Today we’d like to introduce you to Zania Spence
Hi Zania , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Oh! My story! Be prepared because I will be Unapologetically ME! Okay, My story is a little bit different.
First and foremost, I want to give all thanks and honor to the most high, my savior God. I wouldn’t be where I am today, without God. My story starts back in 2015, Graduating high school, I was not your normal graduate. High school was fun, until senior year, I could not pass one of my final exams needed to graduate. This put me at risk of leaving high school with a diploma, all because of 1 exam. I don’t know why I struggled so hard, but I did. I took this exam 3 times, they do say the 3rd time’s charm hahaha. So, I took the test one time, didn’t pass. Devastated. Heartbroken. Crushed. I Took the test a second time.
Oh, it was worse! I was mortified. Heart Ripped out of my chest. I wanted to sit in a corner. Because I still couldn’t pass. I remember everybody else around me was passing. They were doing so well but I still struggled. While my faith was definitely crushed! I understood, I needed some additional help!! There is nothing wrong with seeking help from others, as we are all experts in different areas. From a little girl I worked with Dr. Beverly Mullins, a tutor located in Sunrise FL. Dr. Beverly Mullins was an outstanding tutor, And having to go back to her, at this big age. I was like, oh, my gosh EMBARRASSING! but I was determined to get my high school diploma because I had big plans for my life! I went back, got more tutoring & took action myself at home by praying, and studying. After that, I went to take the exam one last time. In the middle of the exam, When the majority of the students left the room. The administrator began speaking to me, i found it strange but she motivated me. She stated “You know, a lot of people find this exam to be a little bit challenging. But you just have to stay focused and remember everything that you studied.” And that pushed me to say “okay, BET! I got this” & On my 3rd try, would you believe, I passed. Glory to God. I passed!!
After passing, I was so, so happy. I remember it like it was yesterday. I ran to my dad screaming, “I passed!” I broke down crying because it had been a long time coming! After passing, I did try to get into college, but I couldn’t get in, and got declined up to 3 times. But I maintained a 9-5 job and then stepped into my modeling career, that was new and different for me. Growing up, I loved watching “America’s Next Top Model” and tuning into every “Victoria Secret Fashion show”, I knew 1 day that was going to be me! Around 11 or 12 years old, I started modeling. Then around the age of 16, I became a high fashion runway model working with various fashion designers, models, photographers and videographers. Upon joining the modeling industry, I did it for 6 years. During these 6 years, I connected with amazing individuals right here in South Florida. The top 4 people that really elevated my career and took me from being a “nobody” to having a name for myself was Darrell Joseph he founded me, Fara Charles my modeling manager, Jabian Sutherland, and Alisha the founder of “Shop Ten Thirty”. Those 4 individuals literally have propelled my modeling career. I had the opportunity to be apart of fashion shows in Atlanta, New York, & in my home town South Florida.
But I knew something was missing. I then transitioned to assisting Jabian Sutherland and Alisha behind the scenes of photoshoots and fashion show production sets. It gave me a glance into seeing how things were done, how photoshoots were ran and directed! From there, I automatically knew, okay, I was going to stop modeling and assist with more behind the scenes production sets, photo shoots and fashion shows. Then COVID hit, a lot of things got canceled and unfortunately that became the end of everything. Once Covid was over and we began going back to our normal lives, I just didn’t feel the excitement for modeling anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still love modeling. If anybody reaches out to me, and requests for me to do a runway show, If the clothing is appropriate, I’m there.
After all of that, I didn’t really know where to go with my life, but special thank you to my amazing spiritual parents Venora and Winston Durrant, because they are true disciples of christ. Their love, patience, guidance, and continued support has propelled me to the young woman I am today, and without them, I don’t know where I would be. My parents have contributed a whole lot to the person I’ve become.
