Feature

5 Aug 2024

Advancing workplace inclusivity with Valvoline and Jessica Hawkins

Jessica Hawkins and Valvoline's Katie Reed Hurst discuss the critical role of inclusivity in today's workplace and its transformative impact on the motorsport industry.

As part of a series of Pride Month celebrations at the AMR Technology Campus, which were focused on promoting diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I), Katie Reed Hurst, Brand Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility at Valvoline Corporate Operations, sat down with Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin Aramco Driver Ambassador and Head of F1 Academy, for an insightful discussion on inclusivity in the workplace and its transformative impact on the motorsport industry.

Sharing their perspectives, this discussion led to a range of thought-provoking insights on topics of DE&I, and more. Here are some of the key takeaways…

Feeling like you belong in your workplace is key

Jessica Hawkins: "Belonging is a key word. If you feel like you belong at your workplace, you're able to work more efficiently. It's all about coming into work and being able to be your authentic self.

"If you work in Formula One, you have to be the best of the best, and in order to be the best of the best, you have to be happy in your workplace. You have to be able to be yourself, which Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team always ensures. We're always looking for ways for people to feel more included and for it to be a safe space to work in so everyone can feel as though they belong where they work.

"I love this team so much. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love everybody. Everybody's very accepting, and I definitely feel that I belong here. This is my home."

Katie Reed Hurst: "It's important for us at Valvoline to make sure people not only feel comfortable but that they also aren't scared of who they are. If you're spending all your time trying to hide your true identity and what you feel and what you think, you're not going to be bringing your best self to work every single day."

The benefits of creating an inclusive workplace

KRH: "It's crucial for business success to create a workplace that is inclusive and that celebrates and values everyone for their individuality. It helps us retain good talent. It helps us attract good talent. It makes people want to be part of our organisation because they understand that they have a place and a voice within our organisation.

"A positive aspect of having such an inclusive workplace is the impact on talent and retention. We have to make sure that the people who work in our organisation are happy and able to be their true authentic selves, and that will help us to encourage and attract new talent too.

"A strong workplace environment that fosters inclusivity is also good for brand reputation. It shows that we're not only talking about our values but we're living them out every single day.

"It's important for our success to have different perspectives and to have a variety. A diverse group of people working together creates diversity of thought, and it's that diversity that truly brings about innovation. It brings new products, new solutions, and new services. We don't all think in the same way. We don't all share the same ideas, but if we come together, it helps us to move forward."

The Valvoline PRISM initiative

KRH: "At Valvoline, we've been working on our DE&I initiatives. PRISM is our LGBTQ+ group. It stands for Pride, Respect, Inclusion, Support and Momentum.

"Pride is about being who you are, being happy with who you are, and being able to be that at work no matter what your identity is.

"Respect is not just about acknowledging those people for who they are but also letting each voice be heard and respecting and valuing each voice.

"The Inclusion piece is so important and is why I'm here today. It's about creating a sense of environment and fostering a sense of safety that you can be who you are, and you don't have to worry about trying to be someone else.

"Support is something we've been focusing on. Beyond education and seminars and webinars for our LGBTQ+ group, we've also been thinking about parents and allies and working out how we talk to everyone about what it means to support each other.

"We've had a lot of Momentum over the course of the last year, and we're really interested in continuing our upward momentum by fully encouraging inclusivity in the workplace."

A role model for positive change

JH: "When I first started racing, I could count the number of other female racers I could name on one hand. Now, there are so many more. It's important for me to think about the impact I can have on future generations and the possibility of them making it as high up in motorsport as they possibly can. If I can inspire the younger generation while I'm on my journey, I'll be very proud.

"I always think about how many people have missed out on opportunities because of society. It's all about changing perceptions. I'm so passionate about instigating that change because you have to see it to believe it.

"It makes me proud that I have helped to inspire younger generations, and really, it's Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team that have given me the platform to do that."

Championing diversity, equality and inclusion beyond Pride Month

JH: "Here at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, we hold lots of seminars and group sessions. They're regular and throughout the year, not just in Pride Month, which I think is key. Obviously, our voices are amplified during Pride Month, but I think the key thing for us is that it's not just during Pride Month. It's something that we do all year round."

KRH: "Diversity, equality, inclusion is something we definitely want to think about throughout the month of Pride, but it is also something that we want to focus on every single day of the year so that each one of us can be our true authentic selves, find our sense of belonging, and live happy and fulfilled lives."

Watch the Jessica and Katie's thought-provoking discussion in the video below.

IN CONVERSATION