Celebrating Our Second Annual International Women in Engineering Day Event with Oracle Red Bull Racing

When we see a Formula One race car on the track, we see speed and precision. What we don’t see are the many talented engineers who make each grand prix possible. Earlier this month we had the privilege of celebrating our second International Women in Engineering Day in partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing at their Technology Campus in Milton Keynes. Attendees, both online and in-person, had the opportunity to gain valuable insights and career advice from a wide range of female engineers. The event ignited a powerful conversation about mentorship, diversity, and the vast possibilities within engineering.

Event Highlights:

• Mentorship matters: Women leaders across engineering disciplines shared their journeys, highlighting the crucial role mentors play in shaping careers.
• Rokt the Rig revs up for year two: The second year of this groundbreaking initiative supporting female sim racers and promoting inclusivity in sim racing was unveiled.
• Engineering a world of opportunities: A panel discussion showcased the diverse career paths and applications of engineering backgrounds, ranging from design to software, proving engineering skills are valuable across countless industries.
• Taking action: Attendees connected with female engineers, gained insights into F1, and participated in career guidance sessions, all fueled by inspiring stories from speakers.

Event MC Mia Baker, Oracle Red Bull Racing Ambassador, led a captivating panel discussion featuring Calum Nicholas, Senior PU Assembly Technician at Oracle Red Bull Racing; Andra Groapa, Analysis Engineer at Red Bull Ford Powertrains; and Miran Nakamura, Software Engineer at Rokt. Each panelist shared their unique journey into engineering, emphasizing the profound impact of mentors.

No goal is too big. It may take time and a lot of struggles, but be patient, stay commtitted to it, and you will get there.

-Andra Gorapa, on how to embrace chasing your dreams

Rokt the Rig

Ash Vandelay, Oracle Red Bull Racing Sim Racing Ambassador, and Srishti Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rokt, showcased the success of the first year of the “Rokt the Rig” initiative.

These women [involved in Rokt the Rig] are role models to me. We've seen these women take the skills that we've taught them and go to other [sim races] leagues and other competitions and show their improvement.

-Ash Vandelay, Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Ambassador on how "Rokt the Rig" builds sim racing experience momentum

This program tackles diversity head-on by supporting talented female sim racers and encouraging more women to explore broader areas within engineering, a critical component of the racing world.‍

We want to make sure that there is more diversity, whether it's within our organization or as much of it as we can influence outside of our organization as well. And diversity comes from opportunity.

-Sristi Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rokt

Chasing your dreams and insights from Hannah Shmitz

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer for Oracle Red Bull Racing, was invited to share her journey and insights into women driving change in engineering. Hannah shared her unique experiences and perspectives, discussing the significance of her role as a female leader in a male-dominated industry.

As soon as I knew I wanted to be a strategist, I didn't have any doubt that I would be capable of doing it.

-Hannah Schmitz on having confidence chasing your dreams

She also provided valuable advice for those aspiring to pursue careers in Formula 1 or STEM, emphasizing the importance of passion, perseverance, and continuous learning.

Engineering a world of possibilities

Craig Skinner, Chief Designer at Oracle Red Bull Racing, Aimee Gibbard, Design Engineer at Oracle Red Bull Racing, and Garima Singh, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Rokt, offered valuable insights on how engineering backgrounds can pave the way for fulfilling careers.

Racing cars are massively complicated bits of equipment and it requires a huge range of engineering disciplines. It's everything from mechanical to aeronautical. We are continually looking for improvements, and we have to rely on everyone doing their best at their role in order to create a winning team.

-Craig Skinner, on the many areas of discipline involved in Formula One cars

They also discussed the diverse applications of engineering, highlighting the wide range of industries where engineering skills are valuable. Garima Singh emphasized the exciting possibilities within the field, noting that, “Engineering careers can be applied in a wide range of industries, emphasizing the versatility and opportunities available within the field.”

Engineering is not just the technical side; it's also the people side.

-Any Gibbard, on the importance of interpersonal skills

Encouragement to Take Action

Throughout the day, speakers encouraged attendees to pursue their passions. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with fellow engineers, gain insights into F1, and participate in career guidance sessions.

Our partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing to champion diversity in STEM and motorsports is just the beginning. We’re excited to see initiatives such as Rokt the Rig flourish and look forward to continuing to drive awareness and build a more inclusive culture for future women engineers. This new wave of women in STEM and motorsports won’t just dream big, they’re going to continue to shatter stereotypes and lead the charge in innovation. Learn more about how we’re engineering change with Oracle Red Bull Racing here.