Vicky McKenna

Who I help

You started your business to do the work you’re good at, and somehow you now spend your week on finance, marketing and everything in between. The thing you set out to do keeps slipping down the list.

I work with founders, sole traders and owner-led businesses across Oxfordshire who are brilliant at what they do but don’t have the time to run the business around it, manage the day-to-day tasks and still make time for family and friends. I start by understanding what you enjoy and what you’re good at, then we look together at what could be outsourced, so you can spend your time on what you want to do rather than what you feel you have to do.

A recent example: Social Tech Trust
The Social Tech Trust backs socially motivated tech ventures, and its team mostly works remotely. They needed admin support but didn’t want a full-time administrator, because their workload varies and, as a charity, they answer to their trustees for every pound. They came to Get Ahead in 2020 for affordable, flexible, high-quality support.

We now help with board and committee meetings and day-to-day admin. One of our virtual assistants has supported their recruitment as the team has grown, and another joined as PA to the CEO, a role that has grown into research, diary coordination, CRM data, team away days and induction meetings for new starters. The CEO has more time to deliver the strategy, and the team has support they can scale up or down as they need.

Whether you’re in Oxford, Banbury, Didcot or Witney, I’ll match you with the right virtual assistant or specialist from our team.

My background

I spent more than 20 years in commercial buying and brand leadership in retail, working for well-known names including Dixons, GAME, Ryman, Ernest Jones and H Samuel. I managed teams of up to 50 buyers, delivering against demanding targets and commercial plans in both private and corporate businesses. That meant being highly organised and making good use of time, and it taught me what it takes to run a business.

A career highlight was working for Theo Paphitis at Ryman. He was great at spotting opportunities, and I learned a great deal from him about bringing teams and businesses together.

When the pandemic changed the way people shop, I saw that social media would be central to every business’s future. I used the lockdowns to study for CPD certification in Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and strategy and scheduling, and I set up as a freelance Social Media Manager. That gave me first-hand experience of working for myself, and of the challenges that virtual assistants and freelancers face, which I bring to every match I make.

I met Rebecca Newenham at Flexpo while looking for a better balance between work and my family, and in particular more time with my son. After reading her book, Virtually Yours, I could see that Get Ahead gave me the best of both: working for myself, while being part of an experienced team with a solid track record.

How I work with clients

I’m a troubleshooter by nature. I like solving problems and supporting people, so I begin by finding out what you’re doing, and what you’re not doing, that’s holding the business back.

Matching matters most. I choose experts from the Get Ahead team on personality and skills as well as the standard of their work, because the right fit is what makes outsourcing last. I stay involved after the work starts, so the support can change as the business grows.

My Region

I support businesses across Oxfordshire, including Oxford, Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot and Witney. The experts I match you with work remotely, so you get the support you need wherever you’re based.

Frequently asked questions

I’d love to hear more about your business and how we might be able to support you in your growth. Please do get in touch on 01865 582920 or vicky@getaheadva.com.

We pride ourselves on being the staff you don’t see, but the difference you do