""There are things that Kim knows about my life that no one else in this practice knows. And that's a testament to the type of trust that you have to build. She helps me to be more productive because I'm able to just focus on the things that I want to get done. Then I consider her to be just a wonderful human being in my life. Kim makes my life better.""
— Leisle Chung, CEO
The Challenge
As CEO of Vanguard Skin Specialists, a six-office dermatology and plastic surgery practice in Southern Colorado, Leisle Chung wore many hats. Her responsibilities spanned day-to-day operations, strategic direction, organizational development, and culture — all while staying active with the nonprofits she supported.
With so many demands on her time and bandwidth, Leisle recognized she needed dedicated administrative support. Having come from the corporate world where she relied on an assistant who managed everything, she knew what a difference that kind of help could make.
She had been interviewing candidates for an onsite assistant role, but hadn't found the right fit. Then she heard about BELAY — twice, on two separate podcasts. As she put it:
"By the time I heard it the second time, I was like, 'OK. I should check this out and just see.'"
For a medical practice with strict confidentiality requirements and a team-oriented culture, finding someone she could trust with sensitive information — across HR, operations, and her personal schedule — was not just a preference. It was essential.
The Solution
BELAY matched Leisle with Kim Tobey, a Virtual Assistant with a background as a nurse and former medical practice manager. That combination of healthcare experience and administrative expertise made her uniquely suited to the role.
Kim dove in with calendar management first — coordinating Leisle's professional schedule alongside her family calendar to eliminate conflicts. From there, the scope grew to include email management, drafting responses to team members, and scheduling meetings across the organization.
"It started heavy with scheduling and has grown since then," Kim explains.
Because Kim worked remotely, she became a trusted and neutral resource for sensitive matters — particularly HR. She managed employee feedback processes, sent out surveys, and compiled performance reports on team members from entry-level staff to doctors. Leisle found that Kim's physical distance from the practice was not a limitation but an advantage: team members were more candid with someone offsite, and confidentiality was easier to maintain.
Kim's prior HIPAA experience also made her a natural fit for a medical environment.
"Even if there were no HIPAA, I'd still follow those guidelines," Kim says.That level of professionalism gave Leisle the confidence to extend full trust from day one.
""She's a hundred percent present at work. She's a hundred percent present at home. And I think that's very inspiring. It gives you something to aspire to and come to work for every week.""
— Leisle Chung, CEOThe Impact
The partnership between Leisle and Kim quickly became one defined by deep trust, productivity, and genuine human connection. Leisle was able to redirect her energy toward the work only she could do — leading strategy, developing culture, and serving her community — while Kim handled the operational and administrative details that had previously competed for her attention.
"She helps me to be more productive because I'm able to just focus on the things that I want to get done," Leisle shares.
Perhaps more meaningful than the efficiency gains was the relationship itself. Leisle described Kim as someone who knows things about her life that no one else in the practice does — a level of intimacy that speaks to the trust they've built together. That trust extended outward: the broader team came to rely on Kim as a credible, impartial resource for confidential matters.
For Kim, the impact ran in both directions. Working alongside someone as driven and community-minded as Leisle became its own source of motivation.
"All the good she does for other people is inspiring and makes you want to go above and beyond every day so she can continue to change people's lives," Kim says. "She's a hundred percent present at work. She's a hundred percent present at home. And I think that's very inspiring."
Leisle's endorsement of BELAY is unequivocal: for any leader seeking not just help, but a trusted partner who can handle the full complexity of a demanding role, BELAY delivers.