Turning Experience Into Impact: Volie's Newest Coach, Keely Wong

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to another volley rally. And hopefully you noticed at the beginning of this video that I finally got my own intro. So I don't know, I'm kind of in the running to take over Jake's job as the volume rally guy. So we'll see how that goes. But today we've got another employee spotlight. We have Keely Wong on with us today. Welcome to Bali Rally.

Thank you.

So, Keely, you've been with us for a little shy of two months now. Tell us a little bit about who you are, where you're from, and your role at Bali.

Yes. So I've been in the automotive industry for nine years now, which is crazy. Every time I say that out loud. I was born and raised in Vermont. South Burlington, Vermont. Shout out. And my family is Canadian, Minnesotan. And I was born in Vermont. And I hate the cold. So I don't know. I don't know how. My blood just doesn't handle it. But I moved to Florida in 2018. Everyone always says, why'd you move forward? I'm like, because I can't deal with the cold. Yeah, no, no, I'm good. Not Canadian blood, but most of us, somehow I still can't deal with it. So came to Florida in 2018. I did start selling cars in Vermont, though. That was probably the biggest final push was taking the. I was at Nissan at the time and taking all the rogues out of the back.

I've never lived anywhere with, like, real snow. I've only ever lived in the south. And so I like snow because I've never had to shovel a driveway. I can only imagine shoveling a dealership, so.

Exactly. I used to live on a hill so there'd be like, with outdoor parking. Right. Because this is when I was, you know, my late teens. So I would live on a hill with a black ice that would go down in the winter and have to parallel park on that in the snow. So that with the. With the shoveling of the cars, I was. I was ready to go to. So I transferred to actually an Infinity store because I wanted to get into luxury. I'm like, perfect Nissan to Infiniti. I was there in sales and then I moved to an Audi store. So I sold lds for a while and I actually ended up before Volley, back at Infinity in a management role, though. So, yeah, so that's kind of my automotive journey. Right out of high school, though I did join the Navy.

What?

Yeah, I joined the heist. I joined the high school. I joined the Navy right from high school. I was in for actually only seven months. And the recruiters got you. What's that?

The recruiters got you. The recruiters that like come to high school and they poach all the high school.

I actually wanted to really.

Okay. Very, very cool. Is anybody else in your family military or that was just something that you felt called to?

Well, yes, but that wasn't why. So my great grandfather is actually a two star general.

Wow.

A paratrooper. But that wasn't even why I actually kind of like forgot about. I get, you know, when I was doing my whole journey, I didn't even think about it. And then later on I was like, oh, yeah, that's actually kind of cool. But I just, I don't know, I just really wanted to. I just felt like very in high school, very like patriotic. I just wanted to like. I ended up getting diagnosed with my medical condition. So I have like an autoimmune disorder. I didn't know going in. So seven months in, they were like, yeah, see? Yeah.

Like, so you were, you were medically discharged. It wasn't even like, you know, wow, that's crazy. Okay, so other than serving in the Navy and automotive, that that's really like the only jobs you've had?

Yeah. I mean, retail in high school, you know?

Yeah.

Apostle. Another shout out.

That's awesome. Oh, my God. I wanted to be like, I wanted to be like a Hollister or an Abercrombie Aeropostale girl so bad when I was in high school. So bad. Those were, those were the cool kids. So.

Yeah.

Wow.

That's.

That's really, really cool. I. What a unique, like story as to how you. You got to be random.

I don't think when I was five years old I'd ever be like, I'm gonna join the Navy for seven months and then be an automotive for the next. Yeah.

And now you're in our customer success department.

Yes.

Tell us a little bit about what that shift has been like for your career and how you're enjoying it so far. Hopefully you're enjoying.

Yes, I love it so far. Yes. So like I said, I've been in like the physical dealership for a long time now, and I love automotive, but I was kind of sick of being physically at a dealership every single day, which most people even buy in a car are like, I don't like to come three every three years for a few hours. Let it now try being there every single day.

Yeah.

Nine hours a day, right? Yeah.

