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What happens when a hockey-obsessed intern accidentally clicks on Drive to Survive?
For Emma, it sparked a career pivot that led her from the NHL to Indy NXT in record time. Emma shares the reality of life working in the motorsports industry and gives invaluable advice for women in sports looking to break barriers.
Position: Indy NXT Communications Coordinator
Day to day: Managing Indy NXT media, driver appearances, and brand marketing for the series and its drivers.
Emma's start in motorsports
#1. What was the first moment that you discovered racing?
It was entirely by accident. I grew up in a hockey family, so my parents put me on skates the minute I could walk because we grew up in Connecticut. My dad had been going to NASCAR races with my grandpa for a long time, but I did not know about it when I was younger.
In January 2024, I was scrolling on Netflix and Drive to Survive popped up. I clicked watch with absolutely no idea what I was watching. I did not know what Formula 1 was or that it was a single driver racing. I knew nothing. By the time I finished that season, it felt like a gateway drug. I watched the rest of the seasons as well.
From there, I ended up watching 100 Days to Indy, and in March 2024 I texted my dad asking if he wanted to go to the Indy 500. He was so happy it almost made me cry, because I did not know he and my grandpa had been going to races together for so long. We went, and it was a day I will never forget. It was so special to see how excited my dad was and to share that experience with him. Even though my first real experience with racing was very recent, it was incredibly memorable.
#2. When did you decide that the racing industry is where you wanted to build your career?
At the time, I was an NHL intern, and that was the only thing I had ever known. I went to college for three years instead of four, so I graduated early. I didn’t start in sports. I began in political science but quickly realized it would be too much desk work for me, so I switched to communications. After watching Drive to Survive in January 2024, I became enamored with the world of open-wheel racing. By April, I applied for my current position, graduated in May, and had a job offer by July. It was a very quick turnaround from first learning about racing to securing a role, but everything aligned perfectly.
I was initially focused on the NHL, but after attending the Indy 500 in May 2024, I knew I would do whatever it took to join the team. That first visit to the Indy 500 confirmed it for me. I realized I needed to be in racing and that I was absolutely in love with it.
#3. What was the first step you took to launch your career in racing?
In March 2024, my dad sent me a job posting on TeamWork Online. It was listed as a public relations coordinator role, which is not my current title, and I’ve since gone through a few title changes. I applied right away. The posting mentioned Indy NXT, but only briefly, so I spent time watching everything IndyCar-related that I could to gain background knowledge.
I heard from them in April, and by the last week of June or first week of July, I had the job offer in hand. I felt very lucky. Most people don’t fall in love with a sport and land their ideal job three months later. At the time, I was applying to any sports-related position and wasn’t focused on a specific racing series. The only series I knew were NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1. I didn’t know what IMSA was. I had no idea about Porsche. I saw the Indy NXT posting, thought it sounded interesting, and here I am.
Emma's current role
#4. How would you describe your current role?
I am the point of contact for anything and everything Indy NXT-related, except competition, since we have a series director and a series manager. I handle media, driver appearances, building the brand, marketing outreach, and brand visibility. I work around the clock to have all of our drivers doing in-market media tours, collaborations with different sports teams, and influencers. I coordinate the championship media tour and all driver travel. I lead content days and travel to all Indy NXT races and open tests. I am also responsible for reporting to either Fox Sports or our internal teams after a driver is released from medical.
The off-season looks very different from what I do during race weekends. On race weekends, nobody sees me because I am running around after 24 different drivers. During the off-season, I focus on building our brand and planning what our priorities should be for the next year. People often think that when the racing season stops, my job stops, but that is not the case. It is just a running joke that nobody is more passionate or dedicated to the series than I am on our team.
I didn’t know what Indy NXT was when I got my job, and I am serious about that. There is not a single day now where I am not promoting the series in some way. I genuinely love Indy NXT with my whole heart. There is not a single racing series I would rather be in.
#5. What have been the most rewarding and challenging aspects of the job?
Rewarding
The most rewarding part of my job has been my first full season in 2024. Seeing a driver I worked with all year graduate to the Main Series and knowing I played a part in shaping their experience with IndyCar has been incredible. Helping build their brand visibility, introducing them to the media, and preparing them before they moved up was really special.
I remember meeting Dennis [Hauger] at the Chris Griffith test in 2024 when he had never driven an Indy NXT car, and seeing him go on to win the Championship while remaining down to earth was amazing. The same goes for Caio [Collet]. Watching them achieve what they wanted has been extremely rewarding, and I expect I will be emotional when they start in the Indianapolis 500.
