Stefy Bau: Motorsports, Esports, and Inclusion (Full Transcript)

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Ronen Ainbinder 0:32

Today's Halftime Snack features a wonderful and unique guest.

This episode not only features an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in motorsports and esports, but she is also a 3-time motocross world champion and an advocate for diversity and inclusion in sports. Today, she's the founder and CEO of Init Sports and Init Esports – entities that aim to create, develop, and promote events in motorsports, e-mobility, and Esports to create opportunities for women and minorities. Besides being an active speaker empowering women in sports, she advises organizations such as Women in Sports Tech, the NCAA Esports commission, and the EK Female Advisory Board.

It is my honor and pleasure to host her in today's podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, Stefy Bau!

Stefy Bau 1:25

Thank you, Ronen. It's a pleasure to be here.

Ronen Ainbinder 1:27

No, the pleasure is mine. Stefy, welcome to the Halftime Snacks! Let's kick it off with a fun icebreaker. And I want to ask you if you were a wrestler, what would be your entrance theme song now? I don't know if you have this in mortars motocross. I don't know if you have these entrances or something where you can play your theme song. Let's say if you were a wrestler, what would be your theme song?

Stefy Bau 1:49

Well, I'm not sure. But maybe, like, it just popped in my head like the eye of a tiger.

Ronen Ainbinder 1:57

Okay. That's a great one! You will get everyone pumped up. That's amazing. Let's talk about how you first got into Motorsports, of course, your three-time world champion. And wow. Like, it's this type of sport that is so unique. How, like speed and, and there are all these things going all around. So let's just go back in history and talk about how you first got into it.

Stefy Bau 2:28

Yeah. So I was a little girl because I started writing four with a big, big dream. I wanted to become the world champion. And it was like, passed on to me, I guess for the passion from my mom and dad, they were a fan of the sport. So back in Italy, they used to go out and watch the world championship or when it was the time to come around in Italy. And they have promised since I was a little girl. And then one day I asked my Mum and Dad, can we get a motorcycle for me too. And they bought it. And the rest is history.

Ronen Ainbinder 3:03

So that's a great introduction for you. I'm sure it came a long way from that point to becoming the world champion. And I want to hear more about it. And we'll get into it a little bit more about that. But I want to. There's this one concept that I've thought about. I don't know so much more about motor motorsports than probably the average sports fan. So I know that it's kind of like racing and coming out to be the first one, but I'm sure there's so much more to it, like what makes someone consistent and stay consistent during their races. So there's this thing that I wanted to talk about with you. And that is risk and reward. These are very popular terms and concepts in things like, let's say finance, or in other areas, but I'm not sure how it applies to motorsports. So can you share with us may be what you think about that? Or if you have any different stories that can help us represent? What do they mean by the concept of Motorsports? I think this will blow our minds because none of us like, at least not me. I don't even know what it means. But I think it's gonna be interesting to hear from you.

Stefy Bau 4:24

Yeah, so I can say that as an athlete, whatever type of athlete you are, you are you lead with passion. So anything you do, it's about the passion that you have for that sport. So in motorsport, there is an added risk because you use a car or a motorcycle. In my case, I then bring in totally different new ways of possibly getting hurt and figuring out what can happen. But when you are a professional athlete, you just don't think that you can't because if you think of Failure, you will never be able to perform at your best. And I have to say, like in business, it turns out to be very much the same. It helped me a lot in my business career after racing to apply what I learned during my professional sports career. I mean, motocross and, and, and car racing, the teacher strategy you need to learn where and how to compete against your competition, they teach you, they did not never give up attitude, because stuff can happen, and that they say, same in business. Still, if you have the passion and believe in things, you can keep going and not be a good back. It teaches you ways to be in front of people like, when you are successful, you have to be able to have interviews in front of millions of 1000s of people. And it's the same thing that happens when you enter the business world. You need to be in front of people and promote yourself to get that job or their position or their promotion. So risk and reward in anything in life. If you love when you do, you don't see the risk. So everything is a reward. So that's for me like I live life in that way. And the sport that taught me that, and I'm applying that to business as well.

