As a two-time champion NASCAR racer, Julia Landauer quite literally knows a thing or two about navigating bumps and hurdles on the road to success. While she’s paving the way for women in racing, she’s also offering up plenty of inspiration to women striving to break into any male-dominated field. She made history at just 14 years old as the first and youngest female champion in the Skip Barber Racing Series.

She has had dozens of wins in a number of different racing series since then, but it’s when she veers off course and onto the stage where the champion shows her true colors. When she’s not racing, Landauer is a motivational speaker, using her platform to continue advocating for STEM education and women’s empowerment—her TED Talk “I’m A Racecar Driver. Yes, I Get Scared” is a must-watch.

Ahead, the professional racecar driver tells Create & Cultivate all about what inspired her to pursue an unconventional career path, how she stays motivated to keep going (even on her most challenging days), and why she hopes her legacy will inspire others to go after their dreams and goals with confidence. 

CREATE & CULTIVATE: What drew you to racing? What inspired you to pursue an unconventional career path, despite society's conventional expectations?

JULIA LANDAUER: I began racing go-karts at age 10 and racecars at 13. My parents wanted to find an activity for their kids where girls could compete head-to-head with the boys! What's great about racing is that the vehicle doesn't know if the driver is a girl or a boy, man or woman. While I've always known I don't fit the mold, I've had an incredibly encouraging and supportive family that has urged me (and my siblings) to be great. Plus, I love winning and it's an intoxicating feeling when all the pieces come together and I prove that I'm the best.

When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?

If things don't go my way, I always analyze my performance and see what I could've done better. Then, I simply focus forward. What new steps can I take? Who else can I lean on for help? I also engage in positive self-talk, where I remind myself of my accomplishments, which helps my confidence tremendously.

You've led several TED Talks on the topic of racing and femininity. What motivated you to speak out? What message were you hoping will resonate with listeners? What challenges do you think women continue to face in male-dominated fields? How can we continue to support them and change the status quo?

There is no "right way" to be a woman in racing, but with so few of us it can be daunting to discuss things we experience and femininity. Yet I've always felt that the conversation is important because it helps build shared experiences and helps prevent people from feeling isolated. And the reality is that many fields are male-dominated, so by having the conversations I'm hoping to be relatable to many women across the board. I love the saying, "if she can see it, she can be it," and think about that a lot. 

As for continuing to support women, I think male allies are so powerful. There are still situations where a man's voice will be louder than a woman's, and if we can work with men who see some of the biases we face, we're likely to see things change more quickly. Plus, leaning on each other builds community. 

You’re incredibly bold and self-confident—where do you draw your confidence from? How can other women summon that in themselves? What tips can you share?

I've always been on the confident end of the spectrum, partially because my parents instilled in us early on that with hard work, help from others, fierce determination (and a little bit of luck), we could accomplish whatever we want. But like everyone, I have my moments where I lack confidence, and in those moments I focus on 1) my past experiences, and 2) positive self-talk. I remind myself I'm a two-time champion, have dozens of wins, earned a bachelor of science, etc. And I literally look myself in the mirror and tell myself I'm great. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves.

With success comes opportunity, but it also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?

I don't feel like I've "made it" yet and with that comes the desire to keep pushing. I'm in the minor leagues of NASCAR and only 40 people race at the top level, which means chances are slim for everyone. I never want to look back and think, "man, if I had just done X, Y, or Z, I might have made it farther." Regret is the worst. So I give myself breaks when I need them, but almost every day I think, "What else can I do? Who else can I contact? How can I move the needle?" and then I do it.

You have really blazed a trail for other women behind you who want to get into racing. What legacy do you hope to leave behind? What message do you have for these women? Have you had any mentors along the way? What did you learn from them?

I hope I inspire people to go after their dreams and goals, regardless of whether or not they fit the mold. And I hope to show that women and girls should be excited to be winners, which our culture doesn't always support. I also believe societies thrive when every member is an active participant, so if I can play some part in making that happen, that would be amazing.

Sometimes, all it takes is someone to have confidence in you for you to believe in yourself. What is the best advice you have been given and how did it motivate you? 

Remind yourself of your accomplishments. No one can argue with what you've achieved. Our previous successes are concrete examples of why we should be proud and confident, so use them!

What advice do you have for women who haven’t found their path/passion yet?

Keep experimenting and network! Go meet people who do different things so that you can learn about other industries, fields, areas of expertise, etc.

What is the #1 book you always recommend? Why?

Forever by Pete Hamill. It's a novel that's a beautiful love story to New York City, but it's also an example of living life fully, being present, and appreciating our own existence.

Photographer: Someday Sarah Photography

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