From Military Spouse to CEO: How Michelle Pensack Built a 400-Person Virtual Assistant Empire

In this inspiring episode, Brad Smith sits down with Michelle Penczak, founder and CEO of https://www.gosquaredaway.com/ - to discuss her incredible journey from being a personal assistant in Washington DC to building a thriving business that employs nearly 400 military spouses worldwide as virtual assistants. What You'll Learn: • How military spouses make exceptional virtual assistants for executives and CEOs • The 3 quick wins to immediately get your time back as a business owner • Why delegation is crucial for scaling your business • How to properly onboard and train a virtual assistant • Michelle's new consulting service for better delegation strategies About Go Squared Away: Go Squared Away connects mid to upper-level management, CEOs, and VCs with highly skilled military spouse virtual assistants. With backgrounds ranging from PhDs to marine biology, these assistants provide comprehensive support including: Email and inbox management Social media and marketing Travel planning and scheduling Bookkeeping and financial tasks Startup and VC fundraising support Michelle's Amazing Achievement: Michelle was recently honored to be featured in the Milliken Center for Advancing the American Dream museum in Washington DC, showcasing her entrepreneurial journey and impact on military families. Connect with Michelle & Go Squared Away: • Website: https://www.gosquaredaway.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaysquared/ • LinkedIn: Michelle Penczak • Podcast: "Beyond Orders" - Interviews with inspiring military spouses • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtXEYjMPDeRdaCC7Tmawd3w Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & Meet Michelle Pensack 01:15 - What Go Squared Away Does - 400 Military Spouses Worldwide 02:45 - Michelle's Background: From DC Assistant to Virtual Assistant 03:30 - Life as a Military Spouse: 13 Years, 6 Deployments 04:20 - The Unique Skills Military Spouses Bring to Business 05:45 - Why Michelle Started Go Squared Away Business 07:30 - The Hawaii Challenge: Working 3AM-Noon (6-Hour Time Difference!) 08:45 - Growing to 400 Assistants & Life-Changing Success Stories 10:30 - Heartbreaking & Inspiring Story: Tiffany's Journey 13:15 - Services Offered: From Social Media to Fundraising Support 15:20 - New Consulting Service: Learning to Delegate Effectively 17:45 - Michelle's Museum Honor in Washington DC 18:30 - How Long Should You Work with a VA? 19:45 - Tips for Training Your New Virtual Assistant 21:30 - The Future of Squared Away & Military Spouse Unemployment Crisis 23:00 - Beyond Orders Podcast & Where to Follow Michelle 23:45 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up