Ronen Ainbinder 6:25

That's very interesting. And I wonder if there's any point in time, especially in your career, in racing, was there any point in time that you felt like you've failed, I want to touch on this subject, you had like an injury, that end of your career, I don't know if you can see there that a failure for you, or I wonder how you'd like, perceive it. I understand that you don't want to be like you want to be. You don't want to think about it when you are racing or competing. You don't want to think about the risk or the chances of failing. But I wonder if, like, what's your mentality towards that? How did you see your injury? Let's call it that, that in that way? How did you perceive it? And how has it helped you help you grow and become who you are today?

Stefy Bau 7:20

Yeah. So like, anything you do in life when you crash or fail or don't get quite where you want to be? It is a learning experience, right? So everything that happens, that happens, and then you learn, and then you try to better yourself. In this particular case that you brought out this career-ending injury, it was the first time in my life that I fell. I couldn't get up, meanie, like I couldn't continue on anymore to do what I love to do up to that point. It was very abrupt. So it's like, all of a sudden, they were the ones I knew up until that point, pretty much ended. So like you do go through moments of depression and being sad and, kind of like, try to figure it out. Okay, so now what, what is going to happen next. But like, I ended up turning things around, and I try very hard to look at the positive. And I turn a negative into something positive and start thinking like, at 28 years old, which was the time they got her, I was a very accomplished racer. At that point, I had the chance now to start another successful career. You're not like just a 28. And many people don't even start their first career at 10 years old, right? So you can have like, always try to look at the positive and I feel that people who are successful in life grasp that notion a lot. So I suggest to everybody always look at the silver lining, and try to find a positive in everything that happens to you.

Ronen Ainbinder 8:51

That's super interesting. Going from 100% being devoted all your life to it and then going to zero must have been hard crushing for you and for your emotions. Would you say that, kind of like specific factors is surrounding you that help you overcome that? And just think about it quickly, like friends or family or your own, as the voice inside. Is there any specific thing that helped you? In case anyone is listening or anyone that is interested in learning? How do you overcome that or become more mentally tough or more resilient? Do you have any like, what, what worked for you?

Stefy Bau 9:42

Yeah, like, I have to say for sure, surround yourself with positive people, no matter what, that's a very first step that you should look at in your life. So for me, I've been very lucky to have incredible parents that support me in anything I do. So they weren't there in the good times and in the bad times. So then, like having a team of people around you, motorsport is a single-person sport that does not mean that you have a team around you that takes care of the motorcycle, the car, the sponsorship, and the training and whatnot. So, all of these people, they become your family. So having a team around you that is there, no matter what it is, is the number one thing you can ever do to get out of bed. So, yes, I always say that. And then it's a suggestion to everybody. And always try to surround yourself with people that might even know more than you. Because you can always learn from somebody better than you. Right? So try to do that, like, always surround yourself with people that might have been there before so that they can be your mentor, and then you can learn from them and continue to grow.

Ronen Ainbinder 10:57

I love that. Let's talk about Init eSports. And Init sports. I wonder when did you first realize there was a need, or a pain in the industry, or two dots that you saw that were interesting to connect through in it and that this was something you stood for? And wanted to make a change in it? What was the moment when you were like, Ah, this needs a solution?

Stefy Bau 11:34

Yeah. So first, I gotta give a small distinction. So in it, sport is more like a business development company. And that's what I created after I got done with my racing career. And that was because I had all of these connections all over the world. So I fell on what I knew, so about connecting people connecting companies and having them opening up branches, either in Europe or in the United States. I've done that for a very long time, and very, very happy with that. And then, about two years ago, I was in Italy. I saw my niece, spending four to five hours a day, watching people playing video games. Unlike I'm a person who usually likes to look at a younger generation because I think they are the trendsetter. So like, you can learn a lot from the young people about how they spend their time. Some like, let's see if I can connect the two things and connect motorsport and video games, so I dove a dove deep into the field. And I learned that Formula One was the number one eSport of the Ford MotorSport. They did an incredible job. But there was like a lot of like, gaps like around the world that tried to make motorsport the as an opportunity, just like all the other eSports so because I walk and talk to the diversity and inclusion aspect, I wanted to put everything under one umbrella and say okay, I'm going to develop a company there's going to focus on creating events special events, where we can bring in people from any background any minority any walk of life to be able to enjoy in Sunday's super fun on top of it if you know anything or you don't know anything about eSports with video games, they are famous they probably as enter people how is all the like the legal legends and the fortnight, the sport are very difficult to understand if you are not into that field, car racing is simple. It's intuitive. Everybody's been in the car. You have at least the concept that there is a steering wheel, the brake pedal, and the gas pedal right. So yeah, I just say again, going back to the beginning of the podcast, I followed my passion, and I saw the dots. I connected them, and now I have eSport, and we are coming up with a very, very, super cool initiative.

