Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of MOJO: The Meaning of Life and Business. In today's conversation, host Jennifer Glass introduces us to Jessica Soodeen—a powerhouse who has journeyed from the fast-paced circuits of motorsports racing to empowering others through emotional and social intelligence coaching.
Jessica's story is a testament to embracing life’s pivots. What began as a rigged win at a motorcycle lesson fundraiser and a background in mechanical engineering soon propelled her into the intense, male-dominated world of racing. With grit and curiosity, Jessica not only competed in motorsports but earned advanced degrees and raced at over 200 kilometers per hour, building engines in her living room and coaching others along the way.
But Jessica’s path didn’t end at the finish line. Drawing from her experiences on and off the track, she shifted gears to help organizations and individuals understand and improve their emotional and social intelligence. In her dynamic keynote addresses, Jessica uses motorsports as a metaphor to highlight the importance of preparation, psychological safety, repetition under pressure, and—perhaps most importantly—self-regulation and self-forgiveness.
In this episode, Jessica and Jennifer dive deep into what it truly means to pivot both personally and professionally, why having multiple strategies ready makes change more manageable, and how emotional intelligence can be the secret sauce to navigating challenges in and out of the boardroom. Jessica shares actionable tips for recognizing, naming, and managing emotions, all while weaving in vibrant analogies pulled straight from the racetrack.
Whether you’re looking for motivation to make a bold pivot, curious about building emotional intelligence within your team, or searching for a new definition of success, this episode radiates practical wisdom and inspiration. Don’t miss Jessica’s insights on moving forward after mistakes, building positive routines, and finding fulfillment by making a difference in others’ lives.
About my guest: Jessica Soodeen is no stranger to challenges and faces them head-on! Throughout her personal life and career, she has pushed boundaries and broken barriers. Whether on stage speaking to hundreds, at a racetrack, or an office setting, Jessica has a unique ability to make everyone she encounters feel seen and heard. Her energy, filled with curiosity and wonder, is contagious. Her first career as a mechanical design engineer took her around the world, and her adventurous spirit led her to a new challenge: earning a Master’s degree in Motorsport Race Engineering. This pivot, born from her passion for road racing motorcycles, a hobby she picked up later in life, opened new avenues for her. Jessica has worked as a track-side engineer and driver coach, fully immersing herself in the world of motorsports. She even built her own motors in her living room, pulled wrenches for other teams, and immediately began coaching others on mindset. Now, Jessica uses all these experiences to deliver dynamic keynote speeches that teach emotional and social intelligence lessons uniquely using motorsports analogies. She also facilitates Relational Skills workshops that bring teams together, focusing on problem solving, conflict resolution through civil communication skills, and decision making processes. You can find Jessica Soodeen on LinkedIn for your next AGM, Professional Association Conference, STEM day, or Retreat!
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Keywords: motorsports, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, business coaching, pivoting in business, mindset coaching, keynote speeches, mechanical engineering, motorsport race engineering, systems in business, corporate culture, communication skills, visualization techniques, psychological safety, leadership development, emotional vocabulary, recognizing emotions, trigger response, boardroom strategies, behavioral change, compassion in coaching, success definition