Meet Bobbie Racette

Technology sectors thrive on innovation, but few individuals grasp the potential of thinking beyond conventional boundaries as effectively as Bobbie Racette.

​

Bobbie is a visionary entrepreneur who has made a tremendous impact. As the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus and VG OnDemand, she has built a reputation as a trailblazer who is committed to creating an equitable future for all.

As an Indigenous Cree-Metis, LGBTQ woman, she knows firsthand the challenges that traditionally marginalized communities face in the workplace. She's seen how systemic barriers can prevent talented individuals from achieving their full potential, and she's determined to change that. Driven by her unwavering mission, Bobbie has dedicated herself to empowering folks from historically underrepresented communities and providing them with the opportunities, tools and resources they need to build successful careers.

 

In 2015, after losing her job in the oil and gas sector, Bobbie embarked on a transformational journey. She rebranded herself as a virtual assistant, aiming to revolutionize the way online assistants were sourced. Her vision extended beyond personal success, as she sought to create opportunities for minorities and individuals seeking remote employment due to geographic constraints and other circumstances.

Just one year later, in 2017, Bobbie Racette established Virtual Gurus, an online talent-as-a-service platform. This groundbreaking platform leverages algorithms, machine learning, and human expertise to connect numerous remote assistants, many of whom have historically faced employment obstacles, with a diverse range of businesses. By 2018, the company's revenue had already reached $265,000, with a growing team of virtual assistants. Fast forward to 2023, and Bobbie's majority-owned company continues to scale in value. 

 

Through Virtual Gurus, CEO Bobbie and her dedicated team have empowered First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, marginalized individuals, people with disabilities, and those residing in remote areas. 

 

Under Bobbie's leadership, Virtual Gurus has become one of the fastest-growing virtual assistant companies in North America. Powered by innovative tech that harnesses the power of machine learning to match assistants with clients, she has created a thriving community of over 800 talented professionals from diverse backgrounds. Her innovative approach to talent acquisition and management has earned her numerous accolades, 

 

The results speak volumes—in 2023 The Globe and Mail recognized Virtual Gurus as one of Canada's Top Growing Companies, ranking it among the top 100. This ranking adds to Bobbie’s cavalcade of awards, including Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 by PowWow Pitch, EY Winning Woman 2022 and Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 (University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business), alongside being named a finalist in EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023. To top it all off, Bobbie is also a 2022 IWF Harvard Graduate. And she is a guest judge on ATPN’s Bears Lair TV reality series, a dragon’s den-style program featuring Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Her passion for her work is contagious, and her commitment to equity and inclusion has inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. She's a sought-after speaker and thought leader, and she continues to use her platform to advocate for a more just and equitable future

 

Whether it's Bobbie's dedication to empowering underrepresented communities by creating equitable opportunities or by providing accessible, affordable, and reliable staffing solutions to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to compete, Bobbie Racette is changing the game for entrepreneurs and employees alike. .