Join Bill Lester on his inspiring journey from computer scientist to professional race car driver & author
USA
Bill Lester is a former professional race car driver who left his career in computer science to pursue his passion for racing.
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It was a pleasure to host Mr. Lester as the keynote speaker at SEED Miami’s very first commencement ceremony. As a trailblazer in his industry and a living testