Meet Bre Cain

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bre Cain a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bre , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

When it comes to developing my ability to take risks, I think it started the moment I became a mom. There’s something about becoming responsible for tiny humans that just rewires everything.. your sense of purpose, your urgency, and the way you approach decisions. I had three kids under five, and at that point, I wasn’t just taking risks for myself anymore. It was about creating something that would give me the freedom to be present with my kids while building a business that supported my family.
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I didn’t start out fearless, but what I did have was a sense of urgency mixed with the feeling of “it’s now or never”. I had this burning desire to make something happen…. something big.. and the usual fear of failure just couldn’t stand in the way. There was too much riding on it. I started my virtual assistant business from my kitchen table, and honestly, every decision felt like a risk. But I quickly learned that risks are just part of the game when you’re building something from the ground up.

For me, risk taking isn’t about feeling fearless. It’s about trusting myself even WITH fear and uncertainty, knowing that I’ll figure it out no matter what happens. And that comes from experience. Every risk I’ve taken…. whether it worked out the way I planned or not, has given me proof that I can handle it, that I can pivot and grow from it. You learn to trust yourself more deeply with each decision.

One of the biggest shifts was when I moved from feeling like I had to follow certain rules or formulas to trusting my own vision and excitement. I think back to when I hit my first $100K month, it was exhilarating, but right after that, I felt this pressure to keep up, to do more, to get bigger in ways that didn’t align with what actually felt good. It was then I realized the real risk was losing myself, my voice, and my joy in my business by outsourcing my decisions to external influences. That was a huge moment for me.. understanding that trusting my own instincts was the ultimate move

So, it’s not about calculating every step to perfection. It’s about moving with that gut feeling, being okay with the unknown, and knowing that whether it works out perfectly or not, you’re going to grow from it. Every risk I’ve taken has taught me that the real growth happens when you trust yourself and jump before you feel fully ready.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

So, where do I even begin? I run an incredible business that I’m truly passionate about, and it all started with the VA Leadership Academy. I help women build profitable virtual assistant businesses that not only meet their money goals but also give them the freedom to live life on their terms. What’s so exciting for me is that I’ve seen firsthand how this can completely change someone’s life. It’s not JUST about earning a living; it’s about creating a sustainable business that allows women to be present with their families, pursue passions, and feel empowered in what they do!

The special thing about the work I do is that it’s all about building smarter, not harder. It’s not about trading hours for dollars, hustling nonstop, or sacrificing time with family. I’ve been there, done that, and found a better way. I help my clients build systems, scalable offers, and sustainable strategies that support their big goals without burning them out. I think the most rewarding part is seeing women step into their power, realize what’s possible, and then blow past their own expectations aka blow their own minds really … like, “DID I JUST DO THAT?!”

Right now, I’ve got a lot of exciting things happening. The VA Leadership Academy continues to grow, and we’re launching new resources, like my OBM in 30 Days program, to help VAs take their business to the next level and position themselves as high value, strategic partners.

In addition to the VA Leadership Academy, I also run ICON & Lightning, my VA agency. It’s designed to pair high level, virtual assistants that I’ve personally trained in the Academy with ambitious entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their businesses but need the right support to make it happen. I’ve trained every single VA that we place, so I know they’re equipped with the exact skills and mindset to help these entrepreneurs grow in a way that’s sustainable AND smart. It’s exciting because the virtual assistant industry offers so much potential for freedom and flexibility for the VAs, while also providing the entrepreneurs the opportunity to build scalable businesses with the right team in place.

And I’m super pumped about my first book, coming out in early 2025, which shares my entire journey from stay-at-home mom to seven figure business owner!

There’s a lot in the works, but at the heart of everything I do is the mission to help women build businesses that feel aligned, profitable, and fun. It’s really about showing people that you can create a business that lights you up while still having time to live your life.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful things in my journey were self trust, being strategic with my time, and getting really good at delegation.

Self trust is huge. Honestly, trusting myself and my gut has been the biggest thing that’s grown my business. There were so many moments when the “right” or “safe” thing to do seemed obvious, but deep down, I knew I needed to follow my intuition, even when it didn’t make sense to others. Learning to silence the outside noise and go all in on what felt true for me has been everything.

My advice? Spend time strengthening that muscle. Trusting yourself is a practice, and the more you do it, the more confidence you build in your own decisions, which leads to bigger, bolder moves.

Then, there’s being strategic with time. I built my business with three young kids, so time was (and still is) my most valuable resource. I learned to focus on the most important things and let the rest go. If you’re early in your journey, it’s about identifying what truly moves the needle and staying relentless about where you put your energy. There’s so much noise out there, but when you get clear on your priorities, everything shifts.

And finally, delegation. I know it can feel hard to let go of control, but the sooner you start building a team around you, the faster you grow. I used to think I had to do it all myself to save money or keep things at my standard, but honestly, that mindset holds so many entrepreneurs back. It wasn’t until I started delegating to others.. especially through my ICON & Lightning VA agency, that I saw how powerful it is to have people supporting me in the areas where they shine.

If you’re starting out, begin small, but start now. You’ll be amazed at what can happen when you let others step in and help!

So, self-trust, strategic time management, and delegation… those have been my biggest lessons. And the good news is, these are things you can start working on no matter where you’re at in business or life!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking to collaborate with people who are passionate about empowering women to create a business on their own terms, especially those who are tired of the idea that you have to sacrifice time with your family to succeed.

One of my biggest passions is helping women, especially moms, build businesses that allow them to stay present with their kids and create real financial freedom, whether it’s through my VA Leadership Academy or by matching them with incredible VAs through my agency, ICON & Lightning.

I’d love to partner with coaches and communities that are aligned with this mission, whether it’s life coaches, business coaches who have clients scaling, or anyone who serves women ready to step into their own business in a tangible way. I’m also open to collaborations where I can come in and speak to communities about scaling with a team or even how to get started in the VA industry. I’m especially excited about doing more virtual and in-person speaking engagements. I think there’s something so powerful about having these conversations live, where we can really dig deep and inspire action.

And of course, with my book coming out in 2025, I’m looking forward to even more opportunities to connect with other leaders and coaches who share this vision of helping women create massive impact without sacrificing their lives at home!

So, if you’re someone who’s passionate about this mission or you know someone who is, I’d love to connect! Whether you’re a coach whose clients need VA support, or if you’re looking for a speaker to talk about scaling with ease and freedom, reach out.

You can connect with me via Instagram. I’d love to see how we can collaborate and serve more women together!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitsbrecain/

Image Credits

Missy Jones