While working my 9-5 job after covid, I wanted to step out in faith! I took notice of someone who was offering virtual assistant courses. After studying and doing more research on what a virtual assistant is, I took a leap of faith and spent my last $120 on the virtual assistant course. Till this year, 2024, I still have that same notebook from 2022 with all my course notes. Because I wanted to make sure that I was the best equipped and knowledgeable for the clients i will potentially work alongside. When I finished this course, I brought my idea to Darrell Joseph, the first person who founded me as a high fashion runway model years ago. I told him my idea about my virtual assistant business, and any idea I bring to him, he is literally ALL IN! He was able to create my logo, and the brand identity. I got my name “Evolving Virtually” from my other business that I was curating. It was first called Evolving Virtual, but something felt off. Then I added two letters “LY” & Boom! Evolving Virtually was established in 2022.
From 2023-2024, I lost myself. I lost my brand. I lost my brand identity. I lost my way. There was so much hurt from partnerships, and friendships. Starting Evolving Virtually back in 2022, truly empowered me to know that I can push forward. But, I found myself craving more of the world, and more of what I can get from this business, as in money-wise & connecting with people so I could move up higher on the ladder. I no longer found my business being centered around God.
I found myself wanting to re-evaluate the meaning of Evolving Virtually & if I even wanted to keep going. In April 2024, I made the decision that I need to go to war in the spiritual for my business and also get confirmation if this is God’s will for my life. From May-July, nobody really knows this but they will now! hahaha. For 3 months I prayed deeply to God, I took 3 months to refocus and understand that what God has for me is not what I see for myself. I had to reposition myself in a position of surrender. I had to position myself at the feet of God and say, God, “take back evolving virtually and Allow my will to be washed away but instead let your will be done & What you have for me, let it be for me”. I prayed, I fasted, I worshiped, I went to war in the spiritual for evolving virtually!
& yes i was tested! But I know it’s the enemy trying to discourage me. Even though I started back in 2022, I still lost myself to the world. And I knew God was no longer the center of my business. & When I surrendered everything and died to my flesh. Do you think Everything worked out? OH NO!. This is when my flesh called it quits & my faith had to really be activated! I planned everything, invest into some things, 3 months of planning all went down the drain. Everything that I wanted never worked out. I was lost, I questioned God but then on month 4 I came to the realization that I still was moving by my will and by what my flesh wanted.
I went back to God again in prayer, apologizing and this time 100000% surrendering, evolving virtually completely. The month of August was even more extremely difficult for me just because I did not know where my business would be in the next few months and this was my re- launch month. When you have a business or when you’re doing anything in life, times are going to get tough. Your faith is going to be tested. You are going to go through some trials and tribulations, but it’s how you move during those seasons that matter. During those season of trials, I was still actively praying. During my season of sadness, I was still praying. When I was hurt, I prayed. When I was sad, I worshiped because God has been too good to me and his promises will always remain the same. I know that he didn’t bring me this far to leave me.
Now here we are moving into the month of September, That was the month of my breakthrough. That was the month that God said, my child, “I’ve seen your faithfulness. I’ve seen how hard you have worked”. I believe it was 1 or two days before my birthday. Everything I planned for my relaunch did not come to pass but I still re-launched my business, still depressed, still sad, that nothing worked out, but I’m still praising God for how far he has brought me. I was still worshiping him, still calling on Jesus, & surrendering at his feet. I made sure to let God work in the spiritual, but I was going to still put the work in the physical. September was a breakthrough month, man. Clients came from the woodworks. I said, “okay, God. I see you. & Thank you!”. Again!
I want to point out again that, I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my spiritual mother and father, that God has seen fit to grant me the opportunity to call them parents here on earth. They both interceded in my life during this season. The Clients came, and here I am today, a successful, no longer virtual assistant, but executive business assistant because now I went from virtual to being in the field.
I wouldn’t have had that opportunity, 1- if it wasn’t for God, 2- if it wasn’t for my perseverance, and 3- if it wasn’t for the connections that I made along the way. I met so many great people, and the 2 main individuals I do want to thank so much are, Johnny the founder of Dracula X Productions. He is truly a gift sent from heaven, such a great human being. & I can’t wait for the world to see how amazing he is, his craft is beyond the norm, he creates amazing visuals that will leave you speechless! I also want to thank Darryen the founder of the Attractive Mindset Podcast & Studio, for being a true leader and never giving up on me, & for seeing beyond what I could see in myself. The confidence and support he gives his team is something I have never experienced.
