Growing Success With Sharyn Catt: Managing Director & Founder at Virtual Blue
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time?
Effective leadership is the ability to inspire trust, align people toward a shared vision, and empower them to do their best work. Early in my career, I focused on delivering outcomes and leading from the front. Over time, my definition has evolved – now I believe true leadership is about listening deeply, enabling others, and creating an environment where people feel valued and heard. It’s about influence, not authority.
What strategies do you use to build and inspire a high-performing team?
At Virtual Blue, I place a strong emphasis on trust, collaboration, and clear communication. We’ve built a remote team that thrives on shared purpose and proactive engagement. I encourage open dialogue, welcome ideas from every level, and give my team the autonomy to innovate. Empowerment, transparency, and celebrating wins together are key pillars of our high-performance culture.
Can you share an example of a leadership challenge you faced and how you overcame it?
One challenge was leading a digital transformation project with multiple stakeholders and resistance to change. I overcame it by listening carefully, engaging change champions early, and showing quick wins. Building trust and maintaining open communication helped shift mindsets and align the team around a common goal.
What roles do mentorship and networking play in your approach to leadership?
While mentoring has played a valuable role throughout my career, networking has been just as pivotal in shaping my leadership journey. Building strong, authentic connections across industries has opened doors to new opportunities, fresh perspectives, and meaningful collaborations. I view networking as an ongoing conversation – not just about exchanging business cards, but about building trust and contributing to a wider ecosystem. It helps me stay current, learn from others’ experiences, and bring more strategic insight to the table for both my team and clients.
How do you balance maintaining authority while fostering collaboration and inclusivity?
Authority shouldn’t be a barrier to collaboration, it should serve as a platform for others to contribute and grow. I strive to lead with humility, clarity, and consistency. By setting clear expectations while creating space for diverse voices, I ensure that decisions are inclusive, and leadership is shared.
What is the most challenging obstacle you’ve faced in your career, and how did you navigate it?
Starting Virtual Blue during a time of great uncertainty was one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. Building a business from scratch, while advocating for emerging technologies like AI and automation, required grit, adaptability, and resilience. I leaned into my purpose, surrounded myself with great people, and kept a strong focus on delivering tangible value for our clients.
How do you maintain resilience and focus during periods of uncertainty or failure?
I ground myself in the “why” behind the work. Having a clear mission helps me stay focused when things get tough. I also break challenges down into small, actionable steps – progress over perfection. Staying connected to my team and mentors helps me maintain perspective and energy.
What are your go-to strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout?
I have a strict gym routine that I do six days a week, including cardio and weights. I try to do daily walks to get out of the house. When you work from home you can go for days without leaving the house, so it’s important to get out and walk around the neighbourhood. I find I use that time to work through problems I am facing and come up with ideas that I then come home and put into action. I certainly use my Italian Greyhound as emotional support, she gives the best hugs. I also value humour – it lightens the load, in particular having a good laugh with my husband. Delegating effectively and prioritising tasks with impact helps me to stay centred and avoid spreading myself too thin.
Can you share a time when you turned a significant setback into an opportunity for growth?
Over five years ago, my business partner with whom I founded the business with decided to move on. I had to make the decision to either go with them or keep Virtual Blue and go it alone. There was a lot of self-doubt around being able to keep the business going alone. After a lot of reflection and amazing mentorship from people I had grown close to in business I made the decision to do it, and haven’t looked back. The business has continued to grow year on year and we have gone from being a reseller of others products to a business that is creating our own.
How has your perspective on resilience changed as your career has progressed?
Earlier in my career, I equated resilience with pushing through. Now I understand it’s also about knowing when to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. Resilience isn’t just about strength – it’s about flexibility, learning, and the ability to bounce forward, not just back.
What habits or routines have been instrumental in your personal and professional growth?
As mentioned above working out six days a week is great for not only my physical but mental health, intentional goal-setting, my husband and I review our one year, two year and five year goals that are both personal and business goals. I also regularly review what’s working and what needs adjusting, which keeps me growing purposefully.
How do you stay motivated and continually strive for improvement in your career?
I’m naturally competitive and driven by seeing my customers being successful. Seeing how automation and AI can transform businesses and lives, keeps me energised. I also surround myself with people who challenge and inspire me – it creates a feedback loop of motivation and continuous learning.
What advice would you give your younger self when you were just starting out?
Trust your instincts. Don’t wait for permission to lead. Seek out mentors, stay curious, and know that it’s okay not to have it all figured out – clarity comes with action. And always remember your voice matters.
What role does feedback play in your journey of self-improvement, and how do you approach it?
Feedback is a gift – it’s how we grow. I seek it actively, both from clients and my team, and I encourage a culture of constructive, two-way dialogue. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s essential for evolution, both personally and professionally.