A dealership is like the dentist office. Like, everyone knows they have to go, but they don't really want to go. And you kind of six months, you know, for your oil change and whatever, but everybody dreads going, and you feel better after you've left.

But, you know. Exactly. But it's what I know and what I like. And I was like, I was literally sought out to find a job that was still automotive but kind of another side of it. And I was like, this is perfect. Like, exactly. Because I really wanted to still work with dealers, but now my clients are the dealers rather than the people, which it's just. It's a nice little twist. And I can still use all my automotive knowledge, but apply it just kind of like the other side of the scene. So I really, really like it. And I'm a client success coach, so, yes, on the CS team, but a coach. So I will work. I work one on one with the dealerships, so.

Very cool. What is something that you've taken from this job now that you have this perspective of, you know, the way that Volley works and runs? You know, BDCs, think back to where you were at in your previous jobs at the dealer. What's something that you wish you would have known that, you know now? Working with Bali, Teaching people to use Volley that you wish you had as a tool back then.

I wish I had volley. That's what I wish I had. I wish Volley even existed. I mean, when I first got automotive, I didn't even exist. But it's funny you say that, because I was thinking about this recently, and my husband's actually gsm, so he. He's at the dealership still as a manager. And so I actually was asking the other day, I'm like, what do you guys even use to, like, call? I can't even remember. Like, I gotten so used to, even in the two months, like, Volley, that I'm like, thinking back, that I'm like, I can't, because I worked with the bdc, but I wasn't, like, physically inside the bdc. So I'm trying to remember. I'm like, I know in sales, we use, like, our CRM, but, like, is that just what they're doing? They're pulling? And then I'm like, well, yeah, that's why, you know, they created Volley in the first place.

Yeah, it's crazy. And Scott tells people all the time, he says, you know, how are you running your BDC without Volley? Because it genuinely, especially now, like, seeing volley every single day, being in the platform, teaching people how to use it, seeing how they're Using it at their bdc. You're like, God, how in the world are people doing this without us? I mean, it just, like, it's crazy, and it feels so, like, counterproductive. What everybody else is, is doing. You're like, this is such a waste of time. Please just use Volley. I promise it's going to make your life easier.

I know. I'm like, I don't even feel like I need to sell it. It's just like, yeah, it seems too good to be true. Almost like, I had a client the other day, and she was like, oh, you know, my BDC agents were scared to use it because they thought they'd do something wrong. It was too easy. I'm like, no, that's why you. Because it's supposed to make it easy. She's like, yeah, I think I was overthinking it.

That needs to be our new tagline. Like, don't be scared to use us because it's so easy.

Yeah, that's awesome.

Oh, my gosh.

Okay.

What has been your favorite part of the job thus far? I know we're only two months in, but, you know, what have you enjoyed the most about this job, and what are you the most excited about in maybe the next two months or maybe even, you know, another year from now?

Yeah. Yeah. I think the. I know this might sound cliche, but it is genuinely so true with Volley that the company culture is, like, light years ahead of everywhere else. And, like, you can attest, obviously, as someone who works there, it is so help. Like, everybody is so helpful. I've been saying this from the beginning, and people like you already noticed this. I'm like, yes. Even, like, my interview process, people are like, I could ask them a question. I. I can't even describe it. It's very. Everyone's really willing to help, and it's genuine. It's not like, oh, just have her do this. Pretending. It's like, no, actually wants to make sure I understand what I'm doing so that going forward, I don't have to ask it again. If I do have to ask it again, though, they'll. They'll be willing to help me still. So a thousand percent, that is my number one thing. So you don't feel nervous about asking questions or anything like that at all. Very supportive. And going forward, I think just taking on more clients, obviously, the longer I'm here, the more clients I'm going to get and just learning more so. So I can feel more confident myself so I don't have to ask as Many questions. So when I am with my clients, it's just more of like a. Oh, yeah, I know that off the top of my head, I'm already starting to finally like, ask a question like, oh, I know that I don't know where to go. So that feels good.

It's nerve wracking. Starting a new role. I remember when I transitioned from my previous job, which I had been at for two years, and I mean, I just knew it, you know, it exactly. It's second nature at that point to then start in a new job. And for me it was a new job, new career, new industry. So I had never done anything remotely like what I do now. And it was so scary at the. The idea of potentially not being good. Right. And even though it was absolutely the right decision for me and I love my job and I've grown so much in it over the last year that I've been here. I remember thinking, God, it would just be so much easier to stay where I am because I know it and I know that I'm good at it and I don't have to worry about failure, you know. But then we don't grow and we don't evolve and we don't ever get anywhere really. And I would have just been complacent in this job that didn't satisfy me. Instead, now I work in a very rewarding job with the best company culture I've ever been a part of. It's so much fun. It really does feel like a family. And I'm very excited for you to get to experience the summer meeting. It's the only time of the year that we all get together in person. It really is just the best time. This past year when we were there. Scott said, I think my favorite part about the meeting was looking at summer and just seeing this giant smile on her face the whole time we were there because you were having so much fun. And I was like, I was having so much fun. This is the best. I love this job. I love this company. Which sounds so fake and I know.

It sounds so fake when I say that. No, but I get it. I'm like, no. Like, it sounds so, like, especially when someone is asking who is like a Scott or, you know, Jake or somebody and you're like, I swear this isn't yours. I'm being so serious. Like, that is like the best.

Yeah, it's. It's fantastic. I can't speak highly enough about leadership, about my own team members and about like cross team collaborations anybody I've ever had. To work with is so easy. To work with is so much fun to work with. It's just genuinely the best time. I love this job. The company culture is astounding, and I think our customers feel that, too. And I think they feel that everybody that works at Volley and works for Volley is such a firm believer in what we do, and we take so much pride in what we do, and I think that translates to any Volley users. And they feel that everybody here is here because we genuinely want to be and because we love it, not because it's just another job that, you know, pays the bills. Yeah, it's awesome.

Yeah. You really have to be. I was telling this to Eliza the other day, which, for anybody watching is my team's vp, and I was telling her, I'm like, you. To work here, you have to really be, like, bought into Bali. And everyone is. And it's amazing. It's. No one's here, like, just like you said, no one's here just to, like, have another job. Clock in, clock out, like, it's. You can just tell, like, if they. That. And that's, I think, why people want to help you, why people want you to succeed, and blah, blah, blah. Because people are actually interested in making every. Everybody succeed.

Yeah. And you. And you guys on the CS side, you guys really get to see it pay off, and you guys really get to see what these differences make. And especially in your role as a coach, you know, getting to share different things that customers can do to improve their numbers and then actually getting to watch it happen as a result of what you've shown them and what they've taken from that and put their own twist on it. And especially when you take into account. I don't know if any of your accounts have attended our 20 groups, but especially if you take those into account. And the things that they've gotten to learn from their peers, not just us, you know, sitting behind a screen telling you, oh, you should do this, you know, what do we know? Which we do know, but if you don't want to believe us, then you get the opportunity to listen to other people in your same position. And it's. It's so cool to get to see them all grow based on each other, you know, in. In partnership with us. It's. It's a very rewarding job in that aspect, and I think it's why people genuinely love working at Bali.

So, yes, you took the right of. It's very rewarding when you get to, like, see the. I think especially, like you said, from our department, the CS department, you. We can see the actual, like fruits of the reward on the customer side versus if you're just like coding something, you don't necessarily see where it's going, but we can actually get the pleasure of seeing.

Yes.

Help somebody and they'll call us. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. Like, I just made my bonus or whatever. Right. And it's because they were able to make this many more calls because of Ollie. So very rewarding.

Yeah. Super cool. Tell me a little bit about who you are outside of Bali. Tell me a little bit about, you know, you as a Vermont girl turned Florida girl. Tell me a little bit about things you enjoy outside of work. A little bit about, you know, Keely. Aside from customer success.

Yes. So like I said, live in Florida now. I don't go to the beach. People probably assume I'm a beach girl.

I never went to Vermont.

