It is a usual Monday morning, and Alicia is busy gearing up for another demanding week. As a serial entrepreneur managing her thriving cosmetics business, it is quite normal for Alicia to juggle multiple tasks and almost always be on her toes. But today feels different — something is amiss.
Her phone has been buzzing back-to-back alerts, her meeting times have somehow overlapped, and most of her urgent reminders are missing!
Alicia is at her wit’s end. Already in panic mode, she reaches for her phone and calls Sarah, her trusted virtual personal assistant (VPA).
A calm and composed Sarah identifies the problem — an artificial intelligence (AI) scheduling tool malfunctioned. With Sarah’s help Alicia is soon back to her normal Monday routine activities.
But what did Sarah do so quickly to get Alicia back on track? Sarah went ahead and manually restructured Alicia’s day so her meetings could happen on time.
Are you wondering why in this age of advanced AI Alicia had to depend on her VPA Sarah, especially when AI can do almost everything for you?
To understand this let’s look at some numbers first.
Insights from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2024 AI Jobs Barometer highlight a shift in skills, with jobs requiring AI expertise growing 3.5 times faster than others. However, even though the presence of AI in every sphere cannot be denied, more than 57% of businesses continue to rely on human oversight for critical tasks.
What this means is, as an entrepreneur, you need to combine AI efficiency with human intuition to get the best results. The necessity of having human beings review, manage, or supervise tasks cannot be done way with altogether. AI alone cannot do much for you or your business without human intervention.
As 2025 nears, there’s buzz everywhere about AI taking over almost all aspects of our lives. In these changing times, entrepreneurs understand the role technology plays in shaping the growth and success of a business. But it is a savvy entrepreneur who values the role of a great VPA. You know that a personal assistant acts not just as a partner but also helps leverage both human ingenuity and AI advancements effectively.
To help you hire a remote personal assistant, say someone as efficient as Sarah, here is a list of 4 essential skills that your VPA should master in 2025.
1. AI and Automation Proficiency
It almost feels as if the world of business is racing at breakneck speed, powered by AI and automation. Things in 2025 are not going to be any different; if anything, they will be speedier.
So how can your trusted VPA keep up? By quickly adapting to new AI and automation tools. To be able to thrive in this AI-powered era, your VPA will need to be far more organized.
A few of the “secret weapons” that a modern VPA will require to learn will include the following:
- ChatGPT: Will help draft your emails, create relevant content, and provide instant customer support with a human-like touch.
- X.AI: A scheduling genius, this tool will ensure all your meetings are organized and none slip through the cracks.
- Crystal Knows: Uses AI insights to tailor communication that suit your clients’ unique personalities.
These tools will help your VPA assist you in streamlining your business operations and save you precious time and costs.
But there is a deeper transformation at play here. It’s not just about your VPA reducing errors, streamlining communication, and decreasing repetitive tasks. Your VPA is evolving from a task manager into a strategic partner in your business growth.
2. Tech-Savviness & Software Mastery
Working with a tech-savvy remote personal assistant is like having a superpower in your kitty. What you need is a VPA who brings a level of technological finesse to the work at hand. An assistant who can keep your tasks organized using a tool such as Asana, map out projects with the help of Trello, or use Zapier to automate workflows.
Here are a few more tech tools that VPAs will need to master in 2025:
- Monday.com: For tracking your deadlines and team tasks.
- Power Automate: To automate repetitive tasks such as email sorting and lead assignments.
- HubSpot or Salesforce: CRM tools that will help nurture client relationships.
Apart from being proficient in the above tools, your VPA will also have to adapt to your systems so they can be smoothly integrated into your workflow. It’s not just about catching up but also staying ahead — evolving alongside technology will be key for VPAs in 2025.
3. Social Media and Digital Marketing Expertise
Juggling your company’s social media, managing email campaigns, and spending hours charting your digital strategy while trying to grow your brand online is not easy. But what if you had a VPA step in and handle it all for you?
Right from crafting engaging content for your social media platforms to optimizing email campaigns, your personal assistant handles everything smoothly, leaving you free to focus on what you do best — leading your organization.
To keep your brand thriving in 2025 and beyond, your VPA must master the following tools:
- Hootsuite, Buffer, and Sprout Social for scheduling and managing all your social media content.
- SEO strategies to ensure your content is discoverable online.
- Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp to craft impactful campaigns and boost leads.
- Google Analytics to analyze performance and refine your social media strategies.
But it doesn’t stop here. Video content has been dominating online engagement and will continue to do so in 2025 too. Employing a VPA who is also a trained video editor and can use tools such as Capcut or Adobe Premier Pro can elevate your brand and make it connect with the world.
Simply knowing the above tools will not be enough. As algorithms evolve and become smarter, VPAs in 2025 will need to adapt and execute in real-time so they remain ahead in the social media game.
4. Adaptability and Learning Agility
Today’s business world is relentless — new trends emerge faster than ever and yesterday’s tools become old and obsolete by tomorrow. Which is why your VPA in 2025 needs to be a professional who is not just skilled but consistently adaptable. An expert who is ready to grow with the ever-shifting tech landscape.
In 2025, adaptability will not just be a trait – it will be a survival skill. The world values agility over complacency and VPAs showing willingness to embrace change will become indispensable.
Is your trusted VPA ready to master the nuances of automation tools and dive deep into learning digital marketing strategies? Here are a few ways your personal assistant can upgrade:
- Constantly upskill through platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare.
- Stay informed on the latest trends via industry blogs and expert panels.
- Embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth, turning challenges into victories.
But, again, the important question is not just whether your VPA is ready to adapt to the changing business world, but whether your remote personal assistant will help you adapt too. This is what will set them apart from the rest.
Leveraging AI, But Keeping It Human: The Dual Role of 2025’s VPA
You may already have a skilled VPA managing a ton of responsibilities but what you are also looking for is someone who can bring that “something extra”. An assistant who not only executes but also contributes to the growth and efficiency of your business.
When you hire a remote personal assistant what you need to look for is a resource who has the ability to partner with you at a strategic level, a VPA who can leverage AI expertise while also maintaining a human touch. An irreplaceable asset, just like Sarah is to Alicia.
