Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emilie Given. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Emilie , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Turning pain into purpose might sound like a cliché, but let me tell you, my tough life experiences have shown me that there’s more than one calling in life.
Growing up, surviving neglect and abuse left me feeling worthless and unloved. Those feelings stuck with me into adulthood. But through a lot of soul-searching and healing, I’ve come to realize something profound: I’m here to help other survivors see their own worthiness of love, just like I had to learn for myself.
The moment that really kicked off my journey into entrepreneurship? It was when my son and I narrowly escaped death during childbirth. That terrifying experience shook me to the core and made me see that life’s too short for endless commutes and missing out on family time. So, I started my virtual assistant agency with a simple goal: to give my team the chance to enjoy life with their families and to help business owners and execs find that same balance.
Life throws us curveballs all the time, right? But it’s what we do with those curveballs that counts. For me, I’m all about making a difference in the world. Like Rumi once said, “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” And let me tell you, that’s the truth, 100%.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m 33 years old and reside in Lynnwood, WA, with my husband Billy, our two sons, Hank (15) and EJ (7), and our two dogs, Poppy and Apollo.
The inspiration for starting my business struck after a near-death experience during childbirth with my youngest son. It was a wake-up call that life is fragile and every moment counts, especially with family. At the time, I was an EA at Amazon, but I couldn’t bear the thought of wasting precious hours commuting away from my loved ones. So, I set out to create the perfect job that allowed me to excel as an executive assistant while working from home and cherishing family time. What began as a personal quest soon evolved into a mission to help other businesses achieve balance and provide opportunities for working moms like myself. And thus, She’s A Given, a US-based virtual assistant agency, was born. I bid farewell to Amazon in July 2019, and since then, the agency has been thriving and expanding.
My passion lies in helping business owners delegate more effectively. Often, they find themselves drowning in the minutiae of their roles, losing sight of the big picture and their true happiness. That’s where our team of expert virtual assistants comes in. Based in the US with a minimum of three years’ experience as executive assistants, they enable business owners to reclaim their time and focus on what matters most. It’s a win-win situation: you get to enjoy life while providing flexible work for someone who craves it.
When you partner with She’s A Given, you’re not just hiring a VA agency; you’re gaining a trusted ally who genuinely cares about your success. We take the time to understand your needs and preferences, ensuring a perfect match. And the best part? We’re not afraid to admit if there’s someone better suited to your requirements. It’s all about building relationships that stand the test of time.
As an agency owner for five years now, I’ve also ventured into coaching. My goal is to empower other corporate women to build sustainable online businesses that prioritize balance from the start. In my “spare time,” you’ll find me volunteering in Kindergarten at my son’s school and chairing the gala for our local March of Dimes chapter— a cause close to my heart. Additionally, I co-host a podcast called The Coast, where we’ve cultivated a community of female entrepreneurs that brings me immense joy.
So, that’s a glimpse into my world— a whirlwind of passion, purpose, and joy!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I always say that working at Amazon helped me immensely on my journey. One specific example is their Leadership Principles. I think “Learn & Be Curious” is an essential mindset that I picked up at Amazon, and it truly helped me to become successful. I didn’t have a degree or a formal business education—what I did when I started was I read a ton of books, researched others who were doing what I wanted to do, and learned how to do it too. “Think Big” is another mindset that I learned while I was there, and it helped me fast-forward to the big picture and work backward to get there. Another significant one for me has been resilience. I’ve been through a lot of hardships in my life, and ultimately, they taught me to get back up and keep trying. Once you’re good at that, you have one of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship figured out.
The advice I’d give to those who are starting out is this: absorb as much information as you can, but don’t get caught up in the small stuff or wait until it’s perfect. “Good enough” is a great place to start, and then as you “build, measure, learn” (from The Lean Startup), you’ll continue to make improvements. Falling down is a part of getting to the top. The more failures you have and learn from, the more significant wins you’ll have too.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I find it helpful to break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. Creating structure is key for me, so I’ve always been a fan of making lists. When the pressure mounts, I ensure all my tasks are organized in a list—whether it’s in my work inbox or my trusty paper planner for home duties. Then, I do something to get into the right mindset, like listening to film scores, before diving in.
Another essential strategy I use when overwhelmed is applying the TACO Method to my to-do list. Let me break it down for you:
First, the T stands for terminate. I scrutinize each task and if it’s not truly necessary, I remove it from my list altogether.
Next, A stands for automate. If there’s a task I find myself doing repeatedly, like drafting similar emails, I create a template or automate it to save time in the future.
Then comes C, which stands for consolidate. I’ve learned that multitasking can actually reduce productivity. So, I group similar tasks together, like handling all sales calls at once or dedicating a specific day for certain activities like blog writing, to minimize switch costs and maximize efficiency.
Lastly, O stands for outsource, and it’s a personal favorite of mine. If a task needs to be done but doesn’t require my direct involvement, I delegate it to someone else on my team. Why spend valuable time on tasks that someone else can handle, especially when your time could be better spent generating revenue or focusing on higher-priority tasks?
Trust me, applying the TACO method to your to-do list can be life-changing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shesagiven.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shesagiven_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shesagiven
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shesagiven
Image Credits
Halls Visuals Raven Ocean Portraits Rebecca Ellison Photography
