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Idaliz, thank you for talking with me! I know you are currently a GM with the Hello Auto Group, but I'd love to start before that. When did you get into the automotive industry?
I started in the car industry on the retail side in 2007 as a finance manager at a Smart Car store in Minnesota when they launched in the US. I then transitioned to Nissan and spent a couple of years there. From there I moved into the sales management side of the industry. I was subsequently promoted as a Sales Manager/GSM role at Mercedes-Benz. I had the pleasure of working with Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar along the way! I’ve worked with some amazing OEMs, but I’ve found the people you work are what makes work fun. I feel I’ve found my home at Hello Auto Group.
Wow! It sounds like you've been involved with all the "big names"! Do you have a favorite?
Oh, absolutely! I have always loved the Aston Martin brand; such beautiful cars, a beautiful company, and the people involved during my time there were super passionate. They understood us as dealers and the client's love for the brand.
They make you turn your head even if you're just driving by one.
Oh cool! Like James Bond?
Yes, the Aston Martin DB5, they're so awesome! The sound that comes from them and the power that goes along with them is outstanding.
That's fantastic! Moving up to today, tell me some about joining Hello Group?
Karl Schmidt, the President of Hello Auto Group recruited me to open the new Hello Mazda of San Diego store . I helped launch the store as the General Manager and I've been here a little over a year now. I love how Hello brings a refreshing approach to business in the Southern California market - one that shares a lot of customer-centric, Midwest values that I’ve come to enjoy from my prior experience. Hello definitely brings a welcome approach to the markets it serves.
What's the secret to managing your store?
Well, it's funny, you should ask, as right now we're running our store out of trailers. We just moved into our trailers about two weeks ago. We've been working out of a Family Fun Center since we opened. I am currently working on building a beautiful state of the art Mazda facility to open in late 2023 to early 2024 here in San Diego.
I think the secret is building a great team around you and just being super engaged in everyday happenings. Knowing your team, knowing what makes them tick, knowing your audience and rallying around a shared goal to deliver a refreshing automotive experience.. Just being super engaged with your team members, showing them the way, and ensuring that our visions are aligned daily, weekly, and monthly!
Sounds like you are staying "in it" with the team!
Yeah, absolutely. Every day, every time, without fail or exceptions. Because if you're not in it, you lose touch of it and the ultimate goal.
I firmly believe in being a part of it every day to ensure that everybody is working together in a constant state of tune - firing on all cylinders if you will.
Maybe this is hard to nail down, but how do you discern when somebody on your team is "getting it?" How do you know they are on that level with you?
I would say just natural happiness. Like when you see them walking around with a bounce in their step, working hard, and attaining their personal and our monthly goals. They're actually super excited to be here and care. They're happy to not just sell a car every day, but happy when they show up every day.
Feels like a powerful way to lead people to more than just the next sale. What do you see next for the industry, store, and your career?
Yeah, so Hello Auto Group has really embraced the new market and is focused on doing things differently, in a good way. There is no finance department at our locations here in California, which is something different for this market. Since opening in 2019 Hello Auto Group has taken care of our clients all the way through especially during the pandemic, inventory, and chips shortages.
And that means a lot as we already know that the stereotype of our business isn't always the best. During such a hard time, it was important for Hello to set itself apart and say, "Hey, we definitely are here for the people, not only our staff but our customers and their families."
So, I feel like with Hello, I see my five-year plan as maybe opening my own store alongside them and really being part of the group all the way around.
The final step in tying your fates together! I assume it would have to be an Aston Martin store, right?
Oh, yeah maybe so but when the opportunity of ownership presents itself I will gratefully accept the brand at hand!
I love to end on a piece of lived experience you'd like to share with the community. Something that has worked, or is working in your life that others should be more aware of.
I always go back to when I was a little Puerto Rican girl staring out my window in the Bronx! I never saw myself in a leadership role at that time, especially in this business, since it was a male-dominated role. I didn't even consider any kind of sales. I would say, "I'm going to be a doctor," or "I'm going to be a singer," or "I'm going to be an actress." It was never "I'm going to be the general manager of a car dealership." I never thought that it would be possible.
But I had something that was driving me that inner power telling me I can do what I set my mind to. I always say it was my mom because she always had a passion for being better, growing, making herself a little bolder, and following that passion that was within her. I definitely inherited that trait! That’s why I always say, never say never, and keep pushing for what you feel in your heart is right and believe in yourself.Those two things alone will make all the difference.