N’Gane Grandjean is the founder of NG’s Desk and provides Virtual Assistant services. She was born and raised in Paris, France and also lived in Victoria & Vancouver, BC, Canada for a few years. She is the proud mommy of two little girls and resides in Geneva, Switzerland.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I have always wanted to become an entrepreneur and to work for myself rather than for an employer. This desire became even stronger after the birth of my children so that I could have a more flexible schedule in order to spend more time with them.
Tell us about your business.
NG’s Desk is the name of my company and I offer Virtual Assistant services. I help entrepreneurs and small business owners, specializing in event and wedding planners, with a variety of tasks like administration, bookkeeping, travel arrangements and project management to name a few. Knowing that they often work alone, they can easily get overwhelmed with the numerous things that need to be done to keep their business running.
I am an independent contractor, so instead of hiring an employee, people can “hire” me on a set budget, which they can adjust depending on their needs without the overhead costs that come with employees. I am currently working on offering more services as well so stay tuned for that!
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I would like to offer 30% off the first month (with a 3 month minimum commitment) to all LadyBossBlogger readers. All you need to do is mention LadyBossBlogger when you get in touch with me to get the discount.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Administration & Business Management
- 8+ years of experience working as an Executive & Personal Assistant in the corporate world
Where is your business based?
I am based in Geneva, Switzerland, but being virtual, I can help and provide services to anyone regardless of location.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I did some research and joined a few Facebook groups for Virtual Assistants. After gathering all the information I needed, I created packages for my services and built my website. Some say you can start without a website, but for me it was very important. I find it easier to have visual support when you need to explain what you do, especially when people are not familiar with it at all.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
One of the most effective ways of raising awareness for my business has been to inform my close circle (family and friends) on what my business exactly entails. Once I did, I often got the answer “Oh I know someone who could use your services!”. I also made sure to use social media by joining Facebook groups where my target audience was hanging out and followed them on Instagram to interact with them.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
My biggest challenge so far has been getting my name out there.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I am still working on it and already have a few things planned, like networking events and this interview. Thanks, LadyBossBlogger!
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
Through tough times, I remind myself why I started this business and take a break if necessary. The quote “Winners never quit, and quitters never win” is my motivation.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I am bilingual in French and English, French being my mother tongue. I found that there are not that many VA’s who speak French. Also, I have lived and worked on both European and North American continents, which means that I am familiar with both working styles – which are very different. I consider this a strength to easily adapt to different types of clients.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Take your time, one step at the time, rather than rush. Like we say “Slowly but surely!”
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
The same thing I tell myself, never give up! If you are going through tough times, just take a break and pick up where you left off when you feel ready.
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
I love Dubsado. It is a Client Management System for creative entrepreneurs and suits any Virtual Assistant’s needs very well. I am also a pretty fan of Canva. With it, I can make beautiful and professional looking graphic designs. I usually create my initial design on Canva and when I am happy with it, I reproduce it on a more developed graphic design software (i.e. Illustrator) to make a high-resolution version.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I would love to learn about Sales Funnels and how to build Landing Pages so that I may offer this service to my clients. It is definitely on my “To Do List”.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
One of my goals for the next few months is to build a team of specialized VA’s with some specific skills in order to expand the range of what I can offer and then work as an Online Business Manager.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @ngsdesk
Facebook www.facebook.com/ngsdesk
Website www.ng-desk.com
Email hello@ng-desk.com