Charlie Martin: Inspirational
Professional racing driver and LGBTQ+ advocate Charlie Martin inspires audiences with powerful insights on resilience, inclusion, and high performance from competing at elite global motorsport events.
- Highlights:
- Professional racing driver across GT, prototypes, and single-seaters
- First transgender driver to compete in the ADAC TOTAL 24h Nürburgring
- 4th in class at Nürburgring 24h and podium finisher in Britcar Championship
- Advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and society
- Formats:
Keynote speaker and professional athlete
- Audiences:
Corporate organizations, leadership teams, diversity and inclusion programs, and audiences seeking inspiration through resilience and authenticity
- Outcomes:
- Foster inclusive, high-performing team cultures
- Build resilience through adversity and change
- Embrace authenticity to unlock personal and professional potential
- Travels from: London, UK
- **Fee range: On Request
Keynote Topics
KEYNOTE SPEAKING
Charlie Martin works regularly with large organisations, schools & universities, sharing her story as a motivational speaker. She speaks with passion and up front honesty about the challenges she has faced in both her personal life and within her sport, repeatedly overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges to be the person she is today.
Talks can be tailored to a particular client’s brief, popular topics include:
- Achieving your goals – the story of how I became a pro racing driver
- Managing & adapting to change – seeing challenges as an opportunity to grow
- Being your authentic self – finding the bravery to transition & unlocking my true potential
- Transgender awareness – a lived experience and how to be a better LGBTQ+ ally
- Succeeding as a woman in a male dominated sport / industry
- Overcoming adversity & achieving the impossible when the odds feel stacked against you
Talent Short Bio
Charlie Martin is a professional racing driver and LGBTQ+ advocate whose story represents a powerful shift in the world of motorsport. Competing across multiple disciplines including single-seaters, prototypes, and GT racing, she has established herself as both a high-performing athlete and a leading voice for inclusion in sport.
In 2020, Charlie made history as the first transgender driver to compete in the ADAC TOTAL 24h Nürburgring, where she achieved a 4th place class finish driving a BMW M240i. She continued her success in 2021 with a podium finish in the Britcar Endurance Championship. Her long-term ambition is to compete at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, further breaking barriers at the highest level of racing.
Having transitioned midway through her career, Charlie has faced and overcome significant adversity, using her journey to inspire resilience, authenticity, and courage. Beyond the track, she works with leading organizations including Stonewall, Mermaids, and Athlete Ally to promote inclusion and visibility for LGBTQ+ communities.
Read Full Bio
Charlie Martin is a game changer in motorsport, her inspiring story has captured the imagination of people around the world, proving that she represents a paradigm shift in motor racing.
Charlie Martin is a British racing driver and LGBTQ+ activist who has raced successfully in multiple disciplines, including single-seaters, prototypes, and GT cars. In 2020, she made LGBTQ+ history as the first ever transgender driver to compete in the ADAC TOTAL 24hr Nürburgring-Rennen, where she finished 4th in class racing a BMW M240i. In 2021, she finished 3rd in the Praga class of the Britcar Endurance Championship. Her ambition is to make LGBTQ+ history by competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Since transitioning midway through her career, Charlie has endured and overcome significant adversity.
Today, she works with leading LGBTQ+ charities Stonewall, Mermaids, and Athlete Ally to improve visibility, acceptance, and inclusion in motorsport. More broadly, she uses her platform to champion transgender acceptance in all sports and in society as a whole.
She has been featured in Vogue Magazine and was named in the Vogue 25, a celebration of inspiring women shaping the World in 2021 and beyond. She has also been included in the Pride Power list, OUT Magazine 100, and Attitude 101.
Charlie Martin is a professional public speaker and works regularly with large organizations to help them improve their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Clients include Google, Microsoft, Adidas, AON, O2, GSK, ASOS, Bosch, and BMW.
Charlie speaks fluent French, is a keen trail runner, surfer, snowboarder, and vlogger. She has an online following of over 50k highly engaged followers.
She started hillclimbing at club level in a Peugeot 205 (in 2004), without any family history of motorsport. In 2014 she won her first race in France at St-Gouëno at the wheel of a Westfield SEiW, breaking the class record by 2 seconds!
Hard work & determination enabled her to progress into single seaters & prototypes which she raced throughout Europe, competing in the Championnat de France de la Montagne & FIA European Hillclimb Championship.
Driving at speeds of up to 140mph on closed public roads requires huge amounts of skill and bravery, and Charlie Martin achieved regular success in this challenging discipline learning to speak fluent French after 3 seasons of European competition.
In 2017 she raced a Norma M20FC at Le Mans on the Bugatti circuit, finishing 3rd in her first ever endurance race !
Charlie Martin has fought continuously to overcome adversity throughout her life, having lost both her parents at a young age. Entering motorsport without anyone supporting is hard enough, but she also realised she identified as transgender from as young as 7, transitioning to live as female midway through her career in 2012. She recorded her entire transition on her Youtube channel, helping to inspire 1,000’s of people all over the World to begin their own journey.
In 2018 she returned to the UK and begun a full season of circuit racing in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, taking the brave step of coming out as transgender within motorsport on TDOV and aiming to improve LGBT visibility & acceptance within the sport she loves. 3 class podiums quickly followed, helping raise the profile for her campaigning alongside charity Stonewall with initiatives at Silverstone for PRIDE at the British GT Championship in June.
