What I Learned at a Virtual Assistant Conference: Day Two at VA Fest
Hi, I am Coralis Nieves, founder of Cora Bravo Virtual Assistant your Bilingual Virtual Assistant. After a full first day focused on identity, leadership, and confidence, I walked into Day Two of VA Fest with a different perspective.
Instead of asking, "Who do I want to become?" I found myself asking, "How do I continue building the business that supports that version of me?"
The second day of this virtual assistant conference shifted from mindset into strategy.
We explored topics like money, AI, marketing, branding, and business growth. While I expected to leave with pages of new ideas, I was surprised by something else.
Many of the strategies shared throughout the day weren't completely new to me.
Instead, they gave me language, confidence, and new ways to optimize things I had already started implementing through my client work over the past year.
Strategy Looks Different When You've Already Started
One of the biggest lessons I took away from Day Two was realizing that strategy doesn't always mean starting from scratch.
Sometimes it means recognizing that you've already been building the right habits—you just haven't given yourself credit for them yet.
Each speaker added another layer to the conversations we had on Day One, showing how identity and strategy work together.
Lou Clarke challenged me to look honestly at my relationship with money. It wasn't about pretending everything was perfect or forcing a positive mindset. It was about knowing my numbers, understanding where my money is going, and creating healthy financial habits that support long-term business growth.
One of the biggest reminders I took from her session was the importance of treating my business like a business. Keeping track of my finances, reviewing my profit and loss statements, and understanding cash flow aren't just accounting tasks—they're leadership responsibilities.
Nicole Diedrich completely shifted the way I viewed paid advertising. Before her session, I assumed running ads required a large budget. Instead, she explained that you can begin testing with as little as five dollars a day while your business grows. While I'm not at the stage of implementing paid ads just yet, I walked away understanding that advertising doesn't have to be intimidating or reserved for large businesses.
Chelsea Renee introduced an exercise that immediately stood out to me: an identity wheel designed to help you evaluate where you are today and where you're intentionally growing. I loved that the exercise wasn't about pretending to already be your future self. Instead, it challenged us to identify the areas we haven't fully explored yet so we can intentionally become that next version of ourselves.
That concept resonated deeply because growth has never happened overnight in my business. Every season has stretched me in different ways, and this exercise reminded me that becoming the next version of yourself happens one decision at a time.
Tom Roger, CEO of HeyClients, shared how AI and AI agents are changing the way businesses operate. One statistic that really stood out to me was that only a small percentage of business owners are truly using AI to its full potential. That immediately reinforced something I've been thinking about for months.
AI isn't replacing great virtual assistants.
It's becoming another tool that allows us to provide even more value.
I've already begun incorporating AI into my own workflow and into some of my client work, but his presentation encouraged me to continue learning. The more I understand AI, the more I can help my clients streamline their businesses while continuing to evolve my own services.
One of my favorite moments didn't actually happen during a presentation.
After the conference, I had the opportunity to spend time talking with Brianna Glam.
While her session focused on style and personal branding, what really stayed with me was our conversation afterward.
She reminded me that confidence isn't about dressing like someone else. It's about showing up in a way that feels authentic to you.
I've always loved fashion, bold colors, and expressing myself through what I wear. Her perspective reinforced something I've been learning throughout this journey:
your personal brand isn't about fitting into someone else's definition of professionalism. It's about allowing your personality to become part of your business.
As another Latina business owner, connecting with Brianna felt especially meaningful, and I'm grateful our paths crossed beyond the stage.
The Best Takeaway Wasn't Something Brand New
As I reflected on everything I learned throughout the day, I noticed a pattern.
I wasn't constantly thinking,
"I've never heard this before."
Instead, I found myself saying,
"I've actually been doing this... now I understand why it works."
That realization gave me more confidence than learning a brand-new strategy ever could.
Working alongside my clients has taught me far more than I often give myself credit for.
Every website update, blog strategy, system improvement, content plan, and problem I've helped solve has quietly been building my business knowledge.
VA Fest didn't replace those experiences.
It helped me connect them.
It helped me see where I can optimize, improve, and continue growing without feeling like I need to reinvent my business every time I learn something new.
My Biggest Takeaway From Day Two
Day One reminded me that becoming a successful entrepreneur starts with identity.
Day Two reminded me that strategy gives that identity somewhere to grow.
The sessions weren't about finding a magic formula.
They were about refining what already works, staying curious, and continuing to invest in becoming a better business owner.
I left this virtual assistant conference with practical ideas that I can begin implementing in both my business and my clients' businesses.
And to me, that's what makes a conference truly valuable.
Not the amount of notes you take.
But how much of what you learn actually changes the way you work.
This wraps up my Day Two experience at VA Fest, but if you haven't read Part One yet, I encourage you to start there first.
Read next: What I Learned at a Virtual Assistant Conference: Day One at VA Fest, where I share my biggest lessons on identity, leadership, confidence, and the power of the virtual assistant community before diving into the strategies that followed.
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