Having made history by being the first woman in over 20 years to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend, Susie has since become a leading figure in team leadership, talent development and diversity within motorsport. Drawing on her experience as a driver, team principal and executive, Susie considers the leadership, resilience and strategy required to develop the next generation of talent and to build high-performing cultures that create lasting change.
Susie Wolff is a former professional racing driver turned motorsport executive and leader. As Managing Director of the F1 Academy, she is at the forefront of developing the next generation of female racing talent and reshaping the future of motorsport. She has competed at the highest level with teams on and off the track as both a role model for and leader of change, inclusivity and resilience.
Beginning her competitive career on the karting circuit, Susie progressed through Formula Renault before competing at the top level of touring car racing with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM competition. Whilst with the Williams F1 team, Susie’s on-track career reached a historic milestone when she became the first woman in more than two decades to participate in a Formula 1 race weekend, underlining both her talent and her determination to succeed in one of the most demanding sporting environments in the world.
Following her retirement from racing, Susie focused on leading long-term change within the sport. She founded the Dare To Be Different initiative, a call to action designed to inspire young women and accelerate female participation across all areas of motorsport. The programme went on to combine with FIA Girls on Track, expanding its global reach and impact. She also moved into management, serving as Team Principal and later CEO of the Formula E team ROKiT Venturi Racing, leading the team to their most successful season on the track. He time in charge combined strategy and performance with culture change.
As Managing Director of the F1 Academy, Susie leads an all-female racing category designed to identify, develop and prepare young drivers for progression into higher levels of competition. She is working with new racing talent to build elite performance, develop their skills, and establish systemic change, with a focus on creating real, sustainable change rather than gestures.
Susie draws on her experience as a sportsperson, executive and leader in a traditionally male-dominated area. With authority and authenticity, she reflects on leadership in high-pressure environments, building inclusive high-performance teams, resilience, and the courage required to challenge established systems and ideas.