My passion for motorsports was born the same way many others’ passions are these days: the pandemic. As a high school senior with nothing left to do but wait for the first semester of my undergraduate program, I turned to Netflix for entertainment. I expected to be pulled into some silly sitcom, but what I ended up being entranced by was none other than Formula 1: Drive to Survive.

My Passion for Motorsport

I watched the entire series, which documents several action-packed seasons in the popular racing sport with behind-the-scenes insights, in a few days and realized that wasn’t enough for me — I had found a new obsession. As one naturally does when they have a new fixation, I turned to social media to learn more. I followed all the drivers who inspired me, the teams that work around the clock to create the best opportunity to win, and the media personalities who create the stories we love to hear.

As I progressed through my four years at the University of Virginia, I continued to follow the sport I had grown to love. While I navigated potential career paths, I realized that this passion didn’t have to stop with being a fan — it could become more than that. I began to research the opportunities, and from there, created a path to follow. That dream is a big part of why I decided to come to Fuqua. I knew that a path into motorsports would be possible with the skills I would learn in the MQM program.

Networking: Assembling My Pit Crew

After making the move to North Carolina and starting the program in July, I set my sights on my goals. I had to learn how to network and use my communication skills to learn more about working in the motorsports industry. Anyone who knows me can confirm I spent hours on LinkedIn, poring over profiles of people working in marketing for NASCAR and Formula 1. I crafted countless introductory messages, which later resulted in meetings to learn and build connections.

These connections led me to a unique opportunity in October — the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the help of Mariana Valle, co-president of the Duke MBA Media, Entertainment and Sports club, and a Fuqua instructor, I was invited on a trip to Charlotte to see the race.

Experiencing the Action in Person

Being at a NASCAR race is unlike any other sporting event I’ve seen in person — truly an unforgettable experience. The sheer excitement of being at the track is palpable. You can feel the equal sense of anxiety and determination from a mile away.

Thanks to the managing director of analytics and racing operations at NASCAR, we had the closest access possible to the action — a pass to the pit road. Almost as if my feet were glued to the ground, I spent the entire race at pit road. I could not believe how many pieces came together to create such a massive event and spectacular race, weekend after weekend.

I spoke to employees for various teams, watched pit stops, and enjoyed the exhilarating sound of cars racing around the track. Having this experience confirmed my passion and career ambitions, and as I embark on my career search, I feel confident that motorsports is where I belong. I’ve already learned so much from the MQM program that will support me in my future, from breaking down what makes a strong presentation and public speaker to the intricate details of how to create a MarTech stack to support a company in its marketing plans.

Looking ahead, I am excited to learn more about market intelligence and decision analytics to support me even further in my goals. Even though going into an uncommon industry can be scary, I know that I am encouraged in my goals at Fuqua and will always be able to turn to others who have unique passions as well.