With my last $5,000, I took a leap of faith in starting my first business and now I have a business that runs itself.
Hi, my name is Linh Podetti. I’m the CEO and Founder of Outsourcing Angel and this is my personal journey of growing my first venture into the 7-figure remote business that it is today.
Together, I’ll take you through the challenges and breakthrough moments that molded my path towards scaling my business.
As business owners, it’s really about how you free yourself up from your business and have a lifestyle for yourself.
Linh Podetti, CEO & Founder
1992
Migrating to Australia in search for a better life
I was born and raised in Vietnam, but when I was 9, my family migrated to Australia for a shot at a better life.
My childhood was tough. I grew up with strict and controlling parents, which led me to rebel and become pregnant at the age of 19.
As a result, I was disowned by my family and became a broke single mom with no financial or emotional support.
My search for Freedom
Despite all the challenges thrown at me, I managed to graduate from university and secure a “safe” 9-to-5 corporate job.
However, deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this repetitive work and time away from my son didn’t align with what truly mattered to me.
Above all else, I yearned for freedom.
I craved the time to pursue my passions and be there for my son. Flexibility to live life on my own terms was what I truly wanted.
2009
From corporate life to business owner
Despite being a broke single mum in my 20s, I took a leap of faith and bid farewell to my day job, using my last $5,000 to start a nail polish business.
At first, I believed that simply having a website would attract customers, but I soon learned otherwise. I had to teach myself everything, from marketing and SEO to email marketing and more.
Recognising my lack of technical expertise, I turned to outsourcing and found skilled overseas Virtual Assistants (VAs) to implement the work for me.
Although the nail polish business wasn’t my passion, I didn’t give up on entrepreneurship. I sold the venture and moved on.
Leveraging the knowledge and experience gained from my previous business, I founded a successful marketing agency in 2011 called Red & Black Solutions.
2011
First trials in outsourcing
As a beginner to outsourcing, I was burned multiple times: I got scammed and ghosted by candidates, and a lot of the time, things felt too transactional.
One moment I had a VA, the next they were gone!
But I was determined to find the best team. Through all my trials and errors, I developed a rock-solid VA interview and recruitment process. Once I put it into action, I attracted some incredibly talented VAs.
I also discovered my ability to cultivate a strong workplace culture that kept my remote employees loyal and motivated.
We had regular meaningful catch-ups, virtual celebrations, and employee bonuses, and I felt connected to their Filipino traits and values.
Why Filipino VAs?
When I first started outsourcing, I didn’t just need skilled help—I needed a reliable team in my journey who truly cared about the work they did. That’s when I discovered the incredible talent and heart of Filipino virtual assistants.
Filipinos are not only fluent in English and highly skilled. They also possess values that resonate deeply with me: family, loyalty, and integrity. These traits are a way of life for many Filipinos, and they reminded me of the values I wanted to build my company on.
But what struck me the most was the impact I could make.
2013
Increasing my purpose
By hiring Filipino VAs, I wasn’t just getting help with my business. I was also providing meaningful opportunities to those who need it.
In the Philippines, long hours commuting to work can take precious time away from family. I know what it feels like to crave more time with loved ones, and being able to give them the flexibility to work from home is something I’m truly proud of.
But I wanted to do more. That’s why I decided to give 10% of our profits every month to charity.
Through these contributions, we’re able to support remote communities in the Philippines by providing clean running water, installing solar panels, and offering assistance during devastating floods.
Knowing that our business can create a ripple effect of positive change—both for our team and their communities—gave me a deeper sense of purpose and fulfilment.
A gap in the market
With a fully remote and purposeful team of VAs, I found my true passion and made my mark in the world of outsourcing.
I started networking and meeting other business owners who were fascinated by my remote business setup.
I’d try to explain how I built such a great virtual assistant team, but most business owners would say to me, “Oh, that sounds difficult. Can you do it for me?“
2015
The birth of Outsourcing Angel
Having successfully built a team of Virtual Assistants for my own company, I decided to extend my expertise to other business owners.
That’s how I transformed my marketing agency into a recruitment agency. I named it Outsourcing Angel.
My mission was clear—to save business owners’ valuable time by preventing them from making the same mistakes I did when it came to recruiting and managing VAs from overseas.
My mistakes taught me invaluable skills and insights, which enabled me to master the art of effective outsourcing and build a thriving remote team.
2023
We kept growing and spreading freedom
What started as just a handful of virtual assistants has grown into a thriving company with over 80+ skilled VAs in the Philippines. Alongside them, we’ve built multiple internal departments staffed by talented individuals from Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sweden.
Over the years, our VAs helped more than 500 business owners save 20+ hours per week, freeing them to focus on scaling their businesses and spending more time on what truly matters to them.
But our growth isn’t just about numbers. We continued our monthly tradition of charity initiatives in the Philippines, and we’ve provided resources like food, school supplies, and community infrastructure thanks to our long-term volunteer partners.
As a company, we’re making a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.
Today
An outsourcing business that runs itself
From having to oversee things every day and having to do everything on my own, I have finally reached a point where I can step back and enjoy my newfound freedom.
Thanks to my capable team and the systems we have built, I could even remove myself from the day-to-day running of the business.
I take immense pride in having created a meaningful business that now allows me to live intentionally. I now have the freedom to focus on what I truly love, such as spending time with my family and exploring the world.
And you know what? I want the same for you!
The problems and solutions I shared here are examples of what we can do for you.
We are more than just a VA hiring company, we help you scale your business through consultations from our in-house experts and proper delegation to a skilled VA you can trust. All while giving back to those in need!
Let us help you experience the freedom and fulfilment of running a successful business while enjoying the things you love most.
Run a 7-figure business without working 24/7.
Book a Discovery Call today and hire expertly trained VAs to support your business.
