Key Outcomes
Table of Contents
Key Outcomes
Suhaila Salimpour, a pioneering force in belly dance education, transitioned her traditional in-person dance studio to a thriving online platform with remarkable success. Drawing on her mother’s innovative
legacy and her own foresight, Suhaila embraced digital teaching as early as 2008, but it was the pandemic that pushed her fully into the virtual world.
With the support of Valatam’s virtual assistants, she overcame initial doubts about remote staffing in such a relationship-driven business. Valatam’s personalized approach to matching top-tier VAs enabled Suhaila to delegate operational tasks, freeing her to focus on creative growth and future expansion.
About Suhaila’s Online Institute
💼 Industry: Online Education
📌 Location: California, USA
🏦 Company Size: 7-10 employees
🚩 Founded: 2020
The Salimpour School, founded in 1949, is one of the most influential and respected belly dance institutions, known for its global reach, inclusive values, and revolutionary teaching methods. Suhahila’s Online Institute, founded in 2020, continues the core mission of responsible representation, celebration, and elevation of the belly dance art form through somatic conditioning and a deep understanding of SWANA music and culture.
Navigating the Challenges
What Lies Ahead
Suhaila Salimpour runs an online belly dance educational institution offering cultural, historical, and methodological instruction. It started as an in-person business but had to shift to an online environment during the pandemic.
Before working with Valatam, Suhaila’s business was primarily face-to-face, and her staff was used to managing physical workshops and events, always keeping a close relationship with students. Transitioning to a virtual model seemed daunting due to the relational nature of her business. Valatam provided the perfect solution with skilled remote professionals who matched their values and allowed the school to flourish while maintaining its high-quality standards.
“I would recommend your business to everybody, even if they were facing different challenges… it’s not about just the challenges, it’s about the way you train your team members and your business model”.
Suhaila Salimpour – Founder and Director at Suhaila Salimpour Institute of Online Education
The Path Forward
- Streamlined customer service for students.
- Enhanced social media presence with expert support.
- Ongoing website maintenance for an engaging user experience
- Project management to organize and execute key initiatives.
How We Did It?
Suhaila had concerns about how automation and distance would affect her 1-on-1 approach, as her business relies heavily on personal relationships with students. Her journey with Valatam began with a single virtual assistant focused on social media, a non-crucial task at the time. However, the seamless onboarding process, along with Valatam’s personalized approach, quickly earned her trust.
Valatam’s account managers carefully matched her needs not only with highly qualified candidates but also with profiles that shared her passion and values. Suhaila’s team expanded to 4 VAs, covering other key business functions like customer service, project management, and website upkeep support.
Mapping the Journey
- Began with 1 social media assistant and expanded to 4 key operational roles.
- Valatam provided curated profiles, video intros, and interviews to
ensure the right match. - Each hire fitted the company’s culture, reflecting Suhaila’s values and passion for her business.
- All team members were trained and prepared for integration, and immediate contribution.
“I have four unique brains with different specialties and contributions. Now, I can focus on business direction, growth, and sustainability”.
Suhaila Salimpour – Founder and Director at Suhaila Salimpour Institute of Online Education
What We Achieved Together
- Built a reliable team of 4 skilled Virtual Assistants.
- Reduced operational costs by 75% compared to hiring locally
- Enabled the business to explore new markets, including Spanish-speaking regions
- Streamlined processes, allowing Suhaila to focus on creative work
“Honestly, this is probably the first time I’ve had real hope for a long-term vision of the business in a long time. Now I feel like we can make plans, projections… this has been huge”.
Suhaila Salimpour – Founder and Director at Suhaila Salimpour Institute of Online Education
Showing Up the Success
Valatam’s Virtual Assistants have become a core part of Suhaila’s team, managing key business functions. Their involvement has helped the business maintain continuity and opened up new growth opportunities. Valatam’s careful selection of team members created the space for long-lasting relationships and allowed Suhaila’s team to
focus on core business strategy. “I now have a dependable team that shares my passion,” Suhaila says, “and I can finally focus on long-
term business planning.”
Conclusion
With Valatam’s tailored support, Suhaila transformed her business into a virtual model. Their remote team has taken over operational tasks, saving her valuable time and energy. The cost savings and the ability to easily find the right people through Valatam’s recruitment process have allowed her to scale her business while maintaining a high level of relational quality. The partnership has been pivotal in Suhaila’s journey toward sustained success and growth.
Ready to elevate your business to new heights? Discover how Valatam’s Virtual Assistants solutions can benefit your company today.
Don’t miss out on the latest innovations in the advertising industry. Visit Salimpour Schools’s website to explore their innovative solutions firsthand.
