Class of 2023-24 complete leadership programme with Aston Martin Aramco
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The culmination of a nine-month mentoring journey. Students return to the AMR Technology Campus for leadership programme graduation ceremony, and we speak to graduate Shontay Anderson to discover how Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and The Aleto Foundation have helped kickstart her career in engineering.
The AMR Technology Campus is home to bright and inquisitive minds and the Friday of the British Grand Prix was no exception as we held the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of students to complete a leadership programme designed to develop the skills, knowledge and networks of young ethnic minority students within the motorsport industry.
Launched in 2023 in partnership with The Aleto Foundation, as part of our shared mission to make motorsport accessible to all young people, regardless of their background, the nine-month programme included fireside chats with Aston Martin Aramco senior leaders, public speaking workshops and tours of the AMR Technology Campus.
Students had the opportunity to gain work experience with the team, giving them hands-on exposure to various aspects of our operations, and each student was paired with a mentor from our team, enabling them to benefit from invaluable guidance, industry insights, and real-world experience.
As we celebrated the progress and achievements of the class of 2023-24 with a graduation ceremony at our state-of-the-art Technology Campus and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aston Martin Aramco garage at the British Grand Prix, we spoke to one of our mentees, Shontay Anderson, who reflected on her experience of the programme and how it's shaped her future...
A warm welcome
"From the very start of the programme, I felt so welcome – by my Aston Martin Aramco mentor, Debbie Wall, the programme leaders, and everyone I met and spent time with at Aston Martin Aramco.
"I was made to feel comfortable. It gave me the confidence to ask questions, try new things, learn new things and build relationships with people that will stay with me throughout my studies and career."
It's made a big difference to my future.
Shontay Anderson
Mastering the art of applications and CV writing
"My mentor, Debbie, has given me invaluable advice on CV writing and helped me with my university applications. She's improved my knowledge of how to approach applications and explained how I can demonstrate my skills and transferable experience.
"Her help was key to my successful scholarship application to study civil engineering. I don't think I would have applied for the university scholarship without Debbie's encouragement."
Confidence boost
"I was really shy when I joined the programme, but it really gets you to come out of your shell: it puts you in situations where you have to speak publicly, and it surrounds you with people who encourage you to trust in your abilities. You soon realise that there's no limit to what you can achieve.
"The programme has given me a real confidence boost. I don't feel as nervous as I used to. The programme exposes you to so many different people and different situations that your confidence just grows and grows."
The next step
"I cannot wait to start studying civil engineering. The scholarship I've been awarded means I now have the funding I need to attend university. Outside of term time, I've also secured a work experience placement, which will accelerate my learning and development.
"I cannot thank Aston Martin Aramco and The Aleto Foundation enough for the opportunities the mentorship programme has given me – it's made a big difference to my future."
Congratulations to Shontay and all the students of the class of 2023-24, who successfully graduated from our leadership programme. Over the past nine months, it has been a privilege to welcome you into our team and the world of F1 and accelerate your professional and personal development. We're looking forward to following your progress and careers.
And we're excited to welcome the next cohort of talented and determined young students, who are set to follow in your footsteps on our leadership programme, as we continue to break down barriers to provide a pathway for the next generation to careers in STEM and motorsport as part of our Make A Mark responsible business strategy.
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