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Welcome to our definitive review for The VA Foundry’s Scale It Mastermind.
The Scale It Mastermind is a platform for experienced virtual assistants, created by Samantha Browne and Jo Jensen of The VA Foundry.
(Btw, this program was formerly known as The VA Foundry Members Club.)
My team and I signed up for the training and researched it thoroughly.
(Have you taken this course? Add your rating!)
If you’re eager to learn…
Then you’ve come to the right place.
Hey, I’m Niall Doherty.
I quit my last 9-to-5 job back in 2010.
Since then, I’ve earned my living online in various ways. Over the last 4 years (through 2023) I’ve earned $842,000 from my laptop.
I’m on a mission to accurately rate and review all the best online business courses. My team and I are spending many hours investigating these courses and getting feedback from real students.
All that to say: we know a thing or two about such courses and making money online.
We’re on a mission to find the best virtual assistant course, based on our own extensive research plus feedback from real students.
The Scale It Mastermind is one of the best VA courses we’ve seen…
This program aims to help you become a better and more successful virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant is someone who works online, helping another person or business with various tasks (eg. email management, data entry, customer service, etc).
As Sam and Jo write on the course sales page…
We’re here to show you our proven method to scale a thriving virtual assistant business.
With expert coaching, a library of templates, videos, checklists, and worksheets – we share everything we’ve used to build our own successful VA businesses.
Get our support and that of a tight-knit group of global VAs so you’ll never feel like you’re doing this alone.
Note that Sam and Jo also have a course more geared towards beginner VA’s: Launch In 30 Days.
The Scale It Mastermind sells itself as a platform for experienced virtual assistants that are looking to take their career or business to the next level…
Having seen inside the training, I tend to agree: it’s mostly focused on more advanced topics, but there are also tips on more fundamental things like website creation and hosting.
Also, I’m pretty sure it’s mainly intended for women, as one of the stages is named “Boss Babe.”
Yes.
During my research of Sam and Jo – as well as the Mastermind – I only found praise for the training and its creators.
They both apparently have ~20 years of personal assistant experience and now lead their own virtual assistant businesses.
Samantha founded The Virtual Assistant Network of New Zealand in 2019. Jo started her VA company, Strictly Savvy, in 2012, and launched The VA Foundry in 2017.
The sales page says about Jo…
In fact, [growing a team] is one of Jo’s areas of expertise. Over the past 10 years, Jo has grown her 7 figure VA agency to a team of over 30.
Sam and Jo also run a blog on The VA Foundry and have their own podcast, where they discuss trending virtual assistant topics.
Here’s an episode from their podcast so you can get a feel for their style…
Browse through the VA Foundry website and you’ll find no shortage of student testimonials.
For example…
Such testimonials speak to results achieved, but only generally. I would have hoped to see more specifics, such as the number of clients secured or income generated. It’s also unclear how old the testimonials are.
I didn’t manage to find any testimonials outside of the official websites. Nevertheless, it looks to me like the training proves effective for most people who follow it consistently.
There are monthly and yearly payment options for The VA Foundry Scale It Mastermind…
You essentially get 2 months free if you opt for the yearly payment.
You can cancel your membership at any time.
There are some additional expenses, mainly related to scaling your business. These depend on the direction you take; e.g. for a domain and hosting for your website, growing a team, or SEO and paid ads.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see any “heads up” about such expenses on the sales page 😕
I’ve looked everywhere for any discount or coupon code, but it’s been fruitless.
Seems the total cost needs to be covered for access.
The terms page for the Mastermind specifies a 30 day pro-rata refund policy…
The company may, in its sole discretion, refund the initial fee charged for any use of the site and/or any content or a pro-rata portion thereof consistent with the company’s refund policy. The company shall refuse any refund thirty (30) days after your payment for use of the site and/or any content, either pursuant to the company’s customer license agreement or otherwise, regardless of the reason for disruption.
In other words, if you cancel your Mastermind subscription in the first 30 days, you’ll be refunded for the days of the first month that you haven’t used yet.
