Member Spotlight: Robin Lefler

Robin Lefler is currently CRC Symposium Sponsorship Co-Chair. She is the former General Manager at Ionic Automation, the author of two novels published by HarperCollins Canada, a parent, a Tolkien fan and much more. After pivoting from software sales to robotics in 2012, Robin found her career niche, contributing to the runaway success of Clearpath Robotics, and, most recently, diving into the world of custom manufacturing equipment with Ionic Automation. Robin is also a member of the Canadian Robotics council Industry Committee (Indoor), and an enthusiastic participant in robotics conferences and events worldwide.

1/ How did you get into robotics and why do you want to stay in this field?

I fell into robotics almost entirely by accident. After completing a highly sought-after two-year degree in equine massage therapy (yes, horse massage), I discovered the career options weren't as abundant as one might have hoped. I spent a year in Australia, then worked at a company that developed and sold hydrology software. In 2012, I spotted an ad for a sales role at a local startup called Clearpath Robotics and thought robots almost certainly had to be more interesting than groundwater modeling and data management software (to me, at least). 

Initially I was hooked by that magical startup energy and the fact that every system we sold was doing something different and almost always fascinating. What kept me at Clearpath for thirteen years, and tied to the robotics space afterward, has been the people. I've been incredibly lucky to have a team of coworkers who are kind, creative and talented, and a client base of brilliant, welcoming academic researchers and commercial developers within Canada and internationally. 

2/ Please tell us a little about your greatest achievements so far, inside and outside robotics.

I stepped into Clearpath not knowing what LiDAR was or how a GPS worked, let alone a single thing about robotics. I started my time there as an Account Executive, became Sales Manager, then Director of Business Development, and finally General Manager in 2024. The ‘19-year-old, failed equine massage therapist Robin’ could never have guessed this is where she'd end up. My mother is still in shock.

Outside Robotics, raising two excellent young humans is certainly the most effort I've ever put into anything, but outside of that, I'm an author! My debut novel, Reasonable Adults, was published by HarperCollins Canada and Kensington in 2022, and Not How I Pictured It came out in 2024.

3/ What are your top two or three goals this year, for yourself professionally or for your company?  

Diversification and backlog stability. As we continue to make our way through unprecedented times, stretching the reach of Ionic Automation becomes more critical. We've been looking at where we can leverage our strengths in new areas, how new technology can help us do more, and also help us help our customers do more as efficiently and economically as possible.

Additionally, in an industry traditionally full of peaks and valleys, we're working on building out a robust sales pipeline and project backlog that allows for more strategic long term planning.

4/ Why did you join the Canadian Robotics Council? What do you see as its value now and going forward?

Ionic Automation joined CRC to be part of a national ecosystem supporting innovation and growth. We've been a member for nearly a year now and have seen so much benefit from having access to a network of peers navigating similar business challenges, and also finding ways complementary technology companies can work together.

Going forward, I'm excited to see how the CRC continues to help member organizations find success, whether that's through assistance navigating government funding opportunities, educational offerings, or academic/industry partnership matching.

5/ Who would you most want to have lunch with (living/dead/fictional) if you could, and why?

I would have loved to spend time with Catherine O'Hara and hear about how she chose what projects to work on, how she handled creative dry spells, and just generally because I bet she was a veritable hoot to hang out with. 

BONUS QUESTION: What are you reading right now?

We just finished a family listen of The Hobbit audiobook performed by Andy Serkis and it was an utter delight. There's something incredibly comforting about familiar stories when the world feels a bit out of control. Plus, watching my kids experience Gollum for the first time was 10/10. Admittedly however, I'm a bit tired of being asked what's in my pocketses.