Growing up I was the girl who climbed trees and then jumped just to show the boys I could. I built ramps to roller skate off of. I had skinned knees and torn tights after recess most days, which bothered my teachers more than me.

At age 7 my parents signed me up for swim team to help me “burn off the energy”. Turns out that I was really good at it and within a few years I was setting club records and breaking my personal best at every meet.

By junior high, I added track and cross-country to stay in shape for swimming. I dreamed of going to the Olympics for swimming and was told I was good, but not good enough. And that pissed me off. I set a state record that year instead.

In high school my labels were NERD, JOCK, and BOOKWORM. And I’ve never grown out of them.

I knew more about goal setting and how to taper for a meet than I did about fashion and makeup - something that I still have not learned to this day.

I ended up going to college for pre-med then switched majors to literature after moving to San Diego. The beach lifestyle was fantastic! I learned to mountain bike, rollerblade, and played beach volleyball at South Mission Beach with future Olympians.

Marie Watkins is the founder of DriveHer Consulting and the Chief Vision Officer (CVO) of Polaris Talent, bringing over 30 years of experience in building HR and Talent Acquisition organizations across Fortune 100 companies, pre-IPO startups, and dynamic industries like motorsports, entertainment, and large-scale public events. Her leadership bridges industries, blending innovation and strategic insight with a passion for empowering others.

Recognized Leader and Award-Winning Coach

Marie is a nationally recognized entrepreneur; she received the SBA’s 2022 Wisconsin Women’s Business Champion Award for mentoring and coaching small businesses and entrepreneurs. Her achievements include founding DriveHer Consulting, which empowers women in motorsports and other high-performance fields by providing business acumen and professional development coaching.

Championing Community and Diversity

Marie’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) drives her work at Polaris Talent and beyond. As a Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR), she has positively impacted diversity metrics in organizations and is dedicated to increasing representation in motorsports, both on and off the track.

Guiding Transformation and Progress

Through DriveHer Consulting and Polaris Talent, Marie continues to inspire individuals and teams to achieve their full potential. Whether coaching entrepreneurs or leading organizational transformation, her mission is to foster growth, inclusivity, and innovation across industries.