOM and other remote virtual technologies have moved into an area of work that was always and inevitably going to be one of the new norms in coming years and has been brought forward by the constraints set by Government in response to the deepening pandemic. 


Additional benefits long term will be:


  • More flexible working opportunities
  • Reduced Commute times, cost and pollution.
  • Reduced office space requirements and cost demands.
  • Potentially more relaxed working environments – Home.
  • Potentially improved Work/Life balance and family life.


All of this has taught me that getting ahead doesn’t have to be a lonely journey when you are part of supportive community of like-minded people who have the same goals and ambitions. In addition, it is very clear that virtual working is the future and everybody already working in that sphere need to pull together and capitalise on their joint capabilities, niche services and experiences, while we’re still ahead of the game.


So, what next?


A new networking group especially for VAs, VA Connect & Collaborate, with the aim of providing a safe space to support each other and build a trusting and encouraging community to make the best of our individual skills, ask questions, develop ideas, share experiences, resolve concerns and business dilemmas, together.

By meeting regularly, we will build trusted relationships and a place where you can feel comfortable in referring work to others or perhaps you are at capacity and looking for the collaboration with a reliable associate. 

Regular meetings



I plan to hold meetings on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, between 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

If this sounds like the group you have been looking for, maybe you want to move into this sector of business support, why not be one of the first to join us on the 8th January at VA Connect and Collaborate and become a founding member. 

Sign up today and let’s start growing our businesses together.

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