Nancy Matter

I attribute my success to never taking no for an answer and just working hard at what I want to do. When I wanted to succeed in the music industry, so many people told me I'd never be successful, but then the next thing you know, I'm doing a complete concert tour for Peter Gabriel and for Phil Collins. People asked how I got that, and I said I guess I didn't take no for an answer. That's exactly what I'm doing with this race car too. I've learned that anybody can do anything they want to do, they just have to work hard at it and focus on what they're doing. You just never stop learning - for me, I got a little bit stagnant for a while with the diesel repair shop, but now I'm learning AI for marketing, getting my drone license, and constantly pushing forward. My ability to blend everything I learned in the music industry with racing, combined with my people skills and marketing expertise, has been crucial. I'm very transparent and what you see is what you get - that's the only way I know how to be. I also credit my ability to turn everything off once I'm in the car and just be completely present in that moment, with natural reactions that keep me ahead of the car.

The best advice I have received is not to let others define my limits. Throughout my career, I have learned the importance of trusting my own direction, even when it meant stepping into unfamiliar roles or exploring opportunities outside of a traditional path. I have found that growth often comes from taking on challenges that may seem unconventional at first. By staying open to new experiences and remaining confident in my ability to adapt, I have been able to build a career that reflects both my interests and my commitment to continuous improvement.

I encourage young women entering this field to have confidence in their abilities and not hesitate to pursue opportunities, even in spaces where women may be underrepresented. It is important to take the time to learn every aspect of the profession, from technical skills to communication and leadership. Building strong, supportive relationships is equally essential, as collaboration plays a key role in long-term success. I also believe it is important to advocate for yourself, share your accomplishments, and remain open to growth, as both knowledge and self-presentation contribute to a meaningful and successful career.

The biggest challenge and opportunity I see right now is growing female representation and engagement in motorsports. My marketing reach is only 18% female right now, and I really want to grow that. Women are the hardest ones to get on your side because of that little green monster that pops in - they sometimes think you just want to be with their husband when really we're just friends. But I see huge potential in building my female presence, especially with professional entrepreneur women. It would be amazing to have a female entrepreneur come on board as a sponsor. There aren't a lot of women in that space in motorsports, and I think that's where the real opportunity lies. I'm very female and can go from the blacktop to the red carpet in a heartbeat, but I'm primarily such a tomboy. I would love to build my female presence and show that you can be both - you can be a badass driver and still be feminine. Having somebody, a female, that's into it just as much to see their brand on the car, standing on the starting line, and cheering it on - that would be the ultimate accomplishment for me.

Trust is absolutely huge for me - I don't micromanage because I trust people that they know what they're doing and they're gonna do it right. There's a lot of things I don't need to know, but once I'm strapped in that car, I need to know that my team has my back. I'm very lucky because I have the most amazing group of men around me, and this is definitely not a single-person endeavor. I also value transparency and authenticity - I'm very transparent and what you see is what you get, and in this world, it's the only way I know how to be. Giving back is incredibly important to me. I love humanitarianism, I love people, and I love sharing my passion with others. When I raise money through my Racers Igniting Hope initiative, I only keep 15% to cover overhead and the rest goes back to the causes I support. I know people who keep the maximum they can legally keep, which is unethical to me - I choose not to do that. I also value hard work and never accepting no as a final answer. You've got to set your mind to what you want and just keep pushing forward.