Started by a virtual assistant. Built like a family business.
eleVAte began in 2015 with two virtual assistants in Dumaguete City and one belief: outsourcing should feel like gaining a partner, not handing off a problem. Today it is a 50-seat operation, grown without outside funding, run by the same people who started it.
The People Behind It
A boutique BPO is only as good as the people running it. Here is who you are actually working with.
Claire De La Pena
Claire brings almost two decades of experience as an executive virtual assistant, supporting US-based entrepreneurs and podcast clients, before founding eleVAte in 2015 with just two VAs and a clear vision: outsourcing should feel like gaining a trusted partner, not simply handing off work. Under her leadership, eleVAte has grown into a 50-seat operation in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She has built the company around a disciplined five-phase client onboarding framework, a strong service culture, and resilient infrastructure designed to deliver reliable, uninterrupted support.
Connect on LinkedIn →Craig Smedman
Craig brings more than 30 years of executive leadership in the US passenger transportation industry. His career includes serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development at First Transit, founding and leading Tectrans, a nationwide transit contracting company later acquired by Keolis, and serving as Executive Vice President of West Coast Transportation Holdings. Drawing on decades of experience as both an operator and industry executive, Craig understands firsthand what transportation companies expect from their outsourced service partners, and more importantly, where traditional vendors often fall short.
Connect on LinkedIn →Leonard Ablao
Leonard leads eleVAte's day-to-day operations from the Dumaguete office, bringing nearly a decade of experience in BPO operations, team leadership, and talent recruitment. His hands-on approach shapes how eleVAte builds its teams: selecting people for both capability and cultural fit, then creating the support and stability that keep them engaged long term. Leonard works closely with clients and internal teams to ensure accounts run smoothly, staffing remains strong, and any operational requirements are addressed quickly and effectively.
Connect on LinkedIn →Clients We Serve From the Philippines
Where our client base sits today.
%
Clients based in United States
%
Clients based in UK & Canada
%
Clients based in Asia & Australia
Why We Exist
At eleVAte BPO, we exist to uplift communities by creating meaningful employment, fostering professional growth, and developing the next generation of high-performing Filipino talent. Our work is grounded in purpose: to open doors, provide opportunities, and enable people to build careers they are proud of. We are committed to cultivating a workspace that inspires performance, creativity, and long-term growth. Through smart, reliable, and scalable service solutions, we empower organizations to operate more efficiently, innovate faster, and achieve measurable, sustainable results. eleVAte was founded by two local virtual assistants who believed that Filipino talent deserved more, more opportunities, more growth, and more pathways to success. What began as a simple dream has become a thriving operation that continues to champion people, elevate careers, and deliver exceptional performance for clients across industries worldwide.
Our Vision
To become a catalyst for opportunity and transformation, empowering local talent to elevate their lives and careers while delivering exceptional operational and customer experience solutions to businesses around the globe.
Our Mission
At eleVAte BPO, our mission is to uplift communities by providing accessible employment, professional development, and high-level training that unlocks human potential. We are committed to creating a workspace that inspires performance, creativity, and long-term growth. Through smart, reliable, and scalable service solutions, we help organizations operate efficiently, innovate rapidly, and achieve measurable results.
How We Got Here
Ten years, no outside funding, same people running it.
- Launched Skill Bridge as a one‑person home‑office operation, testing the demand for high‑touch virtual assistance, staffing, and outsourcing solutions.
- Built the first wave of loyal clients purely through reputation, referrals, and hands‑on founder delivery.
- Brought on the current Co‑Founder, transforming the business from a solo practice into a structured leadership team.
- Standardized operations, created documented workflows, and laid the groundwork to scale beyond boutique capacity.
- Rebranded Skill Bridge to eleVAte, signaling a bolder market position and a more sophisticated service portfolio.
- Expanded from a small team to a 20‑seat operation with 2 team leaders, creating clear career paths and stronger middle management.
- Introduced new service lines in customer experience, website development, podcast support, publishing, and back‑office operations, increasing client lifetime value and revenue diversity.
- Scaled to a 50‑seat virtual capacity, evolving into a fully remote delivery center capable of handling complex, multi‑department client needs.
- Strengthened internal training, QA, and performance management to maintain premium service quality while ramping headcount.
- Secured multiple strategic partnerships with US‑based companies, positioning eleVAte as a trusted long‑term outsourcing partner rather than a transactional vendor.
- Opened the first physical office in Dumaguete City, establishing an on‑the‑ground hub for leadership, training, and community building.
- Continued accelerating growth by launching new enterprise‑grade verticals and specialized pods, preparing the organization for its next phase of regional and global expansion.
Our Commitment To Operational Excellence
When you partner with eleVAte BPO, you can expect a team that takes ownership, delivers excellence, and treats your business like our own. Our promise is grounded in accountability, performance, and long-term partnership.
- Learning the details of your processes, products, and customer needs
- Demonstrating proactive problem-solving and initiative
- Making data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and outcomes
- Tracking and measuring resolution rates and performance benchmarks
- Treating your feedback as a critical part of continuous improvement
- Providing engaged, accessible, and transparent leadership
- Responding with urgency and professionalism at all times
- Prioritizing first-contact resolution and customer satisfaction
- Maintaining a high level of proficiency across all assigned functions
- Monitoring performance metrics, rewards, and quality dashboards
- Managing agent performance with consistency and accountability
- Offering dedicated account management and consistent communication
Mega-BPOs recruit to fill chairs. We recruit a specific person for your specific account: skills, personality, and long-term fit, vetted by a leadership team that came up through this industry.
eleVAte BPO is an independent company registered in the Philippines and headquartered in Dumaguete City. We are not connected to Elevate Bpo Services Private Limited of Delhi, India, or any other similarly named business. Found conflicting information online? Our FAQ covers the mix-up.
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The fastest way to judge a BPO is to talk to the people who would run your account. That is the whole point of the call.
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