Challenging
The most challenging aspects are twofold. First, getting people to care about the series. Fans naturally pay more attention to the main series, like the NTT IndyCar Series or Formula 1, and it is a challenge to engage fans who may already watch the main series but don’t know much about Indy NXT. It is important to show that Indy NXT shapes future stars of the Main Series and future winners of the Indianapolis 500. This year, many more people got into Indy NXT, which was exciting, and next year will be even better.
Second, the time commitment is significant. I spend more time with co-workers and drivers than with my own family. During the first Month of May this past year, it was intense. I had no sleep and almost no time for anything else. But I remind myself that the reason I always look so happy at race weekends is that I love what I do. The time aspect is challenging, and I don’t think many people realize how much we sacrifice at home, but it is worth it.
#6. What are the three qualities that have helped you succeed at this role?
Be personable
The first quality is being personable. You have to be likable in a role like this. I spend more time with drivers, team reps, and media than with my own family throughout the year. People often comment that I always look happy during race weekends, and that is because I work hard to check in with everyone, even if our jobs don’t directly overlap. I make an effort to know mechanics and engineers because you never know when you might need their help or when they might need yours.
Curiosity
The second quality is curiosity. At first, I was scared to ask questions because I didn’t want to sound stupid, but I have learned so much more about the competition side by asking questions about how things work, who our suppliers are, or why we do certain things. I now even join team manager meetings, which helps me do my job better. Being curious also allows me to answer in-depth questions from reporters in the pit lane, and right now, in the off-season, I am going through the Indy NXT rule book to continue learning.
Confidence
The third quality is confidence. You have to be sure of yourself in roles like this. I was very quiet growing up, but I’ve learned to put myself out there and share my opinions and ideas. Confidence helps you earn respect from others. Lyn St. James said that people cannot believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself, and I truly believe that displaying confidence is key to being successful in this role.
Emma's advice
#7. If you could go back and give advice to your younger self, what would that be?
I would say this is especially for women in sports: do not allow yourself to be intimidated by those around you, even if they don’t look like you. In college, I allowed myself to feel intimidated when I was the only woman in a room. I wish I could go back and tell myself that if you are in the room, you are there for a reason, and if you aren’t, you find a way in. Do not allow yourself to be pushed away from opportunities because you look different from others. You have to remind yourself that there are reasons you have the opportunities you do.
#8. What advice would you give to someone looking to be in your position?
Do not ever be afraid to reach out to people. Many amazing and supportive people have joined me or our team during race weekends to shadow what we do. Our team is always happy to help you succeed, whether you are in college or just starting in sports. The worst thing that can happen is being told a no, and if that happens, you move on to the next opportunity without skipping a beat. Message people, connect with them on LinkedIn, and send emails. At the end of the day, one of those connections could become something meaningful that you sustain throughout your career.
Emma's career highlights
#9. What's been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
The most memorable moment was bringing my dad to IMS in May 2025 as an employee for the first time. I took him to the ABEL Motorsports garages at IMS during the Indy Grand Prix. One of our Indy NXT drivers, Jack William Miller, gave him a deep dive of the car and even let him hold the steering wheel. They spent quite a while there, and I could tell he really enjoyed getting to interact with the cars up close.
Sharing my job with my dad has been an amazing experience. I was able to walk in the pit lane with him during both the Indy GP and the Indy 500 when the NTT IndyCar Series cars were on the grid, and we took pictures together. Seeing his reaction and watching him take it all in from my perspective still brings tears to my eyes because I could tell it meant so much to him. It also reminded him of the times he went to races with my grandpa, who has since passed away. That experience of showing him what I do for a living has been the most memorable part of my career.
#10. Since you’ve worked in the NHL, what sort of collaboration would you like to see between hockey and Indy NXT, and which drivers would you want to be a part of it?
My dream would be to collaborate with the New York Islanders. I have been an Islanders fan since I was a ‘grasshopper,’ so I am very dedicated. Marcus Ericsson or Nolan Allaer played hockey this past year, and it would be really cool to eventually have them participate in a morning skate or something similar where we get them on the ice.
I would be happy to work with any NHL team, but it would be especially meaningful to do something with a team I grew up watching and admiring, bringing my world into theirs. Getting to meet players like Mathew Barzal and all of these players I spent so much time watching and being a fan of. That would be super cool.
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