In today’s Naptime Chat, I sat down with Fiona Campbell - mama of three, and founder of Thought Penny and the VA Lead Network.

Fiona shares how being made redundant while on maternity leave led her to launch her own VA business and how the ripple effect from that one bold move has now created over 400 job opportunities for women across Australia.

We talked about the realities of working from home with kids, building a business around your actual life (not someone else’s ideal), and the power of creating systems that allow flexibility and freedom - without sacrificing quality or boundaries.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom, whether you’re brand new to business or growing a team. Fiona shares her signature Streamline, Automate, Delegate approach, what she wishes more mums knew about superannuation, and why we need to stop charging like we’re still employees.

We also talked about:

• Why you shouldn’t start with a website and why Fiona did anyway

• How the VA Lead Network grew from a secret page to a thriving national platform

• Why flexible work shouldn’t be just for contractors

• What to do if you’ve got admin or tech skills and want to start your own biz

If you’ve been thinking about launching your own VA or OBM business - or just want to hear a real, honest story of how one mama built something incredible during nap times - this one’s for you.

Links + Resources
→ Join the VA Lead Network
→ Download the Pay Rates Report 2025
→ Read Fiona's guest blog post Why Flexible Work Shouldn't Mean Financial Sacrifice
→ Connect with Fiona on LinkedIn or visit www.valeadnetwork.com.au
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!