286. Driven to Succeed: Turn Doubt Into Your Competitive Advantage

Confidence, clarity, and speaking when it matters.

Confident communication isn’t about being the loudest in the room. For Susie Wolff, it’s about displaying assurance before you even open your mouth.

Wolff is a former professional race car driver, managing director of F1 Academy, and author of Driven. Throughout her career in one of the world's most male-dominated industries, she’s learned that confidence starts within. “If you want others to believe in you, you need to at least have confidence in your own abilities,” she says. By letting her capabilities speak for themselves, Wolff felt she didn’t have to. “I was never the loudest voice in the room. But I made sure when I did speak that I really had something to say.”

In this special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, co-hosted by Matt Abrahams and Tiggy Valen, Wolff shares how inner drive creates outer clarity. From delivering hard truths with empathy to achieving buy-in for a bold vision, Wolff offers lessons on communicating with confidence, even in the face of stiff competition.

Episode Reference Links:

• Susie Wolff
• Susie’s Book: Driven
• Tiggy Valen
• Paddock Project
• Ep.235 Refine, Reframe, Repeat: Make Your Communication a Slam Dunk  

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:06) - Early Motorsport Passion
• (02:01) - Finding Your Voice
• (03:33) - Building Confidence
• (04:28) - Becoming a Leader
• (06:48) - Cross-Cultural Communication
• (07:57) - Building F1 Academy
• (12:20) - Giving Tough Feedback
• (15:32) - Embracing Discomfort
• (18:01) - The Final Three Questions
• (23:03) - Conclusion

********
Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence, knowing you're getting the best talent for your needs. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/fast

Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.