Rising Stars 2024: Alexandria Clay Congleton

Alexandria “Clay” Congleton, 29
Manager of customer success
Railinc Corp.

Nominator’s quote: “[Clay] provides a guiding light for new Railinc team members and helps them find their place within the company, where they will continue supporting the rail industry by working even more closely with stakeholders. On top of her daily responsibilities, she takes on projects to improve company infrastructure and streamline internal processes.” — Bill Fahrenwald, James Street Associates

Education: Bachelor of arts in economics and philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Job responsibilities: Leader of a dynamic customer success team; oversee multiple customer success specialists and one team lead. Responsible for developing strategies to improve services, make processes more efficient and grow the team through recruitment. Dedicated to helping employees grow and stay with the organization. Use technical skills, like Python, to automate tasks.

Career path: I joined Railinc in May 2019 as a customer success specialist, where I worked on the front lines helping our customers with their needs. During my time in this role, I really dug into understanding Railinc's products and what our customers were looking for. After two years in the role, I was excited to take on the role of team lead for the customer success team. A few months later, I found myself stepping into the shoes of manager of customer success.

Why did you enter the rail industry? Getting into the rail industry was quite unexpected for me. Right out of college, I found myself working as an IT recruiter, and Railinc happened to be one of our clients. One of my colleagues decided to make the move to Railinc, intrigued by the company and its benefits. After some conversations with her about it, I became interested too, and decided to apply. It wasn’t part of my original plan, but I'm glad I took the chance because it introduced me to an interesting industry I hadn't considered before.

What’s the best advice that you’ve received so far in your career? Always keep learning and avoid getting complacent. Stay curious, seek out new opportunities and challenge myself to grow. This advice has helped me stay motivated and adaptable, especially in today's world, where things are constantly changing.

What advice would you share with someone new to a career in rail? I'd say never stop learning and don't settle into a comfort zone. The field is always evolving, so keep seeking new knowledge and experiences. Stay open to challenges, take on new tasks and embrace growth opportunities.

What was your very first job? As a hostess at Buffalo Wild Wings when I was 16. Well, unless you consider my childhood entrepreneurial venture of selling vegetables from our garden door-to-door around the neighborhood for $1 each.

Share a fun fact about yourself. In my free time I like to play pool. Last year, I had an exciting win at a regional tournament, which scored me a ticket to the 2024 APA 8-Ball Classic Poolplayer Championship in Las Vegas. Among 277 competitors in my skill level, I proudly secured 5th place.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? It would probably be Elon Musk. His visionary approach to technology and innovation is truly fascinating. I'd love to chat with him about his vision for the future. Plus, I bet dinner with him would be pretty interesting, to say the least!

Who has most influenced your career? I must acknowledge the collective impact of everyone I've encountered. From friends and family to colleagues, each person has contributed invaluable lessons that have shaped my professional growth. Whether it's drawing inspiration from their successes, observing their approaches to challenges or learning from their mistakes, every interaction has left a lasting impact on my career path.

Cameron Blair stands out for encouraging me to apply to Railinc, opening doors to new opportunities in the rail industry. Anitra Robinson, my team lead, instilled in me the confidence to aim for a managerial role, even during my early stages. Kristi Talley, my manager, has been a guiding mentor, especially during my initial transition into management. And lastly, my mom, Laura Clemons, has been a steadfast source of support, instilling in me the values of resilience and determination through her own sacrifices as a single parent.

Describe a major obstacle in your career and how you surmounted it. One obstacle in my career was my rapid progression from a customer success specialist to manager of the customer success team. It was a challenge at first, but I tackled it by leveraging my foundational knowledge and seeking guidance from mentors and peers. Open communication with my team helped us navigate the change together, and with perseverance, I grew into the role, becoming a stronger leader in the process.

What is the biggest challenge facing the rail industry today??A major challenge is learning its complexities while dealing with the loss of experienced professionals due to retirement. With a multifaceted environment and diverse operational aspects, passing on crucial knowledge to the next generation is essential.

This transition involves not only teaching the expertise but also adapting to new technologies and regulations. Successfully managing this challenge is essential for the next generation of railroaders.