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November 18, 2024 58 mins

Featuring Hendrick Motorsports Director of Competition Systems. How a student from Puerto Rico with dreams to be an astronaut became one of NASCAR's most respected engineer in the garage and has maintained that distinctive description by tenacity and helping others in the space. 

Show Summary: In the debut episode of Motorvate, host Angela Skinner interviews Alba Colón, the Director of Competition Systems at Hendrick Motorsports. With 30 years of experience in NASCAR, Colón discusses her journey from growing up in Puerto Rico with aspirations to be an astronaut to becoming a pioneering engineer in a male-dominated sport. She shares her insights on overcoming challenges, the evolving diversity in motorsports, and her passion for helping others succeed. Colón also highlights the importance of hard work, collaboration, and continuous learning in the fast-paced world of NASCAR engineering.

Key Points: 1. Overcoming Early Challenges: Alba reflects on her early days in NASCAR when she was one of the few women and Hispanics in the sport. Her journey was shaped by perseverance, earning respect through hard work and dedication. 2. Diversity and Inclusion in Motorsports: The episode emphasizes the growing diversity in NASCAR, with more women, Hispanic, and African-American figures emerging in engineering, team roles, and as drivers. Colón advocates for ongoing efforts to bring diverse perspectives into the sport. 3. Adapting to Technological Advancements: Colón discusses how the role of engineers has evolved with new technologies like data acquisition and simulation. Today’s drivers, she explains, are more reliant on data to optimize performance, a shift that has revolutionized the sport.

Takeaway: Alba Colón’s journey is a powerful reminder that success in motorsports, or any field, comes from hard work, adaptability, and the willingness to break barriers. Her story shows the importance of embracing new opportunities and supporting others, particularly women, in their pursuit of careers in traditionally male-dominated industries.

#AlbaColon #womeninNASCAR #womeninmotorsports #womenengineersinracing #HendrickMotorsports #femaleengineersinmotorsports #LatinaengineersinNASCAR #womenbreakingbarriersinmotorsports #motorsportsengineering #NASCARdiversity #empoweringwomeninracing #femalerolemodelsinmotorsports #DiversityinNASCAR #NASCARcareeradvice #HispanicengineersinNASCAR #womenleadershipinmotorsports #NASCARengineeringcareers #womenintechandmotorsports #inspiringwomenstories #breakingstereotypesinmotorsports #womenovercomingadversityinNASCAR #NASCARengineerinterviews #womeninSTEMcareers - - - - -

 

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