Your Background Is Your Strength: Raagini Ramasubramanian's Path Forward

Mentees Transformational Relationship Spotlight

That gap is what drew her to the FIA Women in Motorsport mentorship program as a mentee.

Understanding the Path

Raagini joined the program with specific questions. "I've always wanted to understand what it takes to build a career in the sport," she explains. "I was especially curious to learn from women already working in the industry, how they got there, what decisions shaped their path and how they overcame the barriers in this space."

Those questions do not have obvious answers when you're looking at the industry from the outside. Having someone who could speak from experience made the path more visible.

Candid Conversations

What made her mentorship relationship feel different was the depth and honesty of their conversations. "My mentor didn't just offer surface-level advice; they shared candid insights from their journey," Raagini says. "It was incredibly grounding to be seen and supported by someone who once stood where I am today."

That authenticity created space for real learning. Her mentor's grounded approach made the journey feel more relatable and attainable rather than distant or impossible.

A Key Shift in Perspective

One moment changed how Raagini saw her own background. She'd been working in arts and events marketing, wondering how that connected to a motorsport career. Her mentor helped her reframe that question entirely.

"One key shift for me was realising that breaking into motorsport doesn't always require a traditional path. My mentor helped me see that my background in arts and events marketing is a strength."

That reframing opened up possibilities. Instead of viewing her experience as unrelated to motorsport, she could see it as valuable and applicable. Her mentor also provided practical direction - reaching out to industry professionals, volunteering, building a niche portfolio.

An Exchange Alongside Guidance

The experience changed how Raagini understands mentorship itself. "I used to think mentorship was mostly about receiving guidance, but I've come to see it as an exchange of energy, ideas, and courage."

That shift in perspective matters. Viewing mentorship as an exchange rather than one-directional advice changes the dynamic. It acknowledges that both people bring value to the relationship and both can learn from the interaction.

Practical Tools

For women seeking personal or professional growth, Raagini recommends Notion as a tool. "It's a great all-in-one space for organising goals and tracking progress. Whether you're managing a project or just planning your next steps, it's useful."

Having a system for organizing goals and tracking progress creates structure around the strategic steps mentorship helps you identify.

Advice for Future Mentees

For anyone considering joining the program, Raagini definitely recommends it. "This program is a great way to get to know women in motorsport and ask questions and learn from someone who's been where you are."

The value lies in connecting with people who understand the specific challenges of building a motorsport career and can offer perspective from having navigated that path themselves.

Building Strategic Steps

Raagini's story demonstrates how mentorship can bridge the gap between passion and career. Being a track marshal showed her commitment to the sport, but understanding how to translate her arts and events marketing background into a motorsport career required guidance from someone who could see both the possibilities and the practical steps. Now, she's building that path one strategic step at a time.