A practical, beginner-friendly crash course that helps you understand AI, automation, and modern tools without overwhelm — so you can work more strategically, add more value, and feel confident in client conversations.

Next live cohort: 3–6 March

Live Q&A: 10 March, 1pm (UK time)

Price: £99

Includes: Lifetime access · Quarterly updates · 1 month free in The Modern VA Academy (starts after the course ends)

All sessions are pre-recorded and released 1 week before the cohort begins, so you can work through them at your own pace.

The live cohort week is for momentum, community discussion, and accountability.

Spaces are capped at 30 to keep the cohort focused and ensure everyone receives proper attention during the live Q&A and discussions.

AI & Tech Crash Course (for VAs & OBMs)

What This Course Is

  • A structured crash course that teaches the core foundations every modern VA needs:

    What AI actually is (and isn’t)

    What automation really means (without the tech overwhelm)

    How to understand LLMs and prompting at a practical VA level

    How to navigate the tool landscape without tool overload

    How to stay safe, responsible, and within scope

    How to position AI & tech in your business (quietly or publicly)

    You’re not expected to become “super technical”.

    You’re expected to become AI & tech literate — informed enough to use modern tools responsibly and confidently.

  • “The whole course was just what I needed right now. It’s built my confidence and confirmed I’m heading in the right direction. You’ve given me a strong foundation to build on.”

    Nilu Bharj

  • “I feel empowered to continue learning. I recognise some of the content, yet still have more to learn which is great. The course has been presented in a way that is easy to follow and sparks inspiration.”

    — Cat Arthington

  • "I want to say a big thank you for this course.  I have really enjoyed it, and it was great for my confidence around AI etc. I knew more than I thought I did, but the way you explained things has made me much more confident to talk to my clients about it."

    — Caroline Wigham

  • “It makes more sense to me now how VAs can use AI as a tool to level up.”

    Tania Balderson

  • “I was concerned VA and admin roles could be taken over by AI, but that fear has been squashed. I now understand my value is in my experience and judgement — and AI can’t replace that.”

    Tania Balderson

  • “All of it was great. It was good to have it laid out in a way that was easy to understand — and to see it’s not such a scary landscape.”

    Michelle Diamond

Who This Course Is For

This is for you if you’re a VA or OBM who wants to:

  • Do more strategic, higher-value work

  • Earn more without working more hours

  • Future-proof your business by confidently using AI & tech

…but you currently feel:

  • Overwhelmed by the number of tools

  • Unsure where to start

  • Like you’re “not techy enough”

  • Nervous about what’s safe, responsible, or in-scope for you

If you want clarity and confidence (not complexity), you’re in the right place.

Who This Course Is Not For

This course is intentionally focused on foundations.

It’s not for you if:

  • You want to become an AI engineer, automation specialist, or developer

  • You want advanced builds (Make/Zapier systems, complex workflows, technical setup)

  • You’re already confidently selling AI/automation implementation as a paid service

  • You want deep technical training, coding-level detail, or tool-specific deep dives

  • You’re expecting a done-for-you setup rather than learning how to think and apply

This course prioritises understanding, boundaries, confidence, and practical application.

Explore our other courses if you're looking for something more advanced.

What You’ll Learn

  • Day 1: Foundations & Confidence

    You’ll reset your mindset and understand:

    What AI actually is (and isn’t)

    What automation really means

    The tech language clients are already using

    Why AI changes tasks — not your value

    You’ll finish Day 1 clearer, calmer, and far more confident.

  • Day 2: LLMs, Prompting & The Tool Landscape

    You’ll learn:

    What LLMs (like ChatGPT) are good at — and where they stop

    How to prompt clearly without getting overly technical

    How to think in tool categories (not tool overload)

    How to build a simple, sustainable personal tech stack

    This is about understanding — not collecting tools.

  • Day 3: Application, Boundaries & Positioning

    You’ll explore:

    How to audit your own workflows before touching a client’s

    Where AI can support your work safely

    What you are (and aren’t) responsible for

    When to refer

    How to position AI & tech confidently in your business

    This is where confidence turns into clarity.

  • Day 4: Reflection & Forward Momentum

    You’ll consolidate what you’ve learned and:

    Reflect on your progress

    Clarify your role in a tech-enabled world

    Create a simple next-step plan

    Lock in your identity as a modern, informed VA

    You’ll walk away with confidence in what you’re talking about, what you’re doing, and the direction you want to take next.

Meet Your Course Leader - Lara

This course is led by Lara Smith, founder of The Modern VA.

Lara is a tech-forward Virtual Assistant and Fractional Operations Partner with over 10 years’ experience supporting founders, CEOs, and scaling businesses behind the scenes.

After seeing how fast AI and automation were reshaping operations, she shifted her focus to helping VAs and OBMs modernise how they work — without becoming overly technical or overwhelmed.

  • Her approach is grounded and practical:

    • Clarity before tools

    • Processes before automation

    • Confidence before complexity

    She teaches assistants how to use AI, automation, and modern tech to increase their value, stay in demand, and step into more strategic work — while keeping people at the core of operations.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end of the crash course, you’ll have:

  • A clear understanding of AI, automation and modern tools (without jargon)

  • Confidence to talk about AI & tech with clients even if you’re not “techy”

  • A practical foundation in LLMs and prompting (VA-level, not technical)

  • A personal tech stack map so you know what you use and what you might explore next

  • A mini workflow audit so you can spot where support could help

  • An AI boundaries & responsibility statement you can use with clients

  • A client-facing positioning statement you can add to your website/proposals

Format & How It Works

  • Pre-recorded sessions released one week before the cohort starts

  • Designed to take around 1 hour per day

  • Every session includes clear, actionable tasks so you apply as you learn

  • Community discussion is most active across 3–6 March

  • Live Q&A with Lara on 10 March at 1pm UK time

  • Once you’ve completed the course, you can join future Q&A call

    Includes: Lifetime access · Quarterly updates · 1 month free in The Modern VA Academy (starts after the course ends)

Your Questions,

Answered

  • No. This course is designed for all levels. Whether you feel completely new to AI and tech or already use tools casually, the content builds foundations in layers so you can deepen your understanding without overwhelm.

  • The sessions are pre-recorded and released a week before the cohort. The cohort week is for momentum, community discussion, and accountability. There’s also a live Q&A within the cohort.

  • Designed to be completed with a daily commitment of around 1 hour across 4 days, followed by a live Q&A session.

  • Lifetime access, plus quarterly updates.

  • No — this is foundation-level training. You’ll learn what automation means, where it fits, and how to identify opportunities confidently, without becoming an implementer.

    If you’re interested in going deeper into advanced builds, we offer more specialised training separately.

  • Yes — the cohort community chat is active during the run, and you’ll have access to the live Q&A. After completing the course, you can join future Q&A calls.

  • Yes. This course is designed to remove overwhelm and help you understand what actually matters — without feeling behind.

    This isn’t about becoming a “tech VA.” It’s about understanding how the role is evolving and knowing what you need to stay confident, relevant, and informed.

Ready to feel confident with AI, tech and modern tools — without overwhelm?