Go-Virtual Assistants Inc. (GO-VA) was founded in May 2014 by Matt Kesby, an Australian entrepreneur and Execution Practice Leader for FranklinCovey at the time. Registered in the Philippines, the company recently relocated its office to Cebu IT Park in Cebu City. GO-VA specializes in identifying top talent, allowing clients to choose how work is performed, and then providing a supportive work environment in its Cebu-based office.
Leadership and Vision
GO-VA is led by Fiona Kesby, Matt Kesby’s sister, who relocated to the Philippines in May 2015, bringing with her 16 years of Australian and international recruitment experience. The company’s philosophy centers on offshoring lower-value tasks to the Philippines, enabling businesses in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore to focus on strategy and scale effectively.
Milestones and Industry Recognition
Despite being a relatively young company, GO-VA has reached several key milestones. From the start, the company prioritized employee welfare, offering private medical insurance to all team members from their first day of employment—a rare practice in the Philippines, where most companies provide this benefit only after probation.
In October 2019, GO-VA was welcomed into the Circle of Excellence for SME Company of the Year at the Asia CEO Awards. The same year, its development team, working on a payments automation software for Australia, was a finalist in the Australian Fintech Business Awards for Payments Innovator of the Year. GO-VA also played a crucial role in helping WorldRemit establish its first 220-person team in the Philippines, demonstrating its ability to scale quickly while maintaining a strong commitment to values.
Commitment to Social Responsibility
GO-VA actively supports Mercy in Action, a UK-registered charity that has been helping vulnerable children since 1995 by providing food, shelter, and education. Over time, the organization has expanded to include community projects such as house building, small business enterprises, and feeding programs. GO-VA has been supporting Mercy in Action’s holiday food distribution initiative for two years, ensuring families in need receive essential groceries.
Beyond corporate social responsibility, GO-VA integrates sustainability into its operations. The company minimizes waste through paperless communication, printing only essential documents like employment contracts. Additionally, GO-VA has provided financial assistance to employees facing medical emergencies by offering salary advances.
Future Growth and Long-Term Goals
GO-VA’s ten-year goal is to create 4,000 jobs in the Philippines while helping clients grow their businesses at least threefold by leveraging a combination of people and technology. Another major goal is to introduce the World Mosquito Program to Cebu City to combat the spread of dengue fever.
“GO-VA has consistently experienced year-on-year growth and maintains one of the lowest employee turnover rates in the industry. The company’s strong culture, fostered by its brother-sister leadership team, extends a familial atmosphere where employees feel safe, valued, and encouraged to ask questions or voice concerns without fear of job loss.”
