Keynote Speaker

Lyn St. James

Businesswoman and Former Indy Racecar Driver

When Lyn St. James completed her first Indy 500 at the age of 45, she was just the second woman in history to race in the event. Some doubted that a woman could keep up with male drivers, and Lyn struggled to get the sponsorship she needed to race. She took eleventh place, and became the first woman to be selected Indy 500 Rookie of the Year.

Fueled by inspiration and limitless motivation, Lyn St. James managed to rise through the ranks and eventually become known as the American Woman Racing Icon of the Century. She is undoubtedly a testament to the power of determination and positive thinking.

Lyn’s keynote address focused on her ability to manage risk and attain her goals in a traditionally male-dominated sport. She described the importance of communication in reducing the risks associated with auto racing, and said that even the most experienced drivers will sometimes fail to qualify for the Indy 500 if his or her team isn’t communicating properly.

“People tend not to focus on the human factor,” explained Lyn. “As a default, whenever there is a team failure, technology is sometimes blamed before human elements. This is a poor strategy.” Lyn went on to say that instead, organizations should track and communicate risks as early and as empirically as possible.