The 2024 SRO season brought not only exhilarating on-track action but also a series of opportunities for industry leaders to engage in powerful conversations. This past year, SRO launched the GT Business Forum, a groundbreaking initiative designed by Natasha Masterson, Sr. Marketing Manager and Partner Relations. This forum allows business leaders and motorsports professionals to connect, share ideas, and build sustainable business strategies. After its successful pilot at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in May, a second edition followed at the Indy 8 Hour season finale in October.
The inaugural GT Business Forum's theme, “What Auto Racing Can Teach us About Winning in Business,” served as an introduction into the many applicable characteristics found in motorsports that can convert to “winning” in your professional life. The event was hosted by Julia Lucidi, Founder of the rapidly growing Ft. Lauderdale tech meet-up, Founder Tactics. Don Ruse, Assistant Professor McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas Austin was the moderator of the panel composed of individuals from within and outside the SRO Motorsports paddock. The panel included:
Greg Gill, President, CEO at SRO Motorsports America
Angelo Comazetto, Senior Principal (CISO) at Amazon Web Services
Benjamin Sloss, VP Engineering at Google
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During the GT Business Forum panel at COTA, the discussion centered on the key factors driving success in high-performance environments. Panelists explored the elements required to build a winning team, emphasizing the balance between individual talent and collective effort. They also examined the essential role of leadership, providing further insights into inspiring vision, fostering collaboration, and navigating complex situations. Discussions also touched on how to manage uncertainty, and in turn how focusing on adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement can positively drive innovation. Finally, the panel reflected on the vital role of community—mentors, coworkers, clients, investors, and family—as a foundation for resilience and growth in both personal and professional spheres.
While the second edition was themed around "Creating a Playbook for Building and Sustaining High Performing Teams,” which tackled one of the most critical aspects of both motorsports and business success. In a panel moderated by Don Ruse, Assistant Professor at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, attendees gained unique insights into what it takes to forge high-performance teams in today’s fast-paced environment. Panelists included top-tier industry leaders:
CJ Moses, CISO and VP of Security Engineering at Amazon
Doug Boles, President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS)
Paul Sparta, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Vbrick
Mark Clark, Principal at PivotIT, LLC
The discussions gave attendees a powerful “playbook” of strategies for building and sustaining teams that can thrive in high-stakes environments, whether on the track or in the boardroom.
One of the Forum’s core goals was to provide a platform where entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders across industries could come together with a shared interest in motorsports. Masterson’s vision was clear from the start: to foster meaningful business-to-business (B2B) growth, sparking lasting connections that transcend race weekends. "We designed the GT Business Forum to build bridges between business and motorsports by creating intentional conversations that benefit both sides," says Masterson. "It’s about giving leaders the space to share their experiences, learn from each other, and ultimately fuel growth in a meaningful way."
With its success at COTA and Indianapolis, the GT Business Forum is already looking ahead to 2025. Masterson aims to expand this initiative to additional race weekends, enhancing the forum's reach and impact. As the forum grows, so does the opportunity for the motorsports industry to bridge connections, share innovative strategies, and continue building a network of high-performing, collaborative teams.
