Daniella Fagbemi and Gauri Morjaria are two 60 Scholars participants with bold ambitions to make a difference in STEM – but they know it takes more than ambition. When it comes to building careers that leave a mark, they need a little guidance from leaders like Parisa Tabriz.

Parisa is a technology leader and cybersecurity expert who currently spearheads the engineering, product and design of Google Chrome. The self-titled ‘Security Princess’ has enjoyed a decade-long journey at Google. She began there as a software engineer for the security team, and has been dedicated to information security ever since, serving as a consultant to the U.S. Digital Service at the White House and lecturing at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School.

As part of the 60 Scholars programme, and in partnership with Google, Parisa delivered an inspiring keynote address to the participants, talking them through her remarkable career and how Google has enabled her to embrace her passion for security and thrive at the company.

The 60 Scholars programme is a key part of our ambitions to set the standard for diversity and inclusion in sport. It was created to inspire and support young women like Daniella and Gauri to work towards a future in STEM through mentorship sessions, hands-on experiences, skills workshops, and talks. These online sessions, known as immersions, are conducted by McLaren and our Official Partners Google, Cisco and Deloitte.

Throughout the programme, we’ve been speaking to a selection of these women to learn more about what they’ve gained from the experience.

We need trailblazers

Daniella is entering her first year in biochemistry at King’s College London. She says she wouldn’t be on her career path without people having faith in her and showing her what’s possible.

“I don’t think I would have been able to overcome my socioeconomic circumstances without trailblazers who were dedicated to dismantling barriers for underrepresented groups. Even though I went to boarding school on a scholarship, I always felt I belonged there, because my school made an effort to make sure no one felt out of place, whatever their background – and this is something I’ve seen mirrored in the 60 Scholars programme. I know there’s a place for me in motorsport.”

Daniella says she was especially drawn to the programme because of the wide range of careers it supports.

“I’ve loved the interdisciplinary nature of the programme and how it gives you the tools to build the STEM career you want, and I’ve especially enjoyed hearing from people like Parisa who didn’t always follow conventional paths. A lot of people might not naturally associate motorsport with biochemistry, but it’s such an exciting area, especially when it comes to sustainability. I want to explore it further, and this programme has shown me the range of hard and soft skills that will help me carve out my own path.”

Changing the record

Gauri says she wasn’t fully aware of the gender imbalance in STEM but knows what it feels like to be in situations where she wasn’t valued enough.

“When I don’t feel like I fit in, I’ve found the only thing to do is carry on being myself. As an industry we don’t want to be saying the same thing about representation in 10 years – things can get better, but we have to be intentional about making a difference.”

Gauri says she used to think working in F1 was “an impossible dream” but thanks to 60 Scholars, she now sees an F1 career as a realistic ambition. Speakers such as Parisa Tabriz are walking proof that pathways do exist – no matter how unconventional – and demonstrate the impact leading women in STEM can have on the future of DE&I.

Rejections build resilience

Gauri describes herself as having a naturally competitive spirit, which her twin sister Sita, also a 60 Scholars participant, helps fuel through their many shared passions and career aspirations. The application process itself has taught her that achieving your goals takes resilience and perseverance.

“This programme has taught me that it’s okay not to get the thing you want on the first attempt. I might not get the first F1 role I apply for, but that won’t stop me building experience and continuing to apply. 60 Scholars has been such a blast, and I think if people are thinking of going for it, don’t give up if you don’t succeed the first time. Be resilient and keep going until you get what you want.”