April Gayle Layno – Virtual Assistant, Podcast Editor

Hello, my name is April! I’m the firstborn child in the family and the official household manager. Being a household manager requires resilience, creativity, and resourcefulness. It’s a role I enjoy and I love doing domestic chores when I’m not in my flow state at work.

I studied Sociology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and initially aimed to become a researcher. Unexpectedly, my first full-time job was in the ESL (English as a Second Language) industry, and I kept growing in the field until I became a Team Lead. As I started to enjoy solving higher-level problems in the company, my desire for growth also increased, which led me to shift to the Virtual Executive Assistant field. The shift to remote work was a turning point because I realised how much time I’d allotted to my daily commute. Those precious time that I could’ve allotted to my family and friends, and to my personal development were spent on the road. However, just as with every other job, working remotely can be lonesome and it requires discipline and personal agency. These two skills are what I’ve developed through my experience as a Virtual Executive Assistant. I’ve also learned and honed other skills, especially in management and organisation.

Prior to my Executive Assistant job, I was already proficient in email and calendar management because these were tasks I already practiced. Working as an EA allowed me to have a holistic view of things and develop a long-term approach to solving problems. I’ve eventually taken the role of a podcast producer and a community manager, which were areas I didn’t imagine I would be diving into. The experiences and skills I developed made me understand that in this modern time, I can be anything as long as I have the willingness to learn and apply these learnings into actionable plans. I was also able to solidify my core values: integrity, dependability, and grit. This resonates with my university’s previous motto: Honor & Excellence, where honor comes first, then excellence.

I aspire to continue to learn and understand business operations and grow in this industry. Ultimately, my goal is to invest in local startups. As the startup scene in Southeast Asia emerges, I hope to be able to be involved in the scene and also create an impact in the local market. To be able to achieve that, I need to continuously develop professionally and personally and to continue to show up.

For a copy of April’s resume, please click here.