Client Case Study: Miss Jones Group

Who we helped

Lisa Boissel is the Founder and CEO of Miss Jones Group, a leading events booking and venue-finding service supporting Assistants, administrative professionals and event planners. When she first contacted Upsource, Miss Jones was a small, fast-moving team of two struggling to keep up with an overwhelming volume of daily enquiries.

Three years later, Miss Jones has grown into a 13-person operation spanning the UK, Ireland and Dubai, with Katherine, the VA Upsource originally placed for temporary emergency support, now playing an integral role in the heart of the business.

“She’s just so fast and efficient, I can’t imagine not having her.” Lisa Boissel

The problem they faced

When Lisa contacted Upsource, she was in crisis mode. Her previous Assistant had disappeared without warning, leaving her to manage an inbox receiving thousands of emails a day, on top of her responsibilities as founder.

“My inbox was just crazy, madness.” 

What began as a short-term request for relief quickly developed into a partnership that is integral to the smooth running of the team. Admin and operational processes needed formalising to create a strong foundation for the business as it grew. 

Business challenges

• An overwhelming inbox compromising revenue
  Venue and client enquiries were pouring in, but opportunities were being missed because Lisa was at capacity
• Scaling without the systems
  As Miss Jones expanded across multiple regions, the weren’t clear business-wide processes or easy How-To guides for recruits slowing the original team down   
• Lisa’s bandwidth was stretched thin
  Lisa simply didn’t have the capacity to stay on top of her inbox, and it wasn’t a wise use of her valuable time and focus

How we helped

Upsource immediately matched Lisa with Katherine, an experienced, high-calibre VA more than capable of stepping into an emergency environment with her famous speed and accuracy. What was meant to be a temporary stopgap quickly became a long-term strategic partnership.

Through a blend of inbox and diary management, operational support and booking, Upsource gave Lisa the ability to focus on her priorities, rather than her inbox, and created the internal systems to support a fast growing team. Three years later Katherine is a core member of the team. 

“All our clients ask about her, this magical person who gets things done.”

Business support

Katherine began by building trust and moving fast. Within days, the inbox backlog was under control, and she soon became Lisa’s right-hand woman, “I trust her with my life”.

Katherine’s key support elements:

High-speed inbox triage and response
Clearing hundreds of emails multiple times a day, making sure Lisa only saw what truly needed her attention “She’s just so fast and efficient…she just gets on with it”

Diary and scheduling management
Quickly adapting to Lisa’s style, Katherine manages her fast-moving calendar, protecting Lisa’s time and focus

Bookings management and client follow-up
Katherine became a Bookings Manager, overseeing enquiries, introductions, and follow-ups that directly impact revenue 

Operational improvements and systems building
Katherine implemented password management tools, created onboarding guides and How-To videos, cleaned up admin and refined workflows as the team tripled 

Financial admin
Handling weekly commissions, issuing invoices, and supporting members rewards

Continuity planning
Because she’s so embedded in the business, Upsource placed a secondary VA for one hour per week to make sure Miss Jones had the same fast-paced standard of support to cover Katherine’s leave

Personal support

Beyond the inbox and operational work, Katherine has become an important and strategic support for Lisa. She’s a sounding board that Lisa can trust as the team and business grows rapidly, “I’m in the business but not of the business…so she can talk to me honestly”. 

Lisa now feels comfortable to take a step back and actually switch off, if even for a few days, whilst on leave. “She used to check the inbox constantly…now she won’t check for days at a time when she’s on holiday”.

Katherine will play a stabilising role during Lisa’s upcoming maternity leave; she has confidence in Katherine’s ability to create continuity, support the team’s decision making and maintain operational smooth-running. 

The impact Upsource made

Katherine has fundamentally shaped Miss Jones’ operations. The inbox is no longer a bottleneck, with enquiries and bookings handled quickly and confidently. Commissions and admin runs smoothly and the expansion of team and territories has been supported with sound structure and processes.

Lisa has the time and focus to lead the team and grow the business, trusting that Katherine is handling the details. Most importantly, she’s able to switch off for a few days safe in the knowledge the business will continue seamlessly. 

Katherine has become woven into the company culture. She was a guest at Lisa’s wedding, is being flown from Cape Town to London for the company Christmas celebration, and will play a vital role during Lisa’s maternity leave. 

“Katherine pays for herself. She’s not allowed to go anywhere.”

Why it matters

This partnership shows the impact of the right support, not just in managing an inbox, but in giving founders the space, clarity and confidence to lead well. In a business like Miss Jones, where speed and responsiveness directly affect revenue, having someone who works at pace, maintains high standards and protects the founder’s time is critical.

With the operational pressure lifted, Lisa can make better decisions, think strategically and be present in time off, without carrying the weight of the business. This blend of commercial efficiency and personal wellbeing is what makes sustainable growth possible.

Playing a key role during Lisa’s maternity leave to maintain continuity and stability at a pivotal personal and business moment, Katherine is trusted deeply. The standard of work and care provided by Upsource is so high, that we are embedding another VA into the business on light hours so Lisa and the Miss Jones team can maintain their momentum even whilst Katherine is on leave.

If you’re interested in working with Upsource, and finding your own “magical person that just gets things done”, get in touch and Caroline can match the perfect VA for your needs.