A Ride I've Truly Cherished: Nine Months with Formula One
For Gauri, the nine-month Aston Martin x Aleto mentoring programme wasn't just a career development opportunity — it was a journey of personal growth, technical insight, and the kind of direct access to Formula One engineers that most people can only dream about.
Access That Changes Everything
Having access to Formula One engineers through the programme was, in Gauri's own words, an incredible opportunity — one that not only broadened her perspective but strengthened her drive to succeed in motorsport engineering. That access didn't feel abstract or distant. It was structured, sustained, and deeply personal.
Her mentor Stephen played a crucial role throughout. He was both supportive and challenging — encouraging Gauri to think critically about her career path and long-term goals, rather than simply validating where she already was. Together they worked through her Personal Development Plan, aligning it with the goals she had set out to achieve at the start of the programme.
I've become a more confident communicator and have started to develop the leadership mindset needed for high-performance engineering environments.
Personal Growth
Beyond the technical insight, one of the biggest benefits of the programme for Gauri was the personal growth. She came away a more confident communicator, and began to develop the leadership mindset that high-performance engineering environments demand — not just the technical knowledge, but the clarity, composure, and self-awareness to operate at that level.
The experience also made her reflect differently. Not just on what she wants to achieve, but on how she wants to grow as a professional. That shift — from what to how — is one of the most meaningful things a programme can offer.