Taree's Ingrid Bayer is a finalist in the AustMumpreneur Awards

The AusMumpreneur Awards, presented by The Women's Business School, celebrate and recognise Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation.

The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

Also in the news: MidCoast Business Awards celebrate local achievements

Ingrid began her virtual assistant business journey 2007 when looking for a way she could channel her skills into her own small home-based business.

While scouring the internet she literally stumbled upon the virtual assistant industry and quickly realised it provided a way to earn an income by giving her the opportunity to deliver the admin services she knew and loved.

In 2017, after 10 years successfully operating her VA business out of her home office in Taree, Ingrid established VA Institute of Australia and designed the VA Startup Program to assist other women build and grow their own virtual assistant business, and also established Find a VA as the gold standard resource for Australian businesses to connect with quality certified Australian Virtual Assistants.

In that time, Ingrid has also written three books about building a successful VA business, the most recent being Futureproof your Career.

Ingrid is delighted to be named as a finalist in the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards and is proud of her achievements, and in particular having recently realised her goal of working with in excess of 500 Startup VAs to help them build and launch their own VA business, and in the process, giving them the opportunity of realising their dream of working for themselves in a way that supports them, gives them choice and freedom, reignites their passion, and allows them to achieve work-life balance.

There are many benefits to balancing business and motherhood as Ingrid explains.

"Being there for my own children and their important milestones and life events has been by far the biggest benefit, and it taught me that I can have a really profitable and successful business AND be there for them".

It can be challenging to be a successful businesswoman whilst raising a family and Ingrid gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise.

"Start your business properly from the get-go, and take the time to set boundaries that support you and your family. This will allow you to build something you love as opposed to another millstone around your neck".

The winners of the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced at an online event in September.

For more information on the AusMumpreneur Awards visit www.ausmumpreneur.com.

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