Today Cayana Freeman sits down with the phenomenal Pilar Harris, an influential figure in motorsport working closely with Susie Wolff, currently leading social impact efforts at the F1 Academy and overseeing the Discover Your Drive initiative. Previously the Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Government Relations at Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Harris plays a pivotal role in shaping the sport's future by fostering diversity and inclusivity.

At the F1 Academy, she focuses on driving gender equality and supporting the development of young female talent both on and off the track. Discover Your Drive & their Careers Programme, one of her key projects, seeks to increase female participation in motorsport through youth engagement, talent identification, and community programmes at F1 Academy locations around the world.

The initiative provides opportunities for young girls to explore motorsport through activities like karting and workshops, aiming to dismantle barriers and inspire the next generation of drivers and engineers.

Her work also highlights her broader impact within Formula 1's community outreach and sustainability goals, illustrating her commitment to creating pathways for underrepresented groups in the sport

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This week our host Cayana Freeman speaks to Shyam Rajdev (known as Shy) is a skilled freelance content creator with a focus on motorsport, music, lifestyle, and automotive photography. His career path is rooted in his early passion for photography, which began at age 16 when he started experimenting with his father’s 35mm film camera. After initially studying music journalism, Shy shifted from the music industry into motorsports, where he found his niche capturing the emotional highs and lows of racing.

Shy has collaborated with some of the biggest names in motorsport, including Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE, McLaren, Sauber (Alfa Romeo F1), and Andretti Global, where he serves as Head of Content. His work spans various motorsport categories such as Formula 1, Formula 2, and rallycross, and he is known for his ability to adapt to different environments while telling compelling stories through his lens. His unique approach blends technical expertise with an eye for capturing candid, behind-the-scenes moments that resonate with fans worldwide​.

Produced By Driven By Us CIC

Chief Videographer & Editor - Maddie Rome

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We open our Driven By Us podcast with our host Cayana Freeman speaking to James Dornor - CEO of the pioneering community-driven organisation on a mission to empower aspiring leaders from ethnic minorities and underrepresented groups in the automotive & motorsport industry. Recognising the industry's imperative for diversity and inclusion, we provide a safe space facilitated by relatable role models across world-leading organisations with first-hand success stories, founded in April 2023, on a mission to empower and provide an established community network that gives a safe space for those to speak out and empower through motorsports.

James's leadership has culminated in the establishment of the first recognised ethnic minority-led club within Driven By Us through Motorsport UK, serving as a pivotal platform for the black and neurodiverse communities, giving a safe space much needed. This initiative distinctly reflects the value of collaboration, as it prioritises partnerships to improve outcomes and build a more inclusive engineering landscape. A significant achievement under James's stewardship is the tangible impact on individuals' lives, particularly women of colour securing roles in the engineering sector within Formula One. This outcome is a testament to his commitment to excellence everywhere, bringing evidence, expertise, and integrity to everything he does.

James acquired motorsport expertise over the course of 13 years, working as a professional in the automotive and motorsport industry BMW, McLaren Automotive, McLaren GT, Haas F1 and Mercedes AMG F1 Team. He was formerly responsible for maintaining all the electronics and car systems on a range of Mercedes AMG F1 Heritage cars driven by the likes Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE, ranging 2013 - 2023 in their Heritage Centre.

The volunteer lead organisation employ customer-focused approaches to achieve our goals effectively, ensuring lasting representation for young people from diverse backgrounds within the motorsport community. James & Driven By Us was awarded the prestigious Points Of Light by the now former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP awarded before the British Grand Prix 2023 and was invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of his work in engineering and serving the next generation through STEM programmes and initiatives in May 2024.

Produced By Driven By Us CIC

Chief Videographer & Editor - Maddie Rome

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Driven By Us podcast, here to showcase talents from under represented & ethnic minority backgrounds working in Automotive & Motorsport particularly across STEM and Media, by speaking to some of the biggest names across the industry driving change!

Each week we'll be hearing from a new guest as we're here to share their stories, and hopefully along the way inspire the next generation hosted by Cayana Freeman, Debbie Nakakande, Amber Jones & Savannah Thomas

Real stories from real role model!

Keep upto date on LinkedIn & Instagram @driven.by.us and make sure you hit the subscribe, leave a review and don't miss a single episode!

YouTube: @DrivenByUs

Instagram: @Driven.By.Us

Twitter: @DrivenByUs

Tiktok: @DrivenByUs

Produced By Driven By Us CIC

Videography & Chief Editor - Maddie Rome

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.