Stephanie Travers is a trailblazing engineer and leader in motorsport, currently serving as the Senior Impact Manager at Mission 44, the charitable foundation created by Sir Lewis Hamilton to foster a more inclusive education system and empower underserved communities.

She also held leadership roles with Team X44, Hamilton’s Extreme E team, including Deputy Team Principal, and previously served as an Associate Sporting Director.

Beginning her career with a strong academic foundation in chemical engineering (BEng from the University of Bradford, MSc from Imperial College London), Stephanie held early roles in asset management at BASF before pursuing a breakthrough opportunity. Out of over 7,000 applicants, she was selected as a Trackside Fluid Engineer for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, where she co-managed the Petronas Trackside Laboratory.

In 2020, she made motorsport history at the Styrian Grand Prix, becoming the first woman of colour to ever stand on an F1 podium, receiving the Constructors’ trophy alongside Lewis Hamilton—a milestone Lewis himself celebrated as profoundly important for representation in the sport.

She also supports organisations such as Driven By Us, a community-led organisation dedicated to empowering ethnic minorities and women of colour in motorsport and automotive industries. Through mentoring, speaking, and advocacy, Stephanie amplifies DBU’s mission of creating safe spaces, increasing access, and inspiring the next generation through role models from within the community.

Stephanie continues to inspire through her leadership roles, keynote speaking, and community engagement. From her historic podium with Lewis Hamilton to her leadership at X44 and advocacy with Mission 44 and Driven By Us, she embodies the change needed to ensure motorsport reflects the diversity of the world around it.

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Denzel Manyande, an accomplished freelance consultant who specializes in operations and logistics. Denzel has built a reputation for transforming ideas into reality with precision whether it’s through event management, project delivery, or supply chain execution. His hands-on, detail-oriented approach makes him a trusted partner for organizations looking to deliver flawlessly from design all the way through to execution.

Denzel’s expertise covers three key areas

Operational Strategy and Management—he develops KPI-driven frameworks, coordinates suppliers and venues, plans delivery routes, and ensures seamless security and communication throughout.

Project and Event Delivery—he guides full project lifecycles, from concept design and budgeting to tracking deliverables and managing change.

Workforce and Volunteer Coordination—he recruits, schedules, and deploys staff and volunteers, while also designing recognition schemes to keep teams motivated and high-performing.

What makes Denzel’s approach unique is his personal involvement from start to finish. He brings passion, precision, and adaptability to every engagement. Whether it’s a fast-paced environment or a complex operational challenge, Denzel has the flexibility to bring in specialist support when needed, all while maintaining close attention to detail and a collaborative working style.

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This week we're reflecting with Formula E - Live from The London E-Prix with Raphaella Gordon‑Saker is a Senior Sustainability & Social Impact Manager on the sustainability team at Formula E, the world’s premier all-electric racing series Formula E, Raffy leads strategic initiatives that empower communities, champion diversity and inclusion, and ensure sustainable legacies in host cities through sport.

Raphaella plays a pivotal role in adapting the FIA’s global Girls on Track programme for Formula E races. She coordinates immersive workshops, behind‑the‑scenes race experiences, mentoring sessions, and partnerships with schools and charities to engage young women worldwide and showcase motorsport career paths like engineering, journalism, and broadcasting

Her work spans every Formula E market. She tailors delivery to reflect local cultural and educational contexts, ensuring relevance and inclusivity while aligning with the programme’s global mission.

Raphaella is vocal about the barriers women face in motorsport, especially the lack of visible female representation in leadership and driver roles. She advocates for systemic change through cultural shifts, resource allocation, development programmes, and transparent career pathways for underrepresented talent.

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Jahee Campbell-Brennan is a motorsport engineer and entrepreneur known for his innovative work in both motorsport and automotive engineering.

After graduating with a Master’s in Automotive Engineering, he began his career in high-volume vehicle development at Ford, before going on to found Wavey Dynamics, a consultancy specialising in vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, and engineering design for high-performance automotive and motorsport applications. Through the consultancy, he has delivered projects for leading manufacturers including McLaren Automotive, contributing to the design and development of next-generation hypercars.

Jahee is also part of the electric team at One Group Engineering, where he leads the development of a track-focused hypercar and engineers trackside at elite-level championships including the GT World Challenge and Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Beyond his engineering work, Jahee is committed to creating equality of opportunity in motorsport. 

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Today’s guest is David Manuwa, a rising talent in motorsport engineering, a race winning, Race Engineer in British F4 with Chris Dittmann Racing (CDR).

David’s journey into the world of motorsport began behind the wheel, where he made his mark as the 2013 Bayford Meadows Cadet Champion and later became the 2022 British University Karting Champion while studying Motorsport Engineering at Coventry University, from which he graduated in 2023.

Alongside his studies, David was mentored through the AFBE-UK programme in collaboration with Mercedes AMG F1 Team by James Dornor, he also competed in the BUKC for Coventry University, and even took his passion digital by working with the Williams F1 Esport Team as a driver and data engineer. His engineering career accelerated quickly from working with Perpetuum Motorsport in F1000, to joining Hitech GP as a junior engineer and moving into race engineering in British and UAE F4 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

At Chris Dittmann Racing, David applies his expertise to develop young drivers, optimise car performance, and shape the next generation of racing success stories in British F4 and GB3.

Along the way, he’s had standout moments, including meeting Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes-AMG F1 in 2022, a reminder of how far his journey has taken him from grassroots karting to the professional paddock.

