France Cabognason sat in the SMARTER Leadership Academy class, listening to her fellow virtual employees share personal stories. She wanted to speak up, to share her own experiences, but anxiety held her back.
But as the program continued, something shifted. By the end, she wasn’t just sharing. She was leading her own circle of virtual assistants, teaching them everything she’d learned.
“Along the way, I realized this group has the same goals as mine,” said France. “When you surround yourself with people that have the same goals, it really helps you grow as a person and as a team.”
France works as a community manager for a U.S. company, approaching her one-year anniversary with HireSmart this December. Her daily work involves handling multiple communities, answering homeowners, processing invoices, managing financials, and handling client communication. She’s good at her job. But she knew she wanted something more.
Beyond the Title
France already considered herself someone who leads. She’d led teams before. She had the characteristics of a leader. But when HireSmart offered its SMARTER Leadership Academy, she realized there was a deeper question she needed to answer.
“I wanted to learn more on how and what leadership truly means,” said France. “It’s not just about the title, but making a change for the people you lead, right?”
The inspiration to join came from watching fellow virtual employee Ner Jan Ramos “Nerry” share her experience at HireSmart’s Christmas party.
“I admired her confidence,” said France. “And this is one aspect and one reason why I joined the leadership training.”
That’s exactly why HireSmart co-founder Anne Lackey holds the annual leadership course to give virtual employees the skills and confidence they need to step into bigger roles and become the leaders they’re meant to be.
Lessons That Stick
For France, several of Anne’s lessons fundamentally changed how she thinks about leadership.
The first was about sacrifice.
“I remember when she said, What are you willing to sacrifice and what are you willing to do for your group?”
Then there was the “Not my circus, not my monkeys” principle.
“When you let people into your group who don’t share the same goals,” said France, “you’ll see how they negatively affect both your group and who you are as a person.”
The lesson was clear: protect your circle.
“It is to focus on what your goal is and what the other people’s goals are,” said France. “So in the end, as a group and for yourself, you will be able to achieve the goal that you all wanted.”
The Vision Board: Getting Specific
The Leadership Academy included a vision board activity. France identified three major goals for 2025: financial freedom (being debt-free and paying all her bills), maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and career growth.
But Anne pushed the class to go deeper. General goals weren’t enough.
“When it comes to having a healthy lifestyle, you cannot generalize that goal, it should be specific,” said France. “You should know the things that you really need to do, what you need to eat, what you need to do in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Instead of just saying “be healthy,” France now breaks it down: specific foods to eat, exercise frequency, daily walks or running once a week. The specificity makes the goal achievable.
She admits it’s challenging. Temptations are real. But the framework Anne provided keeps her focused.
Becoming the Leader
The breakthrough France experienced in class led to immediate action. She finally let herself be vulnerable with her classmates.
“I actually let my feelings show, share my personal experiences, share my thoughts to them, because I’m not afraid to be judged,” said France. “These people are leaders, and these people are there to influence you with great attitude and good deeds, just like a true leader.”
That transformation didn’t end with the class. France took what she learned and started applying it with other virtual assistants.
“I can say that I’m not the person I am before,” said France. “I was able to create a circle with the same goals as mine, virtual assistants, so I’m able to share what I learned from the leadership program as well, and to apply all the lessons.”
“What I do is provide them all the information they at least would need along the way,” said France. “Like a leader, provide them the guide or guidelines on what they could experience.”
The Leadership Academy also exposed her to diverse approaches to leading.
“You get to know different leadership styles from different people with different backgrounds,” said France. “You get to have role models with different leadership styles and from their different experiences, you get to learn how you should be as a leader.”
Why HireSmart Makes the Difference
For France, the difference between working with HireSmart and working independently with U.S. clients comes down to structure and support.
“One important thing in being with HireSmart is you are guided with principles,” said France. “You have other leaders. You have a management that guides you… with HireSmart, you have a group that will support you.”
Without that organizational framework, she believes things can get scattered and confusing.
The support shows up in daily ways. HireSmart maintains Facebook groups where virtual employees receive daily reminders about values and how to approach their work.
“Every day we have a group in social media and Facebook who will remind you what today is, what should you act or how should you act,” said France. “You will be reminded on these principles, different values that can help you succeed as a virtual assistant.”
Beyond the professional development, HireSmart offers comprehensive benefits including healthcare and educational scholarships.
“You’re working and at the same time, you have these very important benefits that you receive from HireSmart,” said France. “It really makes you very motivated to work and to stay with the company.”
Her Message to Others
France doesn’t hesitate when asked if she’d recommend the SMARTER Leadership Academy.
“I would truly recommend this program to others because it will help you as a person, will help you develop your leadership skills,” said France. “It’s not about having the title of being a leader, but it is how you create impact and influence to others.”
The lessons weren’t just valuable. They were unique.
“I’m very grateful because these things are not being taught, you know, for example, in my previous company,” said France. “So I’m very thankful for this experience and this opportunity that you have given us being in the SMARTER leadership program, and it really is very influential.”
If this sounds like the right place for you, click here to apply to HireSmart Virtual Employees.