I haven’t seen anyone reporting issues getting a refund on their purchase, so you can rest easy with this guarantee.
Here’s what the training looks like once you log in and open one of the lessons…
The core training is broken up into six stages which are further split into steps.
There are about 160 lessons in total. Most of them are text only, and some have videos with just a few lines of text. The videos vary greatly in length, from several minutes to more than an hour.
I found the training to be comprehensive, tons of info in there. I also found the training is easy to navigate thanks to an awesome search function.
Some of the videos are just “talking heads,” which I’m not a big fan of. But there always seem to be at least slides in front, with Sam and Jo talking in the background. And there are plenty of screencasts as well.
Scale It Mastermind also has weekly Facebook live calls and monthly group sessions. Together with well-designed worksheets and templates, I found all these to be a nice value-add.
Finally, there’s also a Facebook group for Mastermind students. It looks quite active despite few members…
A few things to like about The VA Foundry Scale It Mastermind…
Some knocks on The VA Foundry Scale It Mastermind…
Scale It Mastermind looks like one of the better virtual assistant programs out there, and with a subscription-based model it’s fairly inexpensive to start.
The training is mostly intended for experienced VAs. But there’s so much inside that I believe it’s also a solid choice for newer virtual assistants.
We’re on a mission to find the best “make money online” course, based on real student feedback and our extensive research.
Here’s our top 5…
Becoming a part of the VA Foundry Mastermind in 2020 has proven to be the secret sauce that has infused my VA journey with much-needed support, structure, and an electrifying sense of connection. It has been a game-changer, not just for me but also for my mindset and business as a whole.
Scale It isn’t content with simply nudging us; it’s more like a rocket that propels us out of our comfort zones. The inspiration it provides ensures that we remain at the forefront of our industry, always ready to seize fresh opportunities for growth and knowledge.
Sam and Jo, the dynamic duo behind Scale It, are ever-present instructors, readily accessible to answer our questions, provide invaluable insights, and navigate the ups and downs that come with being a part of this vibrant VA community.
Scale It encourages us all to push beyond our known limits, guardians of VA knowledge who exude fun and enjoyment from their business vibes!
From the moment I joined and got introduced to the rest of the community I felt like I was part of a team. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful to my first batch of questions I asked!
The course itself is set out perfectly with how I like to learn. Small, easy chunks that walk you through step-by-step actions that you need to take. I had already set up my business, but I was starting out and still found things I had missed or maybe not even thought of.
The monthly challenges really help push you out of your comfort zone. If I had been left to my own devices, I wouldn’t have done some of them! The group coaching calls are so invaluable.
The Facebook group is super supportive and responsive. The resources in the course are high quality, and every stage of your business has been covered.
My business would not have grown as quickly without investing in this course. Its pushed me to be better, quicker and made me feel like I’m still part of a team even though I’m a freelancer.
This reviewer has a business relationship with the course creator or a competitor. Not included in overall ratings. Learn more.
I joined the Mastermind a few years ago when I was just starting out as a VA.
While there is an incredible library of content that shows you step by step how to set up and grow a successful business, I have found most value in the online community and monthly training offered through the private Facebook group.
Sam and Jo continue to be amazing mentors. It honestly feels like you have a personal squad of cheerleaders behind your back ready to help you tackle anything the business world throws at you.
This reviewer has a business relationship with the course creator or a competitor. Not included in overall ratings. Learn more.
In this course, you ultimately gain access to the blueprint for establishing a Virtual Assistant business. The treasure trove that is the VA Foundry encompasses a wealth of valuable knowledge, resources, and skills.
This vibrant community instructs you on the “how” and vividly demonstrates the “how” through practical examples. Even when you begin to feel confident in your understanding, this community consistently provides opportunities for personal growth within its supportive environment.
From refining your business through constructive feedback to fostering self-improvement, these pivotal steps collectively contribute to your advancement in an industry that prioritizes community over competition.
