SkillHer Meets Recap: Global Earning Power – Monetizing Skills and Thriving in the Remote Economy

  

On Saturday, May 31st, SkillHer held another inspiring and action-packed SkillHer Meets session titled “Global Earning Power: Monetizing Skills and Thriving in the Remote Economy.” Our facilitator, Sylvaline Ejionye, founder of VaPro Agency, brought not just technical insight but deep honesty, grit, and motivation to the conversation.

This wasn’t your average Zoom session. From the very start, Sylvaline's passion and storytelling drew participants in as she unpacked her journey from a traditional career in agriculture and sales to building a tech-enabled career that has taken her across sectors and borders.

 

A Story of Resilience and Reinvention

Sylvaline’s story is one of resilience. From surviving personal loss and working under high-pressure environments to transitioning into tech through self-learning, she painted a vivid picture of what it takes to start over and succeed. After years of working in roles that left her exhausted and disconnected from herself, she found new life in digital skills training—initially through virtual assistantship, then branching into data analysis, programming, and tutoring.

Her key turning point came when her younger sibling—whom she helped sponsor—gifted her a million-naira token of appreciation, earned entirely from remote digital work. That moment opened her eyes to what was possible. As she put it, “When it’s happening outside, it’s different. But when it’s your own blood? It hits differently.”

 

Building with What You Have

Sylvaline’s practical advice: start from what you know. Whether it's proofreading, braiding hair, selling clothes, or helping friends manage tasks, these skills can be reframed and monetized in the digital economy. She also mentioned that remote jobs/virtual assistant online roles could further include data analyst, graphics design, copy writing,  data entry research assistant etc.

She challenged attendees to stop underestimating what they already do and start documenting their work, skills, and achievements.

From working with Coca-Cola and Nobel Africa to teaching over 500 students, Sylvaline emphasized the power of showing up consistently—through learning, teaching, and creating visibility. “If you are good and cannot sell yourself,” she said, “it does not make sense.”

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t wait to be perfect: Start with what you have, learn as you go, and stay consistent.

• Learn virtual assistant skills: It’s a flexible entry point to the digital economy.

• Document your journey: Use platforms like LinkedIn to share what you do.

• Join communities: From SkillHer to Nobel, being part of communities provides access, encouragement, and referrals.

• Apply strategically: When pitching for remote roles, tailor your proposals and use video introductions where possible.

• Invest in visibility: Attend sessions, reach out to connect,volunteer, do free work when necessary—but ensure you collect testimonials and recommendations.

 

Advice for New and Growing Remote Workers

For those just starting, Sylvaline encouraged focusing on basic digital navigation, enrolling in beginner-friendly training, and choosing a skill track that aligns with current strengths.

For those already working remotely and hoping to increase earnings, her advice was:

• Be intentional about seeking higher-paying gigs.

• Join startup and recruiter communities.

• Don’t just apply—apply smart (e.g., with personalized proposals and well-documented portfolios).

And yes—she had plenty of insider tips on navigating Upwork and dodging AI detection when using tools like ChatGPT to assist with application writing!