From One Assistant to a 40+ Team: How Delegation Powered My Business Growth
Every entrepreneur faces the moment when daily operations become overwhelming. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it means your business is growing. Without a proper support structure, that growth can quickly turn into chaos, stress, and missed opportunities.
I know this firsthand. My name is Marina Egorova, and I’m the founder of Smart & Talented — an executive assistant recruitment agency that helps business owners hire the right executive or personal assistant to take over up to 80% of their operational workload.
Today, I lead a team of 40+ people. But everything started with one decision: hiring my first executive assistant with my very first revenue.
Why I Hired an Executive Assistant First
Back in 2016, when I launched Smart & Talented, the first revenue I earned — around €1,500 — didn’t go into equipment or advertising. Instead, I hired a part-time assistant for €150 at the time.
That decision became the turning point for my business.
Instead of managing my inbox, logistics, meetings, and admin myself, I gave those tasks to someone else — and focused on what mattered: building the business.
What Changed When I Delegated
Delegating 10–15 hours per week of routine work gave me back time, energy, and clarity. I:
Spent more time with clients
Focused on developing services
Built the Smart & Talented brand
Every entrepreneur thinks they need to "do it all" at first. But that mindset limits growth.
The Smart Delegation Principle
Whenever a new task appears, ask yourself: "Is this my highest-value work?" If not — delegate.
As entrepreneurs, our job is to lead, grow, and strategize. Not manage calendars or follow up on vendor emails.
That’s why hiring an executive assistant isn’t a luxury — it’s a strategy.
Why Executive Assistants Are the Key Hire
Unlike narrow roles like marketing or sales, an executive assistant brings broad support:
Manages operations
Handles communication
Supports logistics
Adapts to your workflow
In small businesses, a great assistant can replace 2–3 hires — and offer mental clarity that fuels decision-making.
How to Hire the Right Executive Assistant
You can search on job boards or ask friends — but the process is long, uncertain, and often ineffective.
That’s why we built Smart & Talented: an agency that makes hiring assistants fast, accurate, and seamless.
Here’s what we do:
Define your needs: from executive support to personal or project-based assistance
Screen candidates for professional and personal fit
Test skills, decision-making, and stress response
Match you with someone aligned with your goals and leadership style
This is more than recruitment — it’s creating the foundation for scale.
Are You at the Delegation Tipping Point?
If you:
Feel overwhelmed by daily tasks
Can’t focus on growth
Are still doing everything yourself
Then it’s time to bring in help.
At Smart & Talented, we specialize in hiring executive assistants, personal assistants, and operational team members who make your business run smoother.
Leave the admin behind — and focus on what only you can do.