Ronen Ainbinder 14:06

Okay, so I guess we can get valuable insight from you right here, Stefy. What do you think is harder to win in real Motorsports or eSports Motorsports?

Stefy Bau 14:17

It's a very funny question that you put out there because depending on what you ask gives you a different answer. Let's say this, though, in real motorsport, you have the physical aspect, which is not as strong as in digital sport because you're not inside a car or on a motorcycle, but the mental toughness it's identical. Like I ever had the people plane on a sim racing and have the same heartbeat then the same ride and the driver there is in the car. So like those types of reactions, they are very, very seen as similar by you. Take away The opportunity to get hurt. So, I don't know what's hard. So what's toughest? Again, the real real-life sport is harder if you look down on the physical side because of the risk and reward aspect. But there are those people that train as much as the real driver. So, eight, nine hours a day, they are on the Sims. And they train, so it's very similar, I have to say,

Ronen Ainbinder 15:33

That's fascinating. It's definitely safer to do it on eSports. But it kind of intrigues me. Where? or How can that fit into like training? If that make any sense? Like how? Maybe not now, but maybe how much in the future? Can you train actual motorsport athletes in or through eSports? I think that's going to be super interesting to see, talking a little bit about that kind of technology and how it's shifting and how it's accelerating. You've been in the sport for a while. So it's quite well. How have you seen technology shift Motorsports? And how do you see it shifting in the future? Like, what were some of the things that, as you mentioned, probably before, were the trend that you saw on your niece? But now, like, who you see it from, or what kind of things you think will shift or make this connection between those two dots, Motorsports, and eSports. Closer together, maybe that part of the training that I mentioned is something that you already see. And you already know. So let me stop talking, and you give us what you think about that.

Stefy Bau 16:50

Yeah, so as simracing is becoming the only sport right now, that translates into the real, real thing, all the top teams in the world have simulators. And they put their driving into the simulator because they're so sophisticated that you can have the same exact reaction you have when you are in the car. I'll tell you one more: a campaign was done a couple of years ago, from putting together people they play on the scene. This particular guy won this competition, and it caught the attention of obvious skills from a real team. The real team hired the guy to do a race in his second real race. He won the race. So it is there. It's a grassroots way to bring more people into Motorsports. So what we are doing within it is going to schools now, to be able to bring sim racing technology into schools. So people can get a possibility in 10, instead of spending a lot of money to get a go-kart, for instance, and start practice and get passionate about the sport. Now, you can do it for a fraction of the cost in the same, right. And, of course, there are so many different levels that it can get expensive. But this first step with the steering wheel and the pedal is not that pricing. Still, it gives you the same feeling to get into the sport. Also, racing allows you to develop a stem, meaning there are many opportunities to get into engineering by learning how to maneuver a simulator, so this is another career path. So then, it doesn't necessarily mean that everybody has to be a driver. Still, it can open up opportunities to develop people who can be engineers and try to figure out chassis and how they work in the car. All of this is something that now, the companies that they make cars, so car manufacturers are looking into it. Every driver, they can be passing cars on the scene before even making the car. Because the technology is there, you can learn so much. So it's super intriguing to open up doors in so many different ways. So, and for me, what is very exciting is the fact that it gives opportunities to minorities to get involved with it without having to spend a lot of money to get the first go-kart and then get involved and get the passion for it.

Ronen Ainbinder 19:32

Yeah, that's something amazing that you've been doing. I want to talk more about that. Diversity and Inclusion. Of course, it has been, I guess, a relevant, relevant area in your career. Not sure if it was as accepted before, as it is now a mixed element in motorsport, both for males and females. Racers probably could be interesting. If we could get your insight or around that. And also, like, if you can tell us a bit of what you are trying to do actively, what type of projects you're working on to bring in, and bridge these two elements together, I think we learn a lot about that.

