.png)
The world is moving forward at the pace of lightning, and keeping up pace with it are the women who are breaking down barriers and shattering glass ceilings in male-dominated fields such as motorsports, tech, and finance. However, despite taking such significant strides, much work still needs to be done to achieve true gender equality in the workforce, especially for women in racing.
One critical component of closing the economic gender gap is cultivating opportunities for the next generation of female innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The same can be said for female race car drivers. Therefore, there was a need for a pipeline that can ensure that women have access to highly skilled jobs and equal pay, thus creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce that fosters innovation and economic growth.
We all know that diversity sparks innovation, and innovation drives progress. That's why it's imperative to highlight this aspect in motorsports to create a more inclusive workforce. In 2022, two powerhouses - PNC Bank and Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) - joined forces to drive a groundbreaking campaign for Women in Motorsports, aptly titled Women in Motorsports Powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The campaign's primary focus is to highlight gender equality and economic inclusion for women in the workforce, a mission becoming more critical every day. By spreading awareness about the challenges, women face in male-dominated industries like motorsports, PNC Bank and CGR hope to inspire businesses and organizations to take decisive action in promoting diversity and inclusion in female racing.
As part of this collaborative effort, PNC Bank and CGR spearhead various initiatives, including events, promotions, and social media campaigns encouraging and empowering women in racing and beyond. This campaign is crucial to PNC Bank's broader push for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and the community.
As the world recognizes the immense value of a diverse workforce, campaigns like Women in Motorsports Powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing shine a much-needed light on women's critical role in driving innovation and progress across all industries.
"Our strategy is based on the idea that when young women see more role models in traditionally male-dominated fields, it may be easier to believe that they too can make a meaningful impact on that field - and the data shows that teams with a meaningful representation of women create more innovative solutions faster than non-diverse teams," said Debbie Guild, PNC head of Enterprise Technology and Security. "We know that creating a community of support, such as what PNC and CGR are doing with this intern program, is a simple yet effective way to tell these women to stick with motorsports and demonstrate to them that it is an exciting and rewarding career for women, just as much as it is for men. We look forward to seeing how these women make a difference in the future of motorsports."
The Women in Motorsports campaign powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing is a groundbreaking initiative that includes a thought leadership video content series and an internship program that aims to accelerate career pathways in motorsports for women.
The thought leadership video content series, is one of the most exciting aspects of the campaign. This unique video series showcases female industry leaders within the CGR organization who have excelled in motorsports. From IMSA engineer Danielle Shepherd to INDYCAR engineer Angela Ashmore and INDYCAR mechanic Anna Chatten, these women are breaking barriers and setting an example for the next generation of female leaders in women's race.
Apart from the video, the initiative also includes an internship program designed to accelerate the career trajectory of women in racing. This program provides invaluable hands-on experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help women excel in the field of motorsports.
The educational component of this initiative provides a platform for dialogue about the increasing importance of women as decision-makers and influencers with employees, customers, and race fans across the country. As a result, PNC Bank's active sponsorship with CGR will be elevated to new heights, bringing unprecedented exposure to this critical issue.
The Women in Motorsports campaign powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing is an exciting step forward in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. By highlighting the achievements of women in motorsports, and women race car drivers providing valuable career opportunities and fueling important conversations, this initiative is creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Our goal is to provide these young women with a unique, in-person experience alongside a race team, to truly understand what motorsports is all about," said Danielle Shephard, a lead engineer at CGR. "Activating this internship during the race season will help these women apply their knowledge and skills to use in a real-world setting, and hopefully, help them decide where to take their careers from here."
The Women in Motorsports campaign powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing offers an incredible internship opportunity. This program provides students with a paid stipend, academic credit, and on-site learning and career development experiences where applicable.
The interns get the unique chance to work closely with race team managers and department leaders on vital projects. They also collaborate with departments across the organization, ranging from racing operations to engineering, information technology, athletic training, and more. By the end of the program, these students will have gained invaluable experience and knowledge that can help accelerate their careers in the motorsports industry. So, if you're a woman attending a university or college in the US, don't miss this opportunity to join the ranks of leaders in female racing! By providing opportunities like this internship, PNC Bank and CGR are making a significant impact in motorsports and beyond.
"Teaming up with PNC to launch Women In Motorsports reflects our commitment to help advance opportunities for women in the sport," said Chip Ganassi, CGR team owner. "We're excited to highlight the achievements of our team members and share a behind-the-scenes look at their contributions to this championship organization, which will hopefully help pave the way for female students to develop specialized skills in areas such as racing operations and engineering to information technology and athletic training, to name a few.
Chip Ganassi has been a driving force in the auto racing industry for over three decades, earning a reputation as one of the most successful and innovative owners in motorsports. With an impressive record of 21 championships and over 230 victories, Ganassi's teams have secured four Indianapolis 500 wins, eight Rolex 24 At Daytona victories, and triumphs in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His impressive stable of teams includes four Honda cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, two Cadillac DPIs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and one GMC Hummer EV in Extreme E. Ganassi's cutting-edge facilities are located in Indianapolis, ID where INDYCAR, IMSA, and Extreme E teams call home, with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA.
2023 Update:
The 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season is just around the corner, and three lucky women are about to embark on the ride of their lives. Meet the selected interns for the Women in Motorsports campaign, powered by PNC Bank with Chip Ganassi Racing:
Hailey Hein, Mechanics from Northern Arizona University; Nicole Goodman, IT from Indiana University, Raegen Moody, Engineering from Auburn University
These three rising stars will travel with the team to select races and receive fully-funded internships with valuable exposure to the professional motorsports industry. Alongside team leaders who have brought home 21 championships over 33 years, these interns will gain hands-on experience and mentorship that will set them up for a successful career in women's racing.
And that's not all. Last year's intern, Rebecca Hutton, was so impressive that CGR hired her as a full-time engineer upon graduating from college. That's right - this internship can be the start of an incredible career in motorsports!
So, If you're a woman in higher education, keep your eyes peeled for the 2024 application window, opening on September 1st. It could be your turn to take the driver's seat and make your mark in motorsports.
For more details about the women's racing format and updates, visit https://www.gititstore.com/
