BEYOND VIRTUAL

A day in March 2020, one that we’ll never forget… the world suddenly changed. It shut down overnight, and everyone’s routines changed without notice.

While many saw calamity, we saw the ultimate opportunity. The VA Group perfectly rode that virtual wave, becoming the lifeline for executives drowning in chaos.

But here’s what I didn’t see coming: AI’s abrupt revolution.

I’ll never forget the morning in early 2023 when one of our top-performing VAs, Maaz, had some concerns that kept me up for days. “Shane,” he said, “my client just asked if ChatGPT could do what I do for far less than a third of the cost. What do I tell him?”

That question caught me off guard and hit me like a car running at 200 mph. I then realized that we’d survive one revolution only to find ourselves staring down another. But this time, the challenge wasn’t about going virtual, it was about proving human value in an AI-becoming world.

That quick talk with Maaz became the catalyst for the biggest transformation yet in our company’s history. It forced us to ask: How do we not just survive AI, but thrive alongside it?

The answer? TVAG University.

Feature Story

TVAG UNIVERSITY: OUR ANSWER TO THE AI REVOLUTION

This was our approach to building TVAG University.

After countless hours of research, collecting data, and trial and error, we finally started empowering our VAs with AI knowledge. And with how rapid AI is changing, we’re still in the process of keeping pace.

Curriculum Design For AI-Human Collaboration

We didn’t just add “AI modules” to our trainings; we completely reimagined what modern virtual assistance would be like. Our curriculum focuses on three core pillars

• AI Tool Mastery: Teaching our VAs to leverage AI for research, analysis, and automation

• Strategic Thinking: Developing the uniquely human skills that AI cannot replicate

• Client Partnership: We’re positioning our VAs as AI implementation advisors, not just task executors

Here’s the thing about AI’s evolution, and I know everyone’s tired of hearing about it, it progresses faster than we can blink. With weekly updates from major players such as OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Grok AI, we implemented a learning ecosystem that adapts in real-time, releasing new modules as tools emerge and client needs evolve.

The outcome after we started TVAG University?

Our clients have been thrilled. Some are asking for increased hours with our VAs, and we're getting referrals left and right.

"We want an AI-savvy VA too!" has become our favorite thing to hear from prospects.

Visionary Voices

FROM TRADITIONAL VA TO AI-POWERED SEO STRATEGIST

When Maaz joined The VA Group months ago, he was like most virtual assistants—excellent at what he does but a little unfamiliar with AI tools. Today, he’s earning 5-star Google reviews mentioning his “innovative approach” and “strategic thinking”.

Maaz came to us as an SEO specialist with years of web development experience. He could build SEO-friendly websites from scratch and understood the best strategies available in the market. But like most digital marketers, he was constrained by time-intensive manual processes. Great expertise, but limited scalability.

The TVAG University Evolution

When Maaz entered our AI-collaboration program, his entire approach to SEO and digital marketing went up to the next level!

Now, his toolkit includes:

• Jasper for AI-assisted content creation that helps with his content strategy beyond what manual writing could achieve.

• Pictory for converting long-form content into high-converting videos that ramp up organic traffic and dominate search results.

• Advanced Ahrefs integration for competitor and keyword analysis to find the gaps and opportunities missed by competitors.

• GoHighLevel automation for funnel creation and lead generation that works even when he’s off.

• Automated transcription and workflow tools that free him to focus on strategy rather than execution.

Now, Maaz doesn’t just do SEO! He creates comprehensive digital ecosystems that earned him those 5-star reviews. His AI-enhanced approach has tripled the organic traffic for his clients while reducing the content production by a significant amount.

I’m not saying his newly found success is just because of AI; he also poured in hard work to learn the new tools. And with TVAG University at his aid, his years of experience combined helped him deliver the best output possible!

Maaz embodies exactly what TVAG University was designed to create: professionals who don’t compete with AI, but leverage it to become strategically indispensable in ways that pure AI or traditional approaches never could achieve alone.

Looking for more AI tools? Check this out futuretools.io

The Trend

WHY UPSKILLING WITH AI TOOLS IS THE NEW COMPETITION

It’s no surprise that companies across all industries are scrambling to adapt to the modern world. Some are throwing basic AI workshops at their teams and calling it transformation, while others are burying their heads in the sand, hoping they’ll stay relevant.

But the smart companies are doing so much more. They’re treating AI upskilling like the fundamental business shift it actually is!

Companies that are adapting and winning:

• Building comprehensive AI training programs (like we did with TVAG University)

• Positioning their employees as AI implementation advisors

• Creating new service offerings that leverage AI tools

• Developing premium pricing strategies for AI-enhanced services (like our AI agent, Chloe)

Companies falling behind:

• Treating AI as a threat rather than an opportunity

• Offering the same services at lower prices to compete

• Losing clients to more technologically advanced competitors

• Experiencing higher employee turnover as skill team members leave for companies embracing AI

Honestly? The data’s right there, and we can’t deny how beneficial AI has been. Even from big players like McKinsey and Microsoft, AI is substantially boosting productivity [2][3]. And because of how serious we are with adapting to AI, our VAs are now completely ditching the boring routine stuff, and actually focusing on higher-value work that needs real human smarts and capabilities.

Just to give you a gist of what’s going on with the VA world right now, here’s the client expectations from then vs. now:

What Clients Used to Need:

• Email management and scheduling

• Basic research and data entry

• Travel arrangements and administrative support

• Reactive task completion

What Clients Demand Now:

• AI workflow setup and optimization

• Data analysis and strategic insights

• Process automation and efficiency consulting

• Proactive problem-solving using AI tools

A Final Note

TVAG University isn’t just our response to industry change; it’s our bet on the future of human potential. At The VA Group, we believe that when humans and AI work together effectively, both become exponentially more valuable.

But what keeps me genuinely excited is that we’re developing the next generation of strategic partners who happen to be virtually located. We’re creating professionals who can think strategically, implement technologically, and connect humanly, not just training VAs to use AI tools.

For our VAs? The future has never been brighter. They’re not competing with AI, but growing alongside it; to build a more progressive future.

Until next time,

Sources

1. CDC Museum COVID-19 Timeline

2. Economic potential of generative AI | McKinsey

3. 2025: The year the Frontier Firm is born