I willingly invest in the monthly subscription because the heart of my learning experience and ongoing engagement lives within the Facebook group, where I continually absorb wisdom from these remarkable individuals.
This reviewer has a business relationship with the course creator or a competitor. Not included in overall ratings. Learn more.
I joined The VA Foundry Members Club before I started as a Virtual Assistant. The content was invaluable for getting my business up and running, and the resources are amazingly useful.
One of the best things for me is the support from Jo and Sam and the fantastic community. Because it’s a close-knit group, you get personalized advice and accountability and become firm friends with the other VAs. You can ask questions and reliably receive useful answers, recommendations, and feedback. As we are in a largely remote-working industry, this personal contact on a daily and weekly basis makes all the difference.
Thanks to the support and content in the VA Foundry, I landed my first major client within 4 weeks of launching my business. I was fully booked within a few months. I have clarity about my pricing and my worth. This has seen my monthly income nearly match what I was earning when being a full-time employee and helped me ensure I’m only working with the right clients for me.
Eighteen months into my business journey, I’m still a VA Foundry member. Now I’m using their support to grow my team! I’m excited about the direction my business is growing, and I look forward to being a Foundry member for yet a while.
I joined The VA Foundry Members Club on the first day of starting my business. I had absolutely no clue where to start, what to do to get clients and get paid for my services, or knowing how much to charge! Now I feel confident in having client calls and onboarding new clients. My first year of business ended up much better than I first thought.
The other side of the coin is that this is a fabulous group of people. The support is there for you when needed. I think everyone has dipped in their confidence since starting this course. Also, I know that I can always find advice there if I need it, or just a nice comment to get going.
I highly recommend this group.
Joining the VA Foundry Members Club was without a doubt one of the best things I have ever done for myself. My only regret is not doing it sooner!
After the first lockdown in New Zealand, I found myself disillusioned, disenchanted, and disengaged with my corporate Executive Assistant (EA) role. I was looking for more freedom and flexibility in both my personal and professional life. I knew I wanted more from life than the typical 9-5 role.
I discovered the VA Foundry during my frequent internet searches for ‘remote working’ and ‘virtual assistant’. I downloaded the free resources and then purchased a ticket for the VA Foundry Online Summit. I was completely inspired by the level of expertise and information that was available. I knew that being a Virtual Assistant was what I needed to do and that the VA Foundry was where I needed to be.
I joined their Members Club and was blown away by the amount of information that was available. There are step-by-step and how-to guides for every level of your VA business – from setting up and getting started, right through to scaling and growing your existing business.
I have been running my own VA business for 19 months and I haven’t looked back. I specialize in Executive Assistant services and have several long-term clients. Recently I onboarded a new client, so I am at my chosen capacity for clients. Now I work fewer hours and make more money than during my employment as a corporate EA (my salary was top tier back then). In February this year, I had my highest-grossing month ever and am on track to have my best financial year.
I cannot recommend the VA Foundry highly enough! Whether you are starting, or whether you have an existing VA business and looking to level up, you will find all the resources you need here.
Sam and Jo are inspirational, approachable, open, honest, funny, and extremely knowledgeable women. They truly have your back and invest in you and your business. I am proud to call them both friends and will forever be grateful to them for all the help, advice, and support they have given me. They have truly changed my life.
This course has helped me in taking the appropriate steps to become a fully booked VA within 1 year. The support, guidance, and resources have been amazing in assisting me on my journey to becoming successful. I am now reaching my monthly financial goals and have replaced my 9-5 income since starting my VA business.
The Mastermind Club is a very supportive VA group, and you can always get advice no matter how big or small your query may be. The coaches are easy to reach out to and they care about your success and reaching your goals.
I am so pleased to be a member of the VA Foundry Members Club. Sam and Jo are amazing at what they do. I was a bit lost with my business when I signed up for the course, but now I feel a part of a wonderful community in which we all support and encourage each other. Since becoming a member, I have grown in confidence with my business, and I have also more than doubled my clients and income.
