Susie Wolff MBE is the Managing Director of F1 Academy and a pioneering leader with a history of delivering success at the highest level.
Born in Oban, Scotland, in 1982, Susie’s path began on a karting track and accelerated rapidly: by 13 she was British Kart Racing Driver of the Year, later ranked the top female kart driver in the world. Her early success set the tone for a career defined by resilience, instinct, and unrelenting drive
In 2001, Susie embarked on her professional racing career in the Formula Renault UK Championship, where she secured three podiums and was twice nominated for the British Young Driver of the Year Award. Following a brief spell in Formula 3, she made her name with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM – the German Touring Car Championship – between 2006 and 2012. In 2012, Susie ascended to the pinnacle of motorsport in Formula One, joining multiple championship winners Williams Racing.
Susie went on to make history at the 2014 British Grand Prix by becoming the first woman in 22 years to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend. Her career in racing has shaped her commitment to constantly pushing boundaries and driving change in the pursuit of better.
After stepping away from racing, Susie pivoted to the business side of motorsport, becoming a shareholder and Team Principal of Venturi Racing in the emerging all-electric Formula E championship.Over four seasons, she led the team from the back of the grid to the front, transforming them into consistent contenders. In her final season before overseeing a successful sale of the team, Venturi finished as Vice-World Champions—their most competitive season to date.
Susie is an accomplished advocate for female excellence, both in and beyond her sport. She founded an initiative, ‘Dare to Be Different ’which was aimed at increasing female participation in motorsport,and has been recognised with an MBE, and an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, for her contributions to women in sport.
In 2023, Susie was appointed Managing Director of F1 Academy, the all-female racing series launched by Formula 1. But her focus isn’t just on racing—it’s on shaping a system where female talent can rise, creating real opportunities, and challenging perceptions across the motorsport landscape. Under her leadership, F1 Academy is not just a series—it’s a movement, laying the foundation for a future where talent, not gender, defines the path to the top.
Away from the track, Susie is dedicated to her family and balances the challenges of leadership with the realities – and joys - of marriage and motherhood. Susie's story is one of relentless pursuit of excellence, a dedication to her core values and a commitment to empowering others.
Through her compelling story, Susie provides fresh perspectives on leadership, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, continuous learning, and self-improvement. She will also underscore the significance of fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered, harnessing the full potential of their strengths. All topics that align well with your event’s themes and objectives.
Additionally, she can delve into various thought-provoking topics, including team dynamics, strong leadership, talent retention, managing generational differences, resilience, conflict resolution, coping with high-stress environments in motorsport (particularly Formula 1), adapting to change and technological advancements, striving to be the best version of oneself, the power of performance, and fostering innovation.
We’re also excited to share that Susie’s impactful work is currently featured in the F1Academy docuseries, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. The upcoming release of her book Driven on October 23 adds another meaningful chapter to her evolving story.