Today we chart the journey From High-Powered Retail Manager to Award-Winning VA with Dionne Popplestone, founder of an award-winning virtual assistant agency. Dionne shares her journey from managing multi-million pound retail stores and a £50m shopping centre redevelopment, to setting up her VA agency after having her son Elijah — and becoming fully booked within just four months.
They talk about the tell-tale signs you need a VA (spending your day doing admin is not helping you!), and why automation and AI are game-changers for small businesses. Additionally, she reflects on how entering the Best Business Women Awards gave her a fresh perspective on what she’d built. Dionne also opens up about juggling motherhood with running a growing team of seven, and her charity work supporting the James Hopkins Trust in Gloucestershire.
About Dionne
Dionne started her VA business because she had always been the person came to for help.
Dionne gained huge experience managing large retail stores and shopping centres, staying on top of everything, keeping things moving.
Consequently, Dionne has built a VA Agency with a team of 7, providing total support for her clients. They meet new clients, clarify what’s actually happening, and take on the tasks that no longer need to sit with them, including day-to-day and ongoing responsibilities. It means things get handled properly, and nothing gets missed.
Dionne’s agency becomes a part of the client business, not just a supplier. Something that matters deeply to Dionne as she grows her business.
{2:28} Why Dionne started her VA business.
{5:14} The reasons she loves her business.
{6:04} How and why clients outsource to Dionne.
{8:07} The systems and processes that make the biggest difference.
{9:17} Combining motherhood with running a business.
{11:10} Why Dionne started entering awards and the resulting outcomes.
{13:15} How she lost confidence coming out of the corporate world.
{15:19} How entering awards led to a period of reflection.
{16:41} What keeps Dionne so focused.
{18:06} The signs you need a VA.
{19:54} Her plans for the business.
{20:46} Supporting the James Hopkins Trust.
{22:31} Getting new clients.
{23:52} Helpful collaborations.
{25:17} Leveraging AI for maximum results.
Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk
Connect with Dionne: https://www.dionnepopplestone.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionne-popplestone-5a084810b/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559970350458
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dionnepva
The James Hopkins Trust: https://www.jameshopkinstrust.org.uk/
