127. VA Spotlight: Crystal Holmes on Turning Corporate Trauma into a Thriving Virtual Assistant Agency

In this episode of *Booked Out with Bre*, I am so honored to introduce you to one of our amazing full-ride VA Leadership Academy scholarship winners, Crystal Holmes! Crystal has one of the most powerful, spirit-led stories I have ever heard. She is a true testament to the fact that sometimes the hardest situations in our lives are actually redirections toward our highest calling. Crystal shares her raw and vulnerable journey of leaving the corporate world after a terrifying experience with a workplace stalker. That moment of "never again" led her to the virtual assistant industry, where she quickly scaled to seven clients in just six months. But her mission didn't stop at being a solo VA—Crystal was called to build something much bigger. She is now the founder of a virtual assistant agency dedicated to empowering other women, specifically Black women, to escape the corporate rat race and build lives of freedom and impact. Here is what I dive into with Crystal: - How she used her communications and PR background to land her first virtual assistant client within a month. - The turning point where she realized she was "building a job" instead of a business and how she pivoted to the agency model. - The heart behind her mission: creating opportunities for talented women who have been undervalued or let go by corporate systems. - How she successfully managed her agency through a six-figure pregnancy and a full six-month maternity leave. - Why she believes being a virtual assistant is the ultimate vehicle for nervous system regulation and feminine flow. - Her experience winning the scholarship and how the VA Leadership Academy is helping her take her agency to the next level. Crystal’s story is a beautiful reminder that our plans mean nothing when compared to the greater vision meant for us. If you are ready to be inspired to build a legacy that is bigger than yourself, you need to hear this conversation. Episode Outline: - Introduction: Meet Crystal Holmes, VA Leadership Academy scholarship winner (00:01) - The power of writing down your "why" and seeing your vision clearly (01:07) - Crystal’s story: From PR studies to moving to Nashville (02:16) - The corporate breaking point: Overcoming a stalker and prioritizing mental health (03:11) - Finding the virtual assistant industry on Instagram and taking a leap of faith (04:55) - Scaling to seven clients: The trap of burning out as a solo virtual assistant (05:23) - Building an agency for a cause: Supporting Black women in business (06:09) - The illusion of security: Seeing the reality of corporate layoffs (08:29) - Building an agency while four months pregnant (09:47) - Preparing for motherhood: Training a team to run the business (11:53) - Experiencing a six-month maternity leave while the business continued to grow (12:35) - The virtual assistant path as a tool for lifestyle and family growth (14:32) - Income as a byproduct of impact: Building a sustainable agency (16:01) - Why Crystal felt an immediate alignment with Bre Cain and the academy (17:15) - Final encouragement and where to connect with Crystal Holmes (19:10) - Closing remarks and next steps (19:42)   Connect with Crystal: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rooted\_virtualsolutions   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rooted\_virtualsolutions   Ways to Work with Me: Follow Me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heyitsbrecain/ Mom X VA Free Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/momxva Apply for the VA Leadership Academy https://caincollectivellc.com/valaapplication Book a Free Dream Team Design Session (for founders building with Team) https://www.breannacain.com/iconandlightningbookacall If you enjoyed this episode, I would love it so much if you left a rating and review! This helps us reach more women looking to become a virtual assistant, book out their business, and scale beyond their wildest dreams.