Sunshine Coast mum Sara Reyes turns Covid-19 redundancy into a successful PA business

A mum who was made redundant at 28 weeks’ pregnant has completely turned it around.

Sara, Tim, Mila, and Levi Reyes. Picture - contributed.

A Sunshine Coast mother has shared how she went from being sacked at 28 weeks’ pregnant with her first child during the Covid-19 pandemic to running her own successful business with two young children.

Sara Reyes, 32, of Buderim, said her redundancy was a blessing in disguise.

She now owns a successful virtual personal assistant business boasting multimillion-dollar clients.

About four years ago, while pregnant with her first child, Mrs Reyes got the life-changing news she was out of a job.

Sara Reyes. Picture: Contributed.

“I was devastated, overwhelmed and scared,” she said.

“I’d never been through a pandemic before and there was so much uncertainty in the world.

“I told myself it was okay to be upset but I also knew I had to do something about it.”

Mrs Reyes had worked in the corporate world for 14 years and always thought it provided stability.

“Looking back it was actually the best thing that ever happened,” she said.

“It was the push I needed to step out on my own.

“At first it was really hard. I couldn’t find another job despite my experience. Everyone was getting laid off.”

The dedicated businesswoman reached out to contacts and previous clients she had worked for as a personal assistant and in other roles.

She offered her virtual assistant service.

Sara, Tim, Mila, and Levi Reyes. Picture: Contributed.

“I became fully booked out within four weeks,” Mrs Reyes said.

“I worked right up until having my daughter Mila (now four). She was two weeks late.”

Mrs Reyes said she always dreamt of being her own boss but thought it was an out-of-reach fantasy.

“I thought my corporate job was my stability but I was wrong,” she said.

“I learnt the hard way that it doesn’t matter how good you are you’re always disposable.

“It’s never as stable as you think. You can’t just rely on others. You’ve got to take matters into your own hands.

“Now my business is my stability. It’s more stable than working corporate ever was. If I want to earn more I work more and if I want time off I take it. I’m in control and in charge.”

Buderim mum of two and business owner Sara Reyes. Picture: Contributed.

Her business, Assist by Sara, has just been announced as the runner-up of the VA (virtual assistant) category in the 2024 AusMumpreneur Awards at a glamorous gala dinner in Melbourne.

Mrs Reyes assists multimillion-dollar business owners and entrepreneurs with high-level support.

Sara, Tim, Mila, and Levi Reyes. Picture – contributed.

As a successful six-figure business owner herself, Mrs Reyes understands the challenges and aspirations of entrepreneurship.

She also offers coaching services, empowering women and in particular mothers to navigate the professional VA world with confidence.

She also employs two other Sunshine Coast mothers under her business.

“My advice to other working mums is consider what you want and just go after it,” Mrs Reyes said.

“If you want to start a business just do it. What’s the worst that’s going to happen really. You’ve got to put yourself out there and give it a go.

“Otherwise you’ll always be left working for something else and wondering what if you’d gone out on your own.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast mum Sara Reyes turns Covid-19 redundancy into a successful PA business