Girl Crew in Effect

We came to know Steph Turner back in February, when she moderated chats for the FIA Girls On Track UK webinars with Formula 1. This was at a time when the few of us (the Women of GP) were just getting to know each other, and now six-ish months later, we were so happy to be able to host Steph in our Women of GP Clubhouse. Full circle moment!

One of the first things we noticed about Steph is her warm spirit, absolutely buzzing with energy. She was spending her Sunday evening, the eve of a new job, to share her journey with us and everyone in attendance. Having been passionate about motorsport for years, she was finally making a huge career shift into the space, transitioning from working at an agency to in-house - marketing speak for, now she has a home with the client, she is the client now. Not any client either - she is now working for Formula E.

We wrapped that up in a pretty bow, but it really has been a journey: putting in the hours, balancing her 9-5 job, and networking which has since put her in the driver's seat of her career and furthering it in motorsport.

Steph grew up in Kent, a county in south-east England, a world away from what is referred to as ‘Motorsport Valley’ - an area in the Midlands and Oxfordshire known for being the hub of the UK motorsport industry. Nevertheless, the sport was always on TV in the house growing up, and her dad had previously enjoyed a stint in club rallying. This is how she says the unhealthy obsession began - if this is an unhealthy obsession, DO NOT cure us. 

Turner wanted in the motorsport club, however the representation, like we often see (or don’t), was lacking. There wasn’t a roadmap to provide her with guidance. What was even more of a question mark was the value-add to be had in the overall motorsport dialogue. It was the question of, ‘how can I get into motorsport?’ and ‘what do I have to add to the conversation?’ Sound familiar? 

Until...

“Around May/June [2020] - the global conversation around diversity and inclusion came to the forefront and the light bulb went off. It was always something I had been passionate about, being of a mixed race background, and understanding the value and importance of representation. I thought, I need to talk about this - especially in the context in the world of motorsport that I am so passionate about. It’s been a topic that’s been raised in the past in the sport but almost instantly dismissed, and now that people were suddenly ready to listen, we (Ariana Bravo and I) knew we had to do something about it.”

Enter the Driven By Diversity Podcast. Now just over a year, Steph is overjoyed and full of gratitude about her progress. And what does she attribute it to outside of the long hours, beyond her 9-5? The insight and support she has found from others, and her co-star Ariana Bravo.

Here’s the thing: Steph is one of those starlight individuals we, passionate young women, look for in the male-dominated industry - she is a natural mentor. It is clear that Turner is a binding glue, a helping hand, as we keep climbing this Mount Everest of the motorsport world. She is that person ahead of you, who looks down and literally puts their arm out to lift you up. During our Clubhouse room, she elevated a woman, Sacha Smith, from the audience to the stage so that she could rave about their credentials. Sacha met Steph at a Dare to be Different (now FIA Girls on Track) networking event at the Williams F1 factory and had reached out to Steph for some help with her CV. Now, she is at Mercedes AMG as an Academy Trainee Performance Coach.

“I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without my partner in crime - Ariana Bravo - or the people who have given me opportunities.”

Ariana was in the audience and we venture to guess she was brimming with pride for her friend. We love hearing a girl crew story, but what we love more about Steph and her amassed female network, is that they all support each other, no holds barred. 

Motorsport is male-dominated sport, and what we are seeing are factions of women, such as Steph Turner, creating content she would like to see as a woman in this space, making new connections, banding together to help each other. 

“Each opportunity to network creates a snowball that will create a cycle… Wherever you are in your journey, if you have insight you can pass down, definitely pass it on. In just the past year, I have learned so much and have been able to help the female community and those looking to make the jump. I’m really happy to do so because without having had people do that for me, I wouldn't have been able to get to where I am. I think a lot of people are willing to do that. If you are in that position, just ask.”

There was so much to take away from this chat. For us, the girl crew component hit home. If it weren’t for each of us reaching out to the other, making the connection, we wouldn’t be hosting these spaces for influential women to pass on their wisdom. Even more important, without amazing individuals like Steph Turner believing in helping others in the industry and passing on her insight and amplification, we also wouldn’t be here. It’s a snowball effect as Turner illustrated, and Steph, we hope it never stops snowing for all of us.

Turning our attention to Formula E - we know that you, Steph, will make strides, introduce new perspectives, encourage collaboration and without a doubt establish a following of women to keep propelling us all higher in the industry.

Finally, we wish you all the best! You’re in the arena and we are so happy to be able to witness your career development and follow your next steps. Buona fortuna!