Gwendolyn Young of Your Virtual Admin Expert: Helping CEOs Lead Without Losing Themselves

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business

I'm Gwendolyn Young, Founder of Your Virtual Admin Expert, where we help visionary CEOs and C-Suite execs reclaim their time, skyrocket their productivity, and amplify their impact—with excellence, ethics, and a touch of magic. When I’m not behind the scenes helping you stay in your zone of genius, you’ll find me sipping tea, reading something juicy, or planning my next big idea.

Who are your customers?

Visionary CEOs and C-Suite Executives

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was an Executive Assistant and Administrative Supervisor for a major healthcare corporation for 15+ years.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

In 2013, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and my world changed. During recovery, I knew that working a traditional job was not going to work for me. I didn't want to have to choose between doing work that I loved and taking care of myself, so I took the leap into entrepreneurship.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No. I never had a desire to be an entrepreneur.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I created profiles on all the job sites, created a do it yourself website, and started to tell people what I did. I didn't have a plan lol so I have no idea if it went as planned, but it worked because here I am today!

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

Hands down: navigating the tension between purpose and pain. Specifically, learning how to keep showing up in leadership, business, and life when my body wasn’t cooperating, my family was hurting, and my soul was tired. I learned resilience isn’t a moment—it’s a mindset. It’s waking up every day and choosing to still show up—sometimes with a full face of makeup and a presentation in hand, other times in sweatpants or pajamas whispering prayers between client calls.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

Building a thriving, integrity-driven executive virtual assistant agency from the ground up while battling chronic illness, raising a family, and staying true to my faith and values.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

Your Virtual Admin Expert officially hit 5 years as a full-blown executive VA agency.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Offering More Consulting & VIP Days for CEOs - I’m excited about helping CEOs who need strategy, structure, and sanity in their businesses. Expect more 1:1 consulting, team audits, and systems deep-dives to help CEOs lead without losing themselves.

What is your top productivity tip? 

Know Your Productivity Type. Discover Your Peak Energy Time. Use One Calendar. Batch Tasks. Schedule Down Time. Plan your week before it begins—like a CEO!

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

I stopped pretending I was superwoman and began honoring my boundaries, delegating, and making rest a priority in my schedule.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I have accepted that the two for me are intertwined and not separated; so I focus on harmony instead. Some times work requires more and some times life requires more. It's okay and I allow myself to focus on what matters most at that time.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

How to sell. I had skill, but as I've grown I realize how important selling, marketing, and visibility are to growing your business.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

Can you share an example of a time when you had to admit to making a mistake at work or with a client? How did you handle it, and what steps did you take to correct it?

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family

Absolutely. Automate it, delegate it, or eliminate it all together.

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

All things Google; I live and breathe by my calendar.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

Teamwork Projects; it's basically the command center of everything that is happening. We can view our client projects, connect with our team, chat at the virtual water cooler, provide company updates, and so much more.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Build your business around your life—not the other way around.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today