Of course, I have connected with other great individuals that have helped me along the way and kept me.
Now, here I am today. I have an overflow of clients. God is doing amazing things with Evolving Virtually & I’m going after everything that God has for me, with NO APOLOGIES!
During my 3 month rebranding and surrendering everything to God, I remember one specific prayer was, “God, connect me with clients who are connected to you”. And when I say he did exactly that, he did exactly that !! And that’s how I knew that I was going in the right direction.
Now, of course, you’re going to come across some individuals that may not be the nicest, but you gotta 1st pray for God to change their hearts and give you the strength to keep going! If i let my past situations hold me back, I would not be closing out the year at a 100% client closing rate. My biggest advice and my biggest tip for any business owner is to keep going. I know it is easier said than done, but This journey is not going to be easy. God never said it was going to be easy, but he said he would be with you every step of the way, even during the storm/rainy season. People will come at you negatively, Things won’t work out as you have planned. But remember your faith just needs to be as small as a mustard seed. And Don’t worry! God knows you. He knows you more than you know yourself. He knows when you’re ready to receive the more that he has for you. Surrender your life to him, Don’t just let your prayers go up and the work isn’t being done in the physical. Continue to put in the work and don’t ever lose your faith in the plans God has for you. For no man can take away the blessings he has waiting for you! Anybody that says no to you is God making room for that, Yes, that’s right around the corner!
This is only the beginning of something great. Thank you for reading and for the opportunity to share my story with you all!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced, looking back to my younger self, has been holding onto my faith in God. I struggled to believe that God would work things out, that everything He has planned and promised for me would actually come to pass. This struggle with faith became my greatest obstacle. Without it, fear and anxiety crept in, along with other things that weren’t from God, and they began to take over. I quickly realized I had to surrender my will for Evolving Virtually. Though I may hold the title of CEO, it’s ultimately God who oversees everything.
This has been my biggest challenge. Life constantly presents obstacles, and we’re faced with trials all the time. Too often, these challenges make us forget who God is, how good He is, and the seasons he’s brought us through. When we’re pulled back by obstacles, it’s easy to fall into anxiety and stress. But once we understand that all God asks for is faith in him as the size of a mustard seed—not as big as a football field, just faith as a mustard seed —then the obstacles become easier to face. This is the lesson that has carried me through my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Evolving Virtually LLC?
Evolving Virtually began in 2022 as a virtual assistant service and has since grown into a dynamic executive business assistant company, supporting entrepreneurs worldwide, whether remotely or in person. My passion for being on production sets, at photo shoots, and actively helping others has shaped Evolving Virtually into what it is today. Now, I provide tailored services that create seamless backend systems, streamline content creation, social media management, Event Media management, and all designed to serve businesses owners.
Each of us is uniquely made, and I embrace who I am unapologetically. Those who work with me will know right away that I operate with a strong faith foundation. I’m here to serve with everything I have, to be your accountability partner, and to offer honest support. You won’t just have someone working on your business, but someone invested in helping you grow in any aspect of your life
Evolving Virtually is a Jesus-centered business. My purpose is to serve, whether it’s a client nearby or someone halfway across the globe. Serving others is my calling, and that’s what drives me every day.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The qualities that I believe are most important to my success include my strong work ethic, effective communication skills, adaptability, and professionalism. My background as a manager for over 20 facilities has shown me the critical role of communication and integrity in leadership during the day-to-day operations.
As a “corporate girlie,” I’ve learned that success goes beyond just showing up or completing tasks, it’s about connecting with people and maintaining a high standard in every partnership. I’m committed to consistently refining these qualities, ensuring they remain strong as I grow. I take pride in these skills, knowing they contribute to my success and positive reputation. And above all, I give all credit to God my savor, for blessing me with these amazing qualities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/evolvingvirtually
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvingvirtually/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Image Credits
Dracula X Productions
Visions By Rico
