Most women aren't lacking persistence. They're missing the map — who to ask, who to trust, and who actually has the power to move things.
Motorsport doesn't hand you that map. You build it, race by race, setback by setback, until you figure out which rooms matter and which people in those rooms are worth your ask.
Takin' Care of Lady Business Episode 149
In this episode, Susie Wolff — Managing Director of F1 Academy and former professional driver — talks about what two decades in one of the world's most male-dominated industries actually taught her. Not just how to push through. How to find the right people to push with.
This is not a story about one big moment. It's about the long game: staying yourself across years of rooms that didn't expect you, knowing when to ask and — more importantly — who, and why committing fully means letting go of the safety net entirely.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why persistence without the right relationships only gets you so far
How to identify the people worth asking — and stop wasting your ask on the wrong ones
Why holding your identity over a 20-year career is harder, and more powerful, than any single negotiation
Highlights:
(00:00) Meet Susie Wolff
(03:53) When gender bias became clear
(08:43) Femininity, image, and being taken seriously
(14:30) How she asked for more
(19:04) When she finally asked for help
(21:21) Mom guilt and making time count
(24:56) What F1 Academy is building
(27:09) Creating the pipeline to Formula One
(29:10) Making the business case
(33:07) Why she rejected the backup plan
About Our Guest:
Susie Wolff is the Managing Director of F1 Academy and a former professional racing driver who has spent her career challenging what power and performance look like in motorsport. After competing in karting, Formula Renault, Formula 3, and DTM with Mercedes Benz, she became the first woman in 22 years to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend at the 2014 British Grand Prix. Today, she leads F1 Academy’s mission to develop young female driving talent and expand women’s access to the sport, on track and off.
Susie Wolff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiewolff/
Explore F1 Academy: https://www.f1academy.com/
Pre-order Driven: https://a.co/d/0gDnIpus
About Jennifer Justice and The Justice Dept.
JJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-justice-354a0b99
The Justice Dept: https://www.thejusticedept.com/
JJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferjusticel/
Newsletter: https://tkolb-newsletter-a50814.beehiiv.com/
The Justice Dept. is a female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.
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This is a Lady Business LLC Production.
