We recently spoke to Kate Skelton, a dedicated SmartPA Partner, about her journey with SmartPA and the invaluable impact she has on her clients. She joined in 2020 and officially launched in 2021. Let's dive in!
How did you first hear about SmartPA?
I joined SmartPA during a pivotal moment in my life. After my marriage ended very suddenly, I was only working part-time and vowed to become financially independent. My biggest motivation was to support my daughter’s dream of studying at university, and I knew I needed a sustainable and flexible career to make that happen. SmartPA offered me the perfect opportunity to take control of my future.
Why did you choose to join SmartPA?
Work-life balance was a high priority for me. Having previously commuted up to three hours each workday for a minimum wage role, I knew that working from home was the best option for me. I had the self-motivation to make it work, and I was confident that I could truly make a difference to clients by bringing a sense of reliability to their world - a ‘safe’ pair of hands and an ‘I can absolutely help with that’ attitude.
Could you briefly describe your journey since becoming a SmartPA?
My journey with SmartPA has been incredibly rewarding. At the start, I took on a mix of COE support work and partner work. However, I quickly became very busy and decided to focus primarily on COE support and my bonus client. Over time, I built strong relationships, and many of my clients have stayed with me for years.
One of my longest-standing clients, Nurole, has been with SmartPA since we first started supporting them in 2021. Currently, I’m providing full-time dedicated support for them, covering a colleague’s maternity leave.
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest struggles has been imposter syndrome, and honestly, I still experience it. I’m naturally quite introverted and painfully shy, which has made networking particularly challenging. However, I’ve learned to push myself outside of my comfort zone and focus on the value I bring to my clients. Over time, I’ve gained confidence and found ways to connect with others in a way that feels authentic to me.
What impact do you feel you've had on your clients so far?
Retaining long-term clients has been one of my greatest achievements. I believe the key to this is being fully accountable, especially when mistakes happen. We all make them! What matters most is how you handle them. I always ensure that I show up, listen to my clients, and demonstrate a willingness to help. One of the biggest lessons I took from my training was the importance of listening, and I apply that every single day.
In fact, two of my clients have described me in the same way, as "like a dog with a bone" – persistent, relentless, tenacious - I won’t give up on anything until it’s done. One of Nurole’s Team Leaders even shared this message in their internal system: “Thanks so much to Kate for her ongoing support on all the interview scheduling - such a friendly positive attitude to have around!”
I’m marking 5 years with SmartPA and my tips for anyone new is….
- Don’t be afraid to be YOU, I’ve found that clients ‘warm’ to and want to engage with someone who has a bit of personality!
- Schedule time in your day for just you - every single day - and don’t skip this!
- If you can, spend time before you actually dive into things getting all your admin and tasks for the day prioritised and in order – I call this my “power-hour” and I find it keeps me super organised and on track.