EXECUTIVE: Highland's woman speaks about her business success
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If you have never had the chance to meet Emma Mulraine from Behind the Scenes Virtual Assistant (BTSVA), then you are missing out. She is full of energy, passion, gratitude and a zest for life. I met Emma at her office at Highland House, where she was unapologetically sitting at her desk in her comfies and cosy socks.
Her Inverness-based company provides a range of services for start-ups, small businesses and the self-employed. The BTSVA team and Emma can do everything from bookkeeping to website updates to holiday let management. If there is something they cannot do, they will learn how to do it or find someone who can!
Just five years ago, she was a single mum working part-time living from paycheck to paycheck, trying to make ends meet. Now, she is an employer and has over 150 clients on her books, with a waiting list to get on it!
Last year she was able to take her sons on a dream holiday to Orlando - something she could have only dreamed about previously. I was interested to know the magic behind her success, and how she has managed to create a business that has not only helped her, but has also helped countless others.
Explaining more, Emma said: “I don’t like to toot my own horn but I think people buy into people! I am just a come-as-they-are kinda’ girl, really chatty, and quite relatable I think! I like good craic and I love doing things that help others in their business. A lot of our business has come from recommendations which is great.
“I also have an absolutely fantastic team behind me, who are so capable at what they do. They are passionate about BTSVA and that means so much to me.”
Providing support to her clients is what Emma and her team enjoy doing. She finds joy in being able to help others fulfil their calling by taking some unwanted tasks off their hands.
“We are called Behind the Scenes as we are doing the stuff behind people’s business while they are at the forefront”, said Emma.
“It frees them up to do what they love. People hate bookkeeping normally! I absolutely love doing it!”
The reason for starting up her own business was to be in a job where she was happy and to be able to spend more time with her kids. It has taken a few years for her to get the balance right, but she is now able to have more flexible hours thanks to her trustworthy team. Emma has also learned a lot about herself in the process.
“I’m much happier now”, Emma said glowingly.
“I am a big believer in self- development, and that what’s for you won’t go by you.
“I quit the job I had five years ago as I was sick, and I wasn’t getting paid enough to pay my rent.
"What seemed like the worst point in my life at that time, has turned out to be the best as it led me to where I am today.
“I have found out that I am stronger than I thought I was - I used to suffer from imposter syndrome and think that people wouldn’t take me seriously.
"When I get the moments thinking I am going to quit now, something massive happens and I remember why I am doing what I am.”
Having come from such humble beginnings, and being someone who has grafted hard for her lot in life, Emma is passionate about helping others in her community. She knows what it’s like to not know if the bills are going to be able to be paid at the end of the month.
This is just one reason why BTSVA has decided to sponsor a local school to receive training from Ross County every week until summer.
Emma explained: “The kids programme from Ross County provides football sessions for the whole school, each week.
“My son loves Ross County training, but there are so many kids that want to play, and want to do things like that but they don’t get the opportunity.
“I just thought if I could give them the opportunity to bring the team into the school where every kid from P1 - P7 gets training, then they would have the chance to be spotted.
“I have never been able to do anything like this before, and it still feels strange that I am fortunate enough to do so.”
At 22, Emma was a new mum and just out of an abusive relationship.
I asked her what advice she would tell that 22-year-old, knowing what she does now:
“I think it would have been ‘you are good enough’. I just never used to think that I was good enough for anything.
"I have learned that I am enough – I need to remind myself of that all the time still.
“But if I had heard that then, I probably wouldn’t have listened to it.
“If I hadn’t gone through those experiences, then I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Contact details:
W: www.behindthescenesva.co.uk
T: 01463 418648
E: contact@behindthescenesva.co.uk
