What does 16-year-old F1-hopeful Alba Larsen have in common with a hotel general manager and a travel trade publisher? They are all women in the driver seat, with ambitions that transcend personal success, and words of advice for aspiring girlbosses.
Need for speed?
Whether on the tracks or in her driving career, Larsen goes fast. Onward from her karting success in the early 2020s, Larsen zipped into motorsports in 2024 and the F1 Academy this year.
She is driven by her love for racing (and winning) – but also a passion for bringing more women into the sport. Historically, only five women – none since 1992 – have competed in an F1 Grand Prix.
“It is not because women aren’t good enough – it is all about getting more girls into the sport from a young age. Every year around 4 million boys try racing for the first time, (compared to) only 150,000 girls,” said the F1 Academy teen, who set up the Girls International Racing Lab (G.I.R.L.) to accelerate this mission.
In Singapore for the F1 Night Race week, Larsen put her dual passion to work. Outside of tearing up the tracks in downtown Singapore, she also made time to inspire aspiring girlbosses in a fireside chat with Jill Goh, general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Singapore and Irene Chua, vice president and group publisher, Northstar Travel Group, Asia.
Perceptive beyond her age, the 16-year-old was in agreement with travel and hospitality veterans that the secret to finding the correct drive lies outside the glitz and glamour.
Marathon, not a race
When chasing lofty ambitions, it is easy to lose sight of the “slow and steady” building blocks.
“You don’t always have to take big steps to be successful. It is about the daily reminders to challenge yourself and have the right mindset,” said Mandarin Oriental’s Goh.
This does not mean playing safe either. Oftentimes, the path to success involves trying new things, nurturing new ideas, and giving them time to play out, according to Goh.
Either way, patience and discipline are key.
Chua further introduced the idea of shared ambition to compound success. “Ambition is not all about climbing as fast as possible up the corporate ladder. It is about lifting the people around you to help them accomplish better,” she said.
The meandering tracks of life
While ambition is often tied to dreaming big and having concrete goals, in today’s complex and ever-evolving world, tunnel vision is not such a good idea.
“You set a target for yourself. You do all you can to achieve it. But goals can change,” Goh stressed. Ambition should be “an evolving process”, one that requires constant re-evaluation.
Chua agreed, adding that a clear vision of the endgame does not always present itself. Importantly, the lack of a long-term goal does not take away from ambition, which has life in endeavours big or small.
She admitted: “Fresh out of school, I did not actually have a vision, and I did not know what I wanted. All I knew was that I must be responsible and give my best no matter the task, no matter whether it will bring me personal success.”
Being adaptable through change, and steadfast in giving one’s best every single time, set the individual up for success in the long run, Chua said.
Tunnel vision can also deny individuals the chance of failing forward whenever things do not go to plan, Goh shared. “At times, you may find that your efforts have led you somewhere, but it may not be the perfect destination (you had in mind). Still, the experience of getting there can be valuable. If you fall, it is not a failure. It just means you become stronger when you stand back up,” Goh encouraged.
Part of the F1 Singapore Night Race week, the Fuelling Ambition: Women in the Driver’s Seat fireside chat gathered young aspiring minds, students and fans at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore on 1 October.