Stefy Bau 20:17

Yeah, so I can say that I've been very lucky to have two parents. They never put anything in front of me like they cannot do, right. So I've had parents. I said that you can do whatever you put your, your, your heart to by working hard because there is no shortcut in this life. So you have to work hard to achieve it. So I always lead with that. So every time, even starting in a male-dominated sport, meaning like not many females participating, I never saw myself any different from any other competitor. So by growing up with that mentality, I carry it with me throughout my entire life. So now I do a lot of talks to inspire people. And I always like to say, Don't put yourself in that box, like a society tends to say, oh, women should do this, where men should do that, and minorities should be there, but not here, and so on forth.

Sound like you change your own mentality, don't put yourself in that box. So if you, if you can, just try to change their way of thinking little by little, people will start to see you as somebody that doesn't, don't want to be put in a box. So immediately, they put you on the same level as them when you discuss with them. And this is why you enter like a by living my life in this way I am on a board meeting, where I'm the only woman there more often than not. And I'm totally comfortable because I lead with a message. So for me, it's important to show this to other women, especially because I believe that if you can see it, you can be it. So I always tell women and girls, like hey, I've done it. So I'm here; I'm going to teach you how to do it too, and then let's see where we can go. So for me, it's just that don't put yourself in the box. And just believe in yourself.

Ronen Ainbinder 22:16

That's super interesting. As you mentioned, it comes down from a psychological standpoint how, like, the beliefs that you have shaped your reality or shape your, the way you think about things, which makes your actions different. So I just want to double-tap on those beliefs. And I want to know if there's anything besides limiting yourself and then staying in that box. Is there any other belief, it can either be also held by women or made or men? I want to know if there's anything that you think people think that might be not so accurate in your experience? Or that you may disagree with? Or that may be, it is true, but you're not so sure. Like, is there anything else that you can share with us regarding beliefs and things that may sound counterintuitive to people listening and being like, but I thought that was the way? Then you come in with challenging this belief is not if it will help them in the long run than hurt them. So are there any beliefs that you want to share with us?

Stefy Bau 23:28

Yeah, so I can tell you that I have encountered so many people that think that other people are unreachable? That's wrong. We are all human beings. So we have to respect each other's times, of course. But just go out and ask for an example. You came out and found me and asked me, hey, do you want to be on the podcast, so just do it because it's not true. Somebody is doing something, and you're not doing it, then that person is unreachable. And this is something that a lot of people believe. And for me, I don't understand why. But like, I'm telling you, don't be afraid. Just go and ask people that are out there. And a lot of time, they want to help. So be respectful. That's 100% the number one rule because everybody has time and cannot put all the time before other people. But if you're polite and say, hey, I would like your suggestion 99% of the time, that person cannot reply, say yeah, how can I help you? So just go for it.

Ronen Ainbinder 24:37

I love that. I love that. Stefy, I've heard so many amazing, kind of like mantras from you, you kind of like said, just do it, and you also save, don't be afraid and don't stay in. Don't try to stay in your lane. Just expand your eye view and your side and your perspective. And all those are inspiring. Stefy, thank you so much for sharing. I can't leave you and let you go without asking you a more, even more, personal question. And that is amongst all of like the mantras and older like, ways that you think what is the like the number one mantra that you keep your yourself reminding yourself telling yourself every single day that pushes you forward, pushed you forward to win three championships and push you to expand the boundaries of what was thought about diversity and inclusion in is pushing you even further to develop and discover new and interesting opportunities in the intersection between sports eSports and motorsport. So what is it that you tell yourself to achieve all this greatness in this short time, which will help you get to that next step? And the next level in the upcoming years?

Stefy Bau 25:57

Yeah, I would say they're making the impossible possible because it's impossible until you have done it.

Ronen Ainbinder 26:05

That's amazing. That's an amazing one. Stefy, I want to thank you so much for coming to the Halftime Snacks. It has been a pleasure to have you and snack on amazing and insightful, interesting, inspiring stories. To hear firsthand from you is a pleasure and an honor. So I can't thank you enough. I'm sure it's gonna be such a successful venture in the future. I wish I could invest some time in the future. Not that I have any money right now, but maybe I will. But anyway, thank you so much, selfie.

I'm looking forward to having more interesting, insightful discussions with you.