Didn't like the cold. Didn't ski or snowboard. I did when I was little, but I kind of grew out of it. And then now that I'm in Florida, I don't go to beach. But I do have my dog who's laying right there by my feet. My dog, my cat. So I'm an animal lover. And my neighborhood, we have like a lot of walking trails. So my dog, my. I'm married to my husband. My dog and I will walk the. The lake. So that's kind of like our favorite thing to do is just spend time outside. We were on the computer all day long. I was just like, I don't want to watch TV or anything. I just want to go outside. So as long as it's not rainy season, we'll be outside. We do bike. We bike around as well. In our neighborhood, it rains every day.

At 3 o' clock in Florida. I don't know what you're talking about. Not raining.

Well, at three o' clock, I'm still online.

Oh yeah, that's true. That's true. That's a good point. So the rain is gone by the time you. You clock off and.

Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Now, in my neighborhood, we are actually what's called an agrihood, which means we have a farm share. So there is like a little miniature. I call it a giant garden. I don't. It's not really a farm. It's more of like a giant garden. And so we actually get. It's really cute. We get these little tokens, like 30 tokens every fall. We just go do the HOA, like clubhouse. And they give You. Your little tokens, which actually reminds me, I got to do that for this. And you get to go whenever you want. Whenever. This little. We have a little store, and they actually, like, pick the produce and sell it with. For your tokens you can use.

That is so cool. What a genius concept. I've never heard of that ever. That is so cool. So you're in. You're in what part of Florida? Like, central Florida?

No, I'm actually just 30 minutes west of West Palm.

Oh, okay.

Okay. So I'm, like, near, like, the biggest, like, main. Like, big city city, but is Wellington, which is known for, like, horseback riding.

That's where I was born.

You were born in Wellington?

Yeah. I. So I'm originally from Florida, I guess you and I didn't talk about. Oh, okay. I was. I was born in Wellington, but I grew up in Miami, and then I came to school in South Carolina, where I live now, and then I stayed in the area. So I kind of pulled the opposite of you. I couldn't stand the heat, and when it's hot outside, I thrive in the, quote, fall and winter, because it's a fake fall and winter here in the South. But, yeah, I kind of. I kind of pulled the opposite. I wanted to. I wanted to be where. Yeah. So we've talked about work. We've talked about personal life. We've talked about, you know, things we like to do for fun. What is just sort of a closing piece that you would like to finish off with for anybody that might be watching, you know, maybe what to take from your venture into this new role. You know, what's a piece of advice that you would give to somebody that loves to feel that they're in, but maybe isn't satisfied in their job and wants to explore something new? What's. What's a piece of advice you would give them?

I would say don't let the comfort feeling of, like, being comfortable hold you back, because I think you and I both had that similar experience of. In my previous role. I felt super comfortable, and I knew that I could answer anything at the top of my head and just get it done. But at the end of the day, it's not. It wasn't fulfilling anymore because I was already kind of, like, you know, maxed it out, for lack of better term. So I've just learned so much already. Just only been 60 days, and my brain has expanded, like, literally. I feel like I'm, like, almost a changed person now, so. And in a great way, not in a bad way at all. And So I think just don't let yourself be held back by fear. Just trust. Trust like your instincts and if you see an opportunity, just go for it. There's literally no harm.

Yeah.

In going for it. There's literally no harm in that. Especially if you haven't even accepted the job yet. Right.

Just when seeking anew opportunity, you have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain from, you know, thinking about the potential to go do something more. And when you're at the point where you don't love what you're doing anymore is when you should stop doing it. You know, that's when you've kind of met the end of it. And it doesn't mean that the job didn't service purpose and didn't propel you to where you are now. But it's just time for the sun to set on that opportunity and to start chasing after another one.

And.

And we should all be comfortable with being uncomfortable because you don't learn anything in your comfort zone. You have to push yourself out of it and be constantly uncomfortable if you want to constantly strive towards success.

So thousand percent agree. I. A thousand percent agree. Thanks.

You know, you don't have to agree with me. Okay.

I do though. That's exactly.

I appreciate, I appreciate it. But you don't have to agree with me. No, I'm just kidding. Well, that is all that we had for you guys today. Keely, thank you so much for being on today. You were a delight to get to talk to you. And for everybody else, thank you so much and have a fantastic day. Bye.