Profile: Cierra Smith-Voytek

Meet Cierra Smith-Voytek,
Business Process Automation,
RPA Program Manager
at Sherwin-Williams

Cierra Smith-Voytek was recently named among 11 recipients of the inaugural Ohio Trailblazers Award presented by Verizon, celebrating the women transforming Ohio tech.

Following the award announcement on May 18, Cierra, a business process automation manager at Sherwin-Williams, joined us for a Q&A interview.

We hope you enjoy getting to know her better here, and please join us in congratulating her on LinkedIn!

Name: Cierra Smith-Voytek

Job: Business Process Automation, RPA Program Manager, Sherwin-Williams

City: Cleveland, Ohio

Q: Tell us about your job.

I manage a team of developers and business analysts for intelligent automation tools. This includes robotic process automation, custom apps, and hopefully soon some communications mining and task mining tools. I love my job because the basic foundation is using easy tech to make employees work lives easier. I am also the Cleveland Chapter president for getWITit and work alongside some of the most amazing women in NE Ohio in tech!

Q: How did you get into tech?

I had a degree in Fashion Merchandising and had started working in retail locations but had an opportunity to work for Verizon Wireless doing in-store merchandising, which included setting up hardware assets. It sparked my interest in tech and I went back to school to get an IT Network Administration degree and the rest is history! 

Q: What advice would you give to women looking to break into STEM?

Because you will likely be the only one, or one of only a few in your school, department, company it is really important to network with other women in STEM and create a personal board of advisors that can help you. Becoming a part of the getWITit community can help and I hope women from all over Ohio can gain some benefits from our non-profit or other women in technology groups as well.

Jessica Cohen, State and Federal Regulatory Affairs at Verizon, presents Trailblazer Award to Cierra Smith-Voytek, Business Process Automation, RPA Program Manager at Sherwin-Williams on May 18, 2023 at the Ohio TechSummit.

Q: What can Ohio do to support and promote women in tech?

Ohio can help promote non-profits in our state that are trying to bridge the gap between technology roles and potential employees. As tech companies or companies that have in-state tech workers, please get involved with groups like getWITit, Microsoft TEALS, WiCys, Black Tech, and more. Support coding & upskilling companies like We Can Code It, Tech Elevator, and Color Coded Labs just as much as universities & colleges. These are the groups that are really trying to make a difference and help diversify and support women in tech for Ohio. 

Q: Why is business process automation important at a large organization like Sherwin-Williams?

Much like any other amazing large company, Sherwin-Williams is always looking to simplify while securing their applications landscape. This can mean adding pressure onto employees as non-customized cloud solutions are put in place. Automation is what can remove that pressure from employees, by automating mundane tasks/processes so that they can focus on the important work that keeps them interested and invested in their jobs.

Q: How is AI impacting BPA?

AI is such a huge topic these days and can positively complement business process automation tools. Many intelligent automation tools are already being upgraded/updated to allow plug-ins for AI products such as ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and even Co-Pilot. The biggest change will occur once companies fully onboard the AI tool of their choice with their own internal data. As long as our automation partners can adhere to strict safety standards I really feel that BPA and AI can optimize any workforce for a company in ways that are exciting (albeit also scary).

Q: What do you do for fun when you’re not working?

I am an art person through and through. I love anything craft related, from knitting, painting, embroidery, sewing, to gardening! Anything that lets me be hands-on with some sort of art medium makes me happy. Also, I live close to the lake so in the warmer months I will spend hours at the beach looking for beach glass. 

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Learn more about Cierra’s work by connecting with her onLinkedIn.