Sport AND Sustainability with Formula E pilot Stoffel Vandoorne

08/27/24 • 26 min

AND is the Future - Making Businesses Sustainable AND Profitable

So how does it feel to be part of one of the most sustainable sports? Great, according to Formula E champion, Stoffel Vandoorne! As he explains, Formula E, the driving competition for electric cars, is “really a championship that is on the rise, that is pushing sustainability, electrification and bringing that racing to the cities as well.”

Stoffel gives an inspiring account of how he prepares physically and mentally for a race, what makes a Formula E car different to drive, what business leaders can learn from his champion mindset, the importance of dreaming big and never giving up, and much more!

1:16 - Upbringing and inspiration for racing
3:34 - Preparing physically and mentally for a race
7:30 - Formula E: One of the most sustainable sports!
9:26 - The Formula E car - what’s different?
12:12 - Career in racing: focus on the journey
17:03 - What businesses can learn from racing
20:18 - Favorite race track
21:40 - Next big goal
23:06 - Life outside of racing

Stoffel Vandoorne is a Belgian professional racing driver in Formula E, the championship for electric cars. Until July 2024 he was a pilot for the DS Penske team, which Syensqo is proud to sponsor. Vandoorne's racing career started at the age of six, competing in kart championships – and this led him all the way to becoming the champion of the 2015 GP2 Series and winning the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship.

***This podcast was recorded in June 2024, when Stoffel was still with the DS Penske team. We wish him the best in his next adventure!

For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.syensqo.com/en/podcast

***This podcast was recorded in June 2024, when Stoffel was still with the DS Penske team. We wish him the best in his next adventure!

For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.syensqo.com/en/podcast

Previous Episode

Humanitarianism AND Health: Siddharth Chatterjee on Sustainable Development Goals and business

According to Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, "the world needs to unite" to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, "and this is where the role of the private sector becomes absolutely mission critical." Ilham speaks with Siddharth about his incredible work with the United Nations to improve the lives of children, ensure equality for women and girls, promote health and well being, drive progress on all the SDGs....and how businesses can play a key role..
Siddharth has worked tirelessly with the United Nations to protect the most vulnerable. One of his greatest professional achievements was the demobilization of more than 3, 500 children from the conflicts in South Sudan. He is also a health and wellness enthusiast and shares some tips from his own routines! Timestamps
1:35 - Childhood and inspiration for humanitarian causes
6:10 - The Sustainable Development Goals: how are we doing?
12:35 - SDG 13 and the climate agenda
18:10 - Fighting for gender equality - SDG 5
22:01 - Demobilization of over 3,500 child soldiers in South Sudan
29:52 - Focus on health and wellness
37:34 - Love of literature

For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.syensqo.com/en/podcast

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Curiosity AND Reaching for the Stars: Anousheh Ansari on becoming the first Iranian woman in space

Imagine. Be the change. Inspire - these are the words that Anousheh Ansari had made into a badge for her spacesuit as she became the first Iranian woman to fly into space! They are also the principles that led her to become a successful, sustainable CEO. Anousheh and Ilham have a fascinating conversation about the importance of having big dreams and reaching for the stars, why we need more women in STEM, and what it takes to become a sustainable entrepreneur and leader, and much more.
Timstamps
1:29 - Childhood, love of stars and inspiration for going to space
6:06 - The importance of education - leading to engineering degree
9:45 - First Iranian Muslim woman to fly to space!
14:46 - Why we need to democratize space travel
20:13 - CEO of XPRIZE
23:52 - Advice for entrepreneurs
27:14 - The importance of having more women in STEM
30:51 - Imagine, be the change, inspire

Anousheh Ansari is an engineer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and the first Iranian and Muslim woman and the first private explorer to travel to space. She is the CEO of the XPRIZE, which aims to accelerate technological breakthroughs that will benefit humanity through the power of large scale public competitions.
Ansari and her family sponsored XPRIZE’s first venture in 1994: the $10 million Ansari XPRIZE that ignited a new era for commercial spaceflight. She began serving on its Board of Directors and became CEO of XPRIZE in 2018, leading and scaling the foundation to its highest impact period in its history. To date, XPRIZE has launched 30 prizes offering over $500 million in prize purses, hosting over 35,000 innovators from around the world to participate in its competitions.
She is a global presence in future-positive tech markets and a resonant voice for women within STEM, business, and the entrepreneurial industries.

For additional details about the podcast, show notes, and access to resources mentioned during the show, please visit https://www.syensqo.com/en/podcast

AND is the Future - Making Businesses Sustainable AND Profitable - Sport AND Sustainability with Formula E pilot Stoffel Vandoorne

Transcript

Ilham Kadri: Today. I am thrilled to welcome Stoffel Vandoorne, a champion driver for the DS Penske Formula E team. For anyone in the audience who doesn't know, Formula E is the championship for electrical cars. This is probably the cleanest sport out there. So it actually has a certified net zero carbon footprint.

We are incredibly proud at Syensqo to partner with DS Penske and to provide lightweight material for their cars to enable greater speed, greater agility. Stoffel, thank you s