Atuegbu Chisom Stephanie – General Virtual Assistant

Hi, I am Atuegbu Chisom Stephanie, but the world around me refers to me as Stephanie. I am a 4th-year pharmacy student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where I’m set to graduate in 2025. Beyond my studies, I have always had a natural inclination for organisation, often spending my time creating schedules and structuring my life. What started as a personal habit evolved into something more as I became increasingly independent and self-aware during my university years. This realisation sparked a question: “How can I turn my passion for organisation into something profitable?” 

It wasn’t long before I stumbled upon an Instagram ad from ALX promoting virtual assistance as a career option. The concept intrigued me, especially when I learned about the range of skills needed to excel in this field. To my surprise, many of these skills—like time management, planning, and attention to detail—were already part of my routine as I navigated my academic and personal life. Motivated to explore this career path further, I delved deeper into virtual assistance, researching what the role entailed and quickly realising this could be the perfect way to monetize my organisational strengths. 

Determined to turn my interest into something concrete, I enrolled in ALX’s 8-week virtual assistant course. Upon completing the programme, gaining essential knowledge, and earning my certificate, I embarked on my journey to find work that aligned with my skills and academic commitments. After a few months, I landed an unpaid internship at a coaching company. Here I was entrusted with managing the CEO’s LinkedIn profile, conducting surveys, planning and attending meetings, conducting extensive market research to understand and grow the company, and preparing various presentations. 

Throughout this experience, I discovered that my natural organisational skills were perfectly suited to the demands of the role. Balancing my responsibilities at the company with my studies was challenging, but it was also deeply fulfilling. With careful time management and a positive mindset, I found myself thriving in both environments. I never felt stagnant or without direction; each day was filled with purpose, whether it was focusing on my pharmacy studies or contributing to the company’s growth. 

While balancing work and school was by no means easy, my resilience and attitude towards learning made the journey manageable. I quickly adapted to the company’s culture, which was crucial for success in my role. Over time, I’ve honed several key attributes that I believe make me an exceptional virtual assistant: diligence, self-motivation, goal orientation, attention to detail, resourcefulness, and the ability to quickly learn and apply new skills. 

As I reflect on my journey, I’ve come to understand that working from home is the ideal setup for me. It allows me to alleviate some of the financial burden on my parents while maintaining a high level of academic performance. The flexibility of remote work also enables me to engage in extracurricular activities, such as participating in health missions as a student pharmacist. My experiences have only fueled my desire to grow further in my virtual assistant career, continuously learning and applying new skills to both my work and my personal life. 

I am confident that I will continue to excel because I live by Napoleon Hill’s famous words: Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

For a copy of Chisom’s resume please click here.