Zahra Sbeih: Winner of the 2025 Great Companies International Women Entrepreneur Award
- Great Companies
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Name: Zahra Sbeih
Business Name: Sbeih Virtual Assistance (SVA) Agency
Location: Beirut , Lebanon
Category: Virtual Business Support
Website: www.sva.agency
Company Detail:
SVA Agency is a virtual assistance agency based in Lebanon dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses with their day-to-day operations. Founded by two sisters, Zahra and Nourhan Sbeih, SVA was built on the belief that business owners deserve reliable, efficient support so they can focus on what they do best — growing their business. Nourhan Sbeih decided to exit the company a year ago, and SVA is now managed solely by Zahra Sbeih.
Their services range from administrative assistance and operations management to customer service, scheduling, social media support, and beyond. Whether clients need help organizing their inbox, managing a remote team, or launching their next big idea, their experienced VAs step in as an extension of their team — professionally, promptly, and with a human touch.
Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage:
What sets SVA Agency apart is its deeply personalised, human-first approach to virtual assistance. They don’t just assign a VA, they handpick a team member who fits each business culture, communication style, and growth goals. Their strength lies in their ability to adapt to each client’s unique needs, offering support that feels in-house, not outsourced.
Unlike larger, impersonal VA firms, SVA operates more like a trusted partner; providing consistency, accountability, and real relationship-building. The agency is proud to be led by women, rooted in the Arab world, and committed to empowering both their clients and their team. Business owners choose them because they genuinely care, and it shows in the way they show up, every day.
Challenges Faced During the Journey:
Starting SVA Agency at just 22 years old came with its fair share of challenges — from being taken seriously as a young entrepreneur, to learning how to run a business through trial and error. There wasn’t a roadmap or investors, just a strong belief in their mission and each other.
One of the biggest hurdles was building trust in a virtual model, especially in the Arab world, where remote work was still gaining traction. They also faced the challenges of growing a team, setting boundaries, handling client expectations, and maintaining quality while scaling.
But perhaps the biggest lesson was learning to lead with resilience, through financial uncertainty, client disappointments, and moments of doubt. Every obstacle helped shape the agency into the business it is today: grounded, adaptable, and fiercely committed to making entrepreneurship easier for others.
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
To every young woman dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, Zahra says go for it, even if you're scared. You don’t need to have it all figured out to start. She began her journey at 22 with no corporate management background, just passion, drive, and a desire to support others. You will learn as you grow.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, even when you doubt yourself. Ask questions, make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to take up space; your ideas are valid, your voice matters, and your presence is powerful.
And finally, success doesn’t always look like what you see on social media. It’s in the quiet moments of consistency, the hard decisions, the growth behind the scenes. Keep showing up for your vision, even when it’s hard, because the impact you’re capable of making is far greater than you can imagine.
