Welcoming Donna Fraser to Our Factory

Olympian Donna Fraser on Resilience, Inspiring Change and More

We were thrilled to recently welcome four-time Olympian, Donna Fraser OBE to our factory in Brackley for an insightful and enlightening team talk about overcoming adversity and embracing diversity.

During her time in Brackley, we caught up with Donna to find out more about her career, the challenges she faced, what Black History Month means to her and what more can be done to improve diversity and inclusion in sport.

Donna has enjoyed a hugely successful athletics career and scored European, Commonwealth and World medals. Specialising in the 400-metre sprint, the Olympian has several impressive awards to her name - such as being named Woman of the Year 2022 by World Athletics.

Following her 20-year athletics career, Donna has since become a leader in equality, diversity and inclusion with over 10 years of corporate experience within business, sport and leadership. She was awarded an OBE for this work in 2021 and currently holds the role of Director of EDI for the Professional Cricketers Association.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Donna.

Hi Donna, thanks so much for being here in Brackley and talking to the team. When did you know you wanted to enter the sporting world and who were your role models growing up?

"Oh... I had a number of role models! Firstly, my parents. Coming over to this country in the 60s was quite challenging for them. But they instilled in me and my sisters many values and beliefs, to try to be the best that you can be. My sister is 10 years older than me and she loved sport. It was always on the TV, from wrestling to horse racing. Athletics was the thing that drew me the most. My sister was a track and field athlete so she definitely inspired me to pursue that career and she was always there for me throughout my journey."

Are there any particular mantras and values that have helped guide your career in the high-pressure sporting world?

"Yes! My dad would tell me and my sisters to 'do whatever you want to do and don't let anyone stand in your way'. That has really stuck with me. He's over from the Caribbean right now and I remind him, 'do you remember what you used to tell us?'"

The theme for Black History Month this year is 'Celebrating our Sisters'. As a trailblazer in the sporting and EDI world, how does it feel to be a role model to others and be inspiring change?

"It's a big theme this month, isn't it? This one certainly resonates with me from all the years I've been celebrating Black History Month. It means a lot.The fact that I'm included in the resource pack for Black History Month has blown me away more than anything. I don't see myself as an icon or anything like that. I just do what I do to hopefully make a difference, a positive impact on others and to be a part of that and recognised for the work, I'm very honoured."

This one certainly resonates with me from all the years I've been celebrating Black History Month. It means a lot.

Donna Fraser

To some, Black History Month can be seen as a tick-box exercise. From your perspective what are the most authentic and impactful ways people can mark the month and support black communities?

"I often hear that any awareness month shouldn't just be in the month or on the day, it should be all year round and I do agree with that. It's a jam-packed EDI calendar as it is, but we should be celebrating people throughout the year. It shouldn't just be a specific date. Having said that, when it is a specific month or day, we elevate that celebration. It's important for us to recognise it, yes, but we shouldn't just wait for a particular moment in the calendar."

I know you were speaking in the talk about overcoming adversity in your own career, so how did you power through those difficult moments, remain determined, focussed on your goals and reaching them?

"A number of factors. I was very, very determined as a child, apparently. It was like, Donna wants to do something, so Donna will do it. That's always been in my DNA. If I set myself out to do something, I'll aim to achieve it to the best of my abilities and stay focused with it. Through my own breast cancer journey as well, I do believe I was given a second chance and to appreciate life in general. And just make the most of life. Not put things off all the time. Seize the moment, I think that's really important."

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are crucial pillars for our team, in your experience both in the sporting and corporate world, what progress have you seen in this area and what more do you think needs to be done?

"Oh my gosh, so much more needs to be done! I've been working in this space for a number of years and having the same conversation still to this day. I do think it's moving and the conversations are happening. Once upon a time no one would even entertain conversation around EDI. I think organisations are taking it seriously now as part of a wider strategy which is part and parcel for making progress. Probably not at the pace we want it to, but I do think there are people invested in making fundamental change, like myself and your team."

What similarities do you see within Formula One and the athletics world?

"In terms of EDI, it is a topic that is spoke about in every sector, whether it's sport or corporate. The sectors change but the conversations don't. Once we realise that this conversation straddles every part of society then things should be moving at a pace where it's part of everything we do. So, the similarities are the conversations. Same issues, same challenges, but how we address them is key and is really through leadership leading."

I think organisations are taking it seriously now as part of a wider strategy which is part and parcel for making progress.

Donna Fraser

You've had so much sporting success. What qualities do you feel are the most important for extracting maximum performance in a sporting environment?

"There are elements of focus, the vision for what you want to achieve and also galvanizing a good team. Without my support network, I wouldn't have got to some of my competitions in one piece. My physio, my coach, my family and friends, giving me that confidence and self-belief. Seeing the vision and having that common goal amongst the team is really key. That support will push you forward. We're all human, we all have down days. So having that support network and teamwork ethic which is across sport is when you can start achieving and making strides."

During your career so far, what is the best piece of advice you've been given?

"My coach would always come out with some funny things and leaving notes in my training bag. He's always say 'make it happen'. And my good friend Audley Harrison once said 'live the lie and the lie becomes you', because years before he became Olympic champion, he'd say that's what he was going to be. He'd always say it. And then he did."

Thanks for paying us a visit, Donna!