KRISTA BALDWIN

This month’s #SheIsSEMA Member Spotlight goes out to Krista Baldwin of McLeod Racing.

The best advice I ever received was…

"You'll figure it out, but if it doesn't feel right, lift." I know this doesn't sound profound, but my grandpa told me this when I was just starting to drive a dragster. I kept asking for advice on how to drive 275 mph, and he said I needed to figure it out. It goes for anything in life. You have to find your own way and when it doesn't feel right, stop.

This keeps me in the industry:

Definitely the people and networking. I love meeting new people from other companies and watch their take on marketing. Everyone is different although we are all trying to accomplish the same goals. I love the creativity and the hustle each person has for the aftermarket industry. And I was honored to receive the 2017 Rising Star award from SBN and I am extremely proud of it.

On a Saturday, you can find me…

Either at the race track or at the shop. If I'm not out promoting McLeod, I'll be at home at the race shop getting my Top Alcohol Dragster ready for the next race.

When going into an important meeting I am always…

Taking notes. It doesn't matter if you write a novel. It is important to recall all aspects of the meeting, even down to how people to react to ideas. This will all make it easier when you reference your notes a week or two later.

If I could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, it would be…

I would have to choose Linda Vaughn. Throughout all motorsports and aftermarket industry, she is one of the personalities everyone recognizes, and she watched this industry grow into the state it is in today. She was, and still is, a major player in promotion and marketing.