Toronto, Ontario -- Jessica Smith has joined Solera as director of CRM sales and account management.
She brings more than 25 years of experience in sales, account leadership and team development with her to the role.
Smith enters the role after nearly a decade in the automotive industry, following a 20-year career in the home remodeling and design sector. She said the move followed a period of professional reflection and was shaped by long-standing industry relationships and prior exposure to Solera.
“I had the opportunity to have a glimpse from the outside looking in of the leadership, the culture and what’s important,” Smith said. “That really is what it came down to. This is where I want to be.”
In her new position, Smith will oversee CRM sales and account management. She said the role reflects her career experience, which, while rooted in sales leadership, has consistently required close collaboration across customer service and performance management functions.
“Even though my entire career by title has been sales, I’ve always had to wear the hat of customer service and performance management,” she said. “The roles where I partnered most closely across those functions were where I was most successful.”
Smith said Solera’s leadership structure and approach were key factors in her decision to join the company. She pointed to collaboration across leadership levels and the visibility of women in senior roles as differentiators within the automotive and technology sectors.
“You don’t see a lot of women in higher leadership roles in this industry,” she said. “What stood out to me was seeing executive leaders in the room, having conversations with directors and VPs. It’s not about a title — it’s a partnership.”
Smith’s familiarity with Solera also stems from her involvement with the Women of Color Automotive Network, where she serves as vice president. Solera has supported WOCAN as part of a broader focus on elevating women across the automotive industry, alongside partnerships with industry leaders and academic institutions aimed at leadership development.
Those efforts extend beyond automotive. Solera has launched global initiatives such as Women in Insurance, which operates cohorts across North America, Europe, APAC and Latin America, as well as similar leadership programs within its dealer and technology organizations.
In addition to her corporate role, Smith is the creator and host of the Lead Like a Girl podcast, which focuses on leadership development, professional growth, relationships, faith and life as a mother. She said those experiences have reinforced her people-first leadership philosophy.
“When people know you genuinely want to help them grow and develop, performance follows,” she said.
Smith said her priorities include leading her team while supporting professional growth and leadership development across the organization.