Charlie Martin received a Motorsport Marketing Award in recognition for this World first and the 2019 Downforce People’s Champion Award. She now works as a Sports Champion for Stonewall (Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ charity), Patron for Mermaids, & Ambassador for Athlete Ally (USA).
As a transgender woman in motorsport, she occupies a unique role within her sport and the LGBTQ+ community, having faced incredible adversity to become her true authentic self. Charlie Martin tenacity & self-belief have helped her to overcome the impossible and push for change when the odds were stacked against her.
In a male dominated sport that lacks visible diversity, she is changing perceptions and championing inclusivity.
She is now embarking on the ambition of a lifetime to make history as the first transgender driver to compete at the 24hrs of Le Mans, the greatest race in the World.
Her fearlessness both in and out of the car make Charlie Martin one of the most eye catching and engaging drivers competing in international motor racing today.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on LinkedIn
Videos
Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry
No reviews available for this post.
Talent FAQ's
Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
Does the scale of the event and audience size affect a speaker’s fee?
The scale of the event and audience size can indeed impact a speaker’s fee. Larger events with a broader reach or higher attendance may command higher fees due to increased exposure and demand. Conversely, smaller events or niche audiences may offer opportunities for more flexible pricing arrangements.
Travel expenses and other costs
Travel expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and meals are typically negotiated separately from the speaker’s fee. These costs vary depending on the speaker’s location, travel distance, and event duration. It’s important to clarify travel arrangements and expenses during the booking process to avoid misunderstandings.
Deposits and securing a booking
Many speakers require a deposit to secure a booking, with the remaining balance due closer to the event date. Deposits are often non-refundable and serve as a commitment from both parties. It’s advisable to discuss deposit requirements and payment terms with the speaker or their representative when finalizing the booking.
Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
- There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
- Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
- When browsing speakers, consider their location to keep travel costs down.
- Personal connections to your organization or event location can increase your chances of securing a renowned speaker.
- Be upfront about your needs and expectations to ensure a successful partnership.
- Speaker bureaus like Speakers Inc help guide you through the booking process to negotiate the best deal with favorable terms.
Ready to find the perfect speaker for your event? Use our advanced search feature or contact us to get started today!
View further speakers
- (33)
Carolyn Strauss is a powerful, compelling, effervescent, and entertaining presenter who speaks with audiences – not at them. Her programs are based on over 28 years of research and experience as a successful businesswoman in the marketplace. For over twenty years, Carolyn has passionately shared her strategies and business methods with audiences worldwide, teaching people […]
- Travels from: Denver, CO
- Sales Speakers
- (16)
Jack Uldrich is a well recognized global futurist, speaker, and author of eleven books, including a number of award winning best sellers. He is a frequent speaker on technology, change management and leadership and has addressed hundreds of corporations, associations and not-for-profit organizations on five continents. He regularly makes television appearances on the Science Channel’s […]
- Travels from: Minneapolis, MN
- Artificial Intelligence
- (40)
- (6)
Retired Lt. Col. Tammy Barlette, and seasoned military pilot, brings a fresh perspective to overcoming challenges with high-stakes mental performance strategies. Drawing on her 20 years of experience in the cockpit of some of the Air Force’s most demanding aircraft, Tammy inspires audiences to rethink their approach to handling adversity and reaching peak performance. Her […]
- Travels from: Tucson, AZ
- Military Speakers
- (27)
From Coach of the San Francisco 49ers to leadership and sales speaker, bestselling author, and Chief Purpose Advisor, discover Paul Epstein path to become the most trusted voice on leading battle-tested teams and building purposeful culture through The Power of Playing Offense. Paul Epstein has been in the sports industry since his career began, serving […]
- Travels from: Los Angeles, CA
- Leadership Speakers
- (33)
- (3)
Mark Black is a renowned resilience expert whose life story is a testament to the power of determination, perseverance, and the human spirit. Born with a life-threatening heart defect, Mark faced insurmountable odds from the very beginning. He underwent two open-heart surgeries before his first birthday, setting the stage for a life marked by extraordinary […]
- Travels from: Dieppe, New Brunswick
- Motivational Speakers
- (20)
Felipe Gomez redefines what it means to be a virtuoso. While the term is often reserved for exceptional performers in the arts and sports, Felipe brings this concept into the world of business—demonstrating how a virtuoso mindset can unlock breakthrough performance in both organizations and individuals. With a distinguished career as an entrepreneur and senior […]
- Travels from: Atlanta, GA
- Experiential Speakers
- (15)
Dr. Catriona Wallace is a globally recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and digital transformation. A trailblazer in the tech industry, Dr. Wallace is one of the few women at the helm of an AI-driven enterprise, leading the charge to create technology that not only solves problems but also fosters positive societal impact. […]
- Travels from: Sydney, NSW
- Artificial Intelligence
- (18)
Pandit Dasa is a highly sought-after expert on mindful leadership, bringing a unique blend of personal insight, practical experience, and academic grounding to his audiences. With years of expertise in promoting mindful workplace culture, Pandit empowers leaders and employees to embrace appreciation, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence. As a former monk, motivational speaker, and author, Pandit […]
- Travels from: Miami, FL
- Motivational Speakers
Disclaimer
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
Fee Range Information
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.