I very much enjoy the monthly topics which we can dig deep into. I also love the Facebook group, the weekly live sessions, and monthly group coaching calls.
This course was instrumental to my decision to niche into a specialized area. Previously I was trying to do all the things and be everything to everyone. Jo and Sam are very generous with their time. Thanks to their support and guidance, I was able to go from having very few clients to a more streamlined business where I’m now often fully booked with clients.
I love the wonderful community in this group and how everyone is willing to help each other. One of my favorite events is the coaching calls where we can talk on Zoom about any issues we are having. Sam & Jo, and the others on the call, can help and we can also learn from these conversations.
Being a VA and working from home can be lonely at times, but having this amazing community that always has your back is invaluable. It’s great to hop into the group at any time and start up a conversation.
Totally worth the investment.
I absolutely have to give full credit to the VA Foundry Members Club course for walking me through the setup of my freelance VA business. The support and encouragement from not only the coaches, but the full community in the course are exceptional. I didn’t know anything about being a Virtual Assistant and now I am a fully booked VA thanks to the support and information from this training.
This reviewer has a business relationship with the course creator or a competitor. Not included in overall ratings. Learn more.
I’ve been a part of the VA Foundry Members Club for a couple of years now and honestly, I don’t foresee myself leaving. Sam and Jo have a wealth of experience and knowledge, all of which you’ll find in the vault of lessons, in the FB group, and from all of the live coaching lessons each month.
Sam and Jo have built a community of exceptional virtual assistants at all stages of their journey. Within this community not only do you get their expertise, but the expertise of your fellow VAs.
Having implemented many of the strategies outlined in this course, I have successfully signed up ongoing and project clients. I have created successes and am looking forward to what else my future will hold.
Joining The VA Foundry’s Members Club was the very first investment I made into business coaching. It is the best money I have spent on my business to date. Sam and Jo are insightful, and generous with their knowledge while the steps are implementable and easy to follow. The key is to take action and implement what they teach!
I was fully booked 3.5 months after joining the course and 6 months later I won two industry awards. I truly believe The VA Foundry equipped me with the knowledge and skills I needed to be successful.
I enrolled in the Members Club Mastermind when I was first considering becoming a Virtual Assistant. The thought of leaving secure full-time employment to become self-employed was extremely scary. Therefore, I was looking to read as much as I could to set myself up for success. Whilst researching, I came across this course, I enrolled and have never looked back.
Soon after joining the Members Club, I started my VA business and found a few clients to work for outside of business hours. This work quickly increased, so I needed to decide whether to leave my 9-5 and go all in on my Virtual Assistant business. I took the plunge. Within 3 weeks of leaving full-time employment, I was fully booked. Now two years later, I have 4 sub-contractors working for me.
I truly believe that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and guidance of this course. I have had Sam & Jo, and the other members, cheering and supporting me every step of the way. It is such a wonderful community of like-minded people, all striving to make a success of our businesses. We celebrate wins together and we also support each other when things might not go to plan.
The content within the Members Club Mastermind is the gold standard. It guides you through every aspect of starting and maintaining a thriving virtual assistant business. Even 2 years later, I still access the content. The regular coaching calls are a bonus tailored to suit everyone, no matter where you are on your journey. They gave me the confidence to niche my services to a particular industry that I am passionate about. This means that every day I am turning up to work and doing something I truly enjoy.
I was in the course for approximately 6 months before becoming fully booked and replacing my 9-5 income. I went from having a few clients to now having 19 clients! Thanks to specializing my business and niching down, I obtained clients that I truly love working with, thus enjoying my job.
I have also scaled from being a freelancer to an agency in the space of a couple of years. My team of 6 people (soon to be 7) is currently showing as 100% productive on all client billable work. Also, my lead conversions are way higher percentage-wise.
The advice I get from both VA Foundry coaches and community is outstanding and everyone is so supportive. I feel we get personalized support along with great group support. The coaching calls are excellent. They answer my questions directly and help me and others in the business.