How difficult is it trying to be a successful woman in a primarily male-dominated industry? Many face these challenges, but there are few as tough as the world of NASCAR. When you think of female racers, Danica Patrick is probably the name that comes to mind. There are other women in the field who are finding success, and my guest today is one of them. She is becoming a new role model for female racers; motivating and empowering women away from the racetrack.
Julia Landauer joins us today. Since making history as the first and youngest champion in the Skip Barber Racing Series at age 14, Julia has amassed dozens of wins. She’s a two-time championship-winning NASCAR driver from New York City. She was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List and is a graduate of Stanford University, where she focused on business and how modern technology can be applied to racing. If that weren’t enough, while in college, Julia also competed on the NBC show Survivor, after which she started her public and motivational speaking career.
In this episode, Julia takes us behind the scenes into what it takes to build a successful racing business and brand, how she’s using her racing platform to advocate for STEM education and women’s empowerment, and how she’s able to stay grounded and balanced in the face of the high stakes and pressures of her sport and industry.
A Girl in Racing
When she was young, Julia’s parents were looking for a family weekend activity in which girls and boys could compete on equal ground. Go-Karting was the choice, but it became much more than just a fun outing. Her parents wanted the sport to help the children develop life skills and wanted the girls to learn to function in a male-dominated world through competing in the sport. Only a handful of sports are truly co-ed at the highest level, and racing is one of them. Julia says that competing against the opposite sex equips girls with tools to help them deal with high-stress situations in other areas of life.
A Champion at age 14
Skip Barber Racing was an “arrive and drive” program, where all the cars, equipment, and training were provided to young racers. Many Indy car and NASCAR drivers got their start by learning to race at a young age. In the height of middle school angst, Julia was able to completely dominate on the track. At a time of great insecurity in her life, she found an outlet that gave confidence and success. Having one thing that she was really good at meant the world to her.
Julia, as a Student
Julia wasn’t a straight-A student but she worked hard to accomplish her goals. She made it to Stanford and was able to see different applications in the STEM field. She enjoyed learning about the technical aspect of racing, like how humans and machines perform differently. She still is a strong advocate for STEM in education, especially for young women who are interested in engineering and mechanical fields.
The Rookie Racer
Julia’s rookie season in NASCAR happened in 2016. There are three professional series and an amateur/semipro series, with usually 1-2 females per season. Julia was the second-highest finishing rookie in the season – male OR female. She has always pushed back against the stereotypes and assumptions against women in the sport because women aren’t expected to be good racers. Although there are more women in the lower level racing series, unfair comparisons are common, and some of the men have seen and acknowledged the uphill battle that women in the sport have to go through to find success.
Proving Yourself
Just making it and finding any degree of success in the sport of racing is difficult, but earning the trust and respect of your peers, as a female, is extremely tough. Julia says she has had to own the bias and prove herself in a sport where there is always only ONE winner, which means everyone else is a loser. The best way to earn respect is to prove yourself a winner. Julia had to ask what she could do to be a team leader and help motivate others on the team to dig deep and unlock their personal potential.
Business and Branding
You may think racing is all about driving, but it’s a business-heavy sport and a VERY expensive sport. The initial grassroots funding is astronomical just to get into the sport. Racing has evolved and adapted over the years regarding advertising dollars. To be successful means you have to be super-creative and ruthless. NASCAR’s fan base is 40% female, yet the products and brands aren’t female and family-based. Julia has always wondered why this it so, and why female-directed products aren’t represented. (She has an interesting take on tampon advertising!)
The Detour to be a Survivor
Julia’s detour in her grand career plan took her to an appearance on the TV show Survivor during her college years. It was a huge lesson for her in self-awareness. She didn’t reveal that she was a student at Stanford because she thought it would hurt her chances of winning. She made it through 19 of the 39 days, even though she was at a distinct disadvantage in a cast of half returning players and half new players. She prepared herself as best she could for the competition and says, “I was ready to be uncomfortable, but I didn’t know how grueling it would be.”
Being a Curious Explorer
Julia’s personality has positioned her for success across many different areas in life. She has the viewpoint that life is short and there are many cool things to see and find in the world. Her parents always encouraged her to be curious and explore and let nothing stand in her way. This attitude has carried over into her passion for women’s empowerment and equality issues, to which there is literally no downside in our society.
Racing and Relationships
The racing lifestyle is not the easiest in which to nurture and maintain personal relationships. Julia works hard to keep regular contact with her best friends from both high school and college. Of course, technology and social media make that contact much easier than in the past. She goes home to NYC as often as possible and even has a boyfriend of over two years, who works on the technical side in the racing field. She believes that if someone is worth the effort, then you will find a way to keep in touch and make the relationship work.
Finding Balance
Julia Landauer has had to find the balance between being vulnerable and being ruthless. To her, vulnerability means being honest and sharing real experiences. It’s not about being perfect, but about being authentic, and this is what helps foster connections with people. It was Julia’s mother who set the example for her. Julia says her mom was able to make some kind of connection with every single person she met, no matter how different they might be from her.
The Ultimate Goal in Racing
Julia wants to win at EVERY level and to be a NASCAR series champion. She wants to leave a legacy that helps others reach their potential and be their best. Her desire is to reach a level of freedom to dedicate herself to projects that are important to women’s empowerment. She has a deep desire to contribute and bring corporate America to fight for these goals along with her.
Highlights of the Episode
- 2:11 – Her journey into racing, where boys and girls could compete on an even playing field
- 5:23 – Being the first female champion at age 14
- 6:50 – The tough middle school years at private school in NYC
- 8:08 – The high school and college years and NOT being a straight-A student
- 10:28 – From go-karts to stock cars
- 12:10 – The dangers and safety measures in racing
- 13:46 – Her first full racing season in 2016 and great success
- 15:11 – Overcoming stereotypes of women in the field that’s so male-dominated
- 18:27 – Earning the trust and respect of your team
- 21:31 – Branding, off-track endeavors, and why women’s interests are not represented better
- 27:30 – The detour to appear on Survivor
- 32:26 – Finding success in many areas
- 34:36 – The racing lifestyle and its impact on personal relationships
- 37:31 – Vulnerability as part of Julia’s brand
- 41:07 – Her ultimate goal in racing – get out the record books!
Resources Mentioned
- Julia’s website: www.julialandauer.com
- Find Julia on most social media: @JuliaLandauer
The Fem Five
1. Favorite book for women?
- Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Exercise and sleep
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “If you’re not having fun, then you’re not doing it right.” – from her parents
4. Female thought leader of CEO you’re into right now?
- Bozoma Saint John of Uber, Arianna Huffington, and Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Gal
5. One piece of advice you’d give your five years younger self?
- “You’re not going to please everyone. You’re most likely to get the most loyal support if you don’t worry about fitting a mold.”
Last Time on The NextFem Podcast
You Can’t Untangle My Roots: Being a Cabo Verdean Activist in America
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