After discovering the world of virtual assistance and enrolling in the GoThrive course, her life completely changed. Today she is a successful digital tools and monday.com specialist, helping entrepreneurs optimize their processes and enjoying work that fulfills her. In this interview, Nina reveals what her journey looked like, the challenges she faced, and how she built a career that now makes her happy and fulfilled.

Nina, before you decided on the GoThrive course, you worked as a cook. Can you describe your typical workday and what prompted you to change careers?

A day in the kitchen was extremely dynamic and physically demanding. It started early in the morning and the pace never let up until the end of the shift. The stress was enormous, and each day brought a new set of problems to solve on the fly. At one restaurant I worked from 8 AM until midnight so I could take the next day off. After years of that rhythm, I felt my energy and motivation slipping away. I knew I had so much more to offer and that I wanted a job where I could use my creativity and organizational skills in an environment that gave me more freedom and less stress.

When did you first hear about virtual assistance and the GoThrive course? Did you immediately recognize it was the right path for you?

I first heard about virtual assistance on social media, but at first I thought it was just a side interest. It wasn’t until I discovered the GoThrive course that something clicked and I decided to learn more. Initially, I assumed it was all about data entry and admin, but the more I studied, the clearer I saw it as a chance to build a real digital career. I slowly realized it was my way out of the kitchen into a world where my creativity and organizational talent could truly shine.

What were your biggest challenges at the start? Did you have fears, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was feeling like I was starting from zero in a totally new industry. Of course, I had fears—would I master all the tools? Would anyone take me seriously without formal digital education? But I decided to take it day by day. I learned, tested tools, did the assignments—and over time, as my knowledge grew, so did my confidence.

What was your biggest discovery during the course? Which modules or skills made the biggest impression on you?

My biggest discovery was monday.com. Even during the course I encountered it and it was love at first click. Everything I love—order, structure, logic—was right there. The mathematician in me immediately recognized its potential, but what really drew me was realizing that with a bit of creativity, monday.com can become the heartbeat of any business. I understood that this was my growth space, my specialty, and the tool through which I could create real value for clients. Today I proudly say that monday.com has become my trademark.

Mentorship support meant a lot to you—can you share a particular experience that helped you gain confidence in your new skills?

Mentorship support truly meant everything. I chose to complete extra tasks that weren’t required. I wanted to see how far I’d come and where I stood. When I submitted the extra assignments, I felt like I was waiting for a high school test result—I was nervous. Instead of corrections, my mentor, Katarina Zubatović, praised my work. That moment was a game changer—it was the first time I really understood my worth and the effort I’d invested. That click gave me the wind in my sails and the certainty that I could succeed in this industry.

When did you realize you were ready to find your first client? What was that moment like?

I first felt ready after creating a hospitality process automation as a demo. I knew I had the concrete skills, but I still worried—could I transfer that knowledge to real client work? When my first client came, it was a mix of excitement and fear, a test of everything I’d learned. That experience was pivotal—working with that client proved to me that I really knew what I was doing, and with that realization came solid confidence in my abilities.

Today you specialize in monday.com and help clients optimize their processes. How did you arrive at that specialization, and what do you love most about the work?

During the course I had the chance to work with monday.com and was instantly drawn to its structure and logic. As I mentioned, the mathematician in me loved its order. When we had the opportunity for free certification, I jumped at it and dove deeply into everything monday.com offers. Through that process, I saw how that tool can transform businesses and simplify daily tasks for entrepreneurs, which motivated me to specialize in monday.com.

How does your typical workday look now compared to before the course?

Now my day starts with coffee at my home workspace. I choose my own hours, which gives me incredible freedom. Most of my time is spent communicating with clients, setting up systems, and training teams on how to get the most from monday.com. There’s no longer physical exhaustion or stress, and my work fulfills me because I see the concrete results of my efforts.

What advice would you give someone considering becoming a virtual assistant?

Don’t wait for the perfect moment—it doesn’t exist. Start exploring, learning, testing tools, and identifying your strengths. With the right knowledge and support, anything is possible.

What message would you send to people who are unhappy in their current job but afraid to take the first step toward change?

Change is scary, but staying stuck where you’re unhappy is even worse. You don’t need to know everything upfront—just take the first step. Each one after that gets easier.

What are your next goals—do you have plans for further training or business expansion?

My goals grow with me. monday.com is my tool, but my vision goes much further. I want to become the person who teaches small entrepreneurs to love systems, organization, and processes—because once you manage your business with ease, true freedom follows, which is why many of us become entrepreneurs in the first place. I plan to earn more certifications to ensure I deliver top-tier knowledge to clients, and I dream of leading my own mini-training sessions. I see myself working with larger teams and startups, building systems from the ground up. That’s why I enrolled in the OBM program—I believe continuous learning is the key to every success.

Nina is living proof that a major career change is possible, even when it seems like a huge leap into the unknown. Her story can inspire anyone who feels stuck in a job that no longer fulfills them but hasn’t yet mustered the courage to take the first step.

With the right support, quality knowledge, and a decision to move forward, anything is possible. Today Nina not only does what she loves but also helps others improve their operations and boost their productivity with her skills.

If you’re considering a career change and want to find your path in the world of virtual assistance, maybe Nina’s example will give you that extra dose of motivation and encouragement to take your first step toward a career that fulfills you.