SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Building a Winning Career in Motorsports

Long regarded as one of the most influential women in NASCAR, decorated auto racing engineer Alba Colon came to Hendrick Motorsports as Director of Technical Partnerships after a storied career with General Motors that spanned more than two decades. Under Colon's leadership, Chevrolet was the most dominant manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series, amassing 286 race wins, 12 driver championships and 14 manufacturer titles. Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2018, the team has won 48 races and 2 driver championships. If history is any guide, many more are in store. From her early years in Puerto Rico to taking part in her first Formula SAE competition, we sat down with Alba to discuss her passion for motorsports and her dedication to advancing women in engineering which won her the prestigious Rodica Baranescu Award for Technical & Leadership Excellence from SAE International in 2022. SAE Awards honor the very best in mobility, recognizing the extraordinary achievements of executives, engineers, students, and educators. If you want to learn more, serve on a selection committee, or nominate a deserving colleague---or yourself---send an e-mail to awards@sae.org.