In this episode, we’ll dive into David’s path from karting champion to professional race engineer, his insights into working in junior formula racing, and his vision for the future of motorsport.

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Yohanes Scarlett is a seasoned Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) expert, currently serving as the Policy and Research Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion at the Royal Academy of Engineering. His passion for social justice was kindled early on, shaped by his volunteer work at youth clubs, where he listened to and supported young people facing systemic inequalities. This foundation has deeply influenced his commitment to building more inclusive engineering environments Royal Academy of Engineering

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In his role at the Academy, Yohanes oversees a robust and action-oriented EDI research programme dedicated to exploring representation and structural barriers within the engineering profession. His analytical rigor and strategic insight have been central to driving tangible change Royal Academy of Engineering. Through his leadership, the Academy has advanced evidence-based strategies to dismantle systemic obstacles and foster more inclusive practices in engineering across the UK.

A particularly notable milestone in Yohanes’s career was his appointment, in 2020, as one of the principal researchers on The Hamilton Commission. This landmark initiative—co-chaired by Sir Lewis Hamilton and the Royal Academy of Engineering was established to investigate and address the underrepresentation of Black individuals within UK motorsport and STEM fields Royal Academy of Engineering.

Over a rigorous, ten-month period, the Commission conducted data analysis, stakeholder mapping, and qualitative research with youth and industry leaders. The result was a compelling report—Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport—which delivered ten actionable recommendations to promote diversity and drive systemic change.

View Online- https://raeng.org.uk/policy-and-resources/diversity-and-inclusion-research-and-resources/hamilton-commission/

Interactive Report - https://report.hamiltoncommission.org/interactive-summary/index.html

Download Report - https://raeng.org.uk/media/s52drupu/accelerating-change-improving-representation-of-black-people-in-motorsport-a-hamilton-commission-report.pdf

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Sorsha Elson is carving out her place in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 as the first female Mechanical Engineering Apprentice. Her story stands out because she didn’t follow the traditional path into motorsport. In fact, her first career was as a flight attendant, where conversations with pilots and engineers sparked her curiosity about how complex machines operate. That spark quickly grew into a passion, leading her to take the leap into engineering.

Sorsha gained the confidence and opportunities she needed to pursue her ambitions. Now, with Formula 1, she works on the Event Technical Centre, playing a vital role in maintaining and repairing the equipment that keeps the championship running smoothly. It’s a demanding role that combines hands-on skills like TIG welding with rigorous theoretical training, often condensed into intense study schedules.

Sorsha is also a passionate advocate for representation in engineering. She points to Beyoncé as a personal source of empowerment, and to Sir Lewis Hamilton as a role model for breaking barriers and redefining what success looks like in F1. For Sorsha, being a visible presence in a male-dominated field is about more than her own career—it’s about inspiring the next generation of girls to believe they belong in STEM, too.

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James Sherwood-Smith is a seasoned British presenter and producer with a dynamic career spanning television, live events, and digital media. His work encompasses sectors such as motorsport, technology, and youth engagement

James began his television career in 2007 as a film reporter, where he interviewed celebrities like Will Smith and Idris Elba. His engaging presence led to a nomination for the 2008 Channel 4 New Talent Award. In 2010, he created and produced the entertainment segment "AFROBUZZ," covering major events such as the Wireless Festival and the MOBO Tour, and conducting interviews with artists like Alicia Keys and Kevin Hart.

James has a strong passion for motorsports, particularly Formula 1 and Formula E. He has hosted various events and content in these areas, including the "Live Fans Forum," which delves into Formula One discussions and engages fans worldwide. His work often highlights diversity and representation within motorsports

Beyond entertainment, James has collaborated with major brands such as Vodafone, Puma, and Goal, producing high-quality content. He has also hosted internal series like "Techbusters" for Vodafone and "Dell Drive Club" for Dell Technologies. His versatility extends to youth engagement initiatives, including work with Disney Junior and National Geographic through ITN Productions

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We're joined by Bianca Bustamante one of the most exciting young talents in international motorsport, blazing a trail and doing it her own way!

At just 19 years old, Bianca has already made history as a trailblazing Filipino racing driver, competing at the highest levels of junior single-seaters. She rose to prominence in the inaugural F1 Academy, where she showcased her speed, resilience, and determination, and this year she’s taken on a new challenge in the GB3 Championship – proving herself against some of the most competitive young drivers in Europe.

On top of that, Bianca recently joined Formula E’s Cupra Kiro team as a development driver, expanding her racing portfolio into the world of electric motorsport.

Beyond the track, she has become a role model for women and underrepresented communities in racing, inspiring a new generation of drivers across Southeast Asia and around the world. Today, she opens up about her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her vision for the future of motorsport.

#BiancaBustamante #F1Academy #GB3 #FormulaE #Formula1

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British GP Special! - Driven By Us Community kicked off the Silverstone GP in full force at the Drivers Inn Stage, highlighting the power of community, connection, and inclusion in motorsport 💜

We were thrilled to welcome so many passionate fans, allies, and changemakers to our Community Hub from all walks of life to a vibrant space created for conversation, collaboration, and celebration of inspiring voices in racing. 🏁✨

From inspiring panel discussions to heartfelt meet-and-greets, it was incredible to see so many attendees both familiar faces and new supporters come together to share stories, ideas, and a vision for a more inclusive future in motorsport.

Fun Fact - Our Panel featured across all TV screens around the circuit reaching around 75,000 attendees 

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