In our Centered on Your Success blog series, get to know our experts and how they measure success for clients. In this installment, meet Tracy Dixon.
What’s your story?
I have been with Centric since 2014, doing project management and application lifecycle management.
Beginning in 2014, I managed technical projects at one of Miami’s largest accounts, a global services company. I managed and implemented a workflow management technology system for the largest homeowner insurance in Florida, now covering 19 states.
In 2018, I got trained and certified in RPA. One of my first automation projects was to automate processes for a major hospice provider. I am still a part of that client’s team to this day, now responsible for oversight of all projects for their account. I also support our Miami team on all operational excellence opportunities, with a special passion for projects in automation and healthcare. Before Centric, I was a professor at the University of North Florida (UNF) where I taught project management and was a project manager for many years prior.
Why did you decide to become part of your field?
I was always looking for ways to improve processes through automation for myself and for my clients. A few years ago, when I found out about UiPath’s free RPA training, I took every course available and was certified within a few months. I have always been interested in both the business and technical sides of projects, and I love to learn new things. I am passionate about process excellence and using training and education as a springboard for greater opportunities.
How are you working to guide your clients to success right now?
Right now, I work on operational excellence projects to help clients improve their processes and help companies create and improve their automation programs. I also guide our business units on how to introduce automation to their clients and assess what processes can be automated. I am also a 3x UiPath MVP, and I actively and frequently collaborate within the automation community. I love to optimize processes and teach others about automation so people can do more things that are worthy of their time.
What does the success of your clients mean to you?
Happy employees and cost savings. If I do my job well at the end of the day, my client’s employees are happier and have more productive days doing more enjoyable things. If employees are happy, then my clients are more successful.
What, in your opinion, do companies need the most help with right now?
Now, post-pandemic, companies realize that employee experience is much more important and employee satisfaction matters. That is becoming more of a priority for companies that want to retain their workforce. Nearly every Fortune 100 company is now doing automation. If companies are not automating, they are not able to keep up with the competition. As employees, customers and citizen developers affected by automation, we all benefit from better processes.
What do you think they should be thinking about next?
How to start combining RPA with business process management (BPM). Most companies benefit from the combination of the tools. Any company that has already implemented automation should mature its program with BMP. This ensures they can cover more end-to-end cycles and processes and make sure there aren’t bottlenecks.
What are you looking forward to in your industry?
RPA will ultimately change the face of our workforce. Many of the manual tasks we see today will be obsolete. Workers will be able to focus more on talking to customers, making decisions, and doing things that require the human brain, which robots can never replace.
I am also super excited I was chosen again to speak at UiPath’s annual Forward Conference. It is the pinnacle event for our automation clients along with UiPath MVPs, customers, prospective customers and partners to collaborate about automation and better practice using automation to fuel digital transformation.
What piece of career advice keeps you passionate and purposeful?
Never be afraid to ask for help. I used to often approach working at things alone, not thinking I needed help or feeling too busy to reach out. I learned my lesson the hard way. I now involve others in nearly everything I do. If I don’t do this myself, I cannot truly be passionate about helping others.
What do you do when you’re not guiding clients?
I am active on the National Alliance on Mental Illness board for the Jacksonville chapter, helping efforts to reduce stigma. I am also very active in the UiPath community, doing work and speaking. I help run the UiPath South Florida Chapter. I work at the University of North Florida, helping students to learn more about automation. I am also passionate about helping not-for-profit organizations use automation to achieve their missions.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Miami?
Being on the water, including boating, fishing and swimming, and I love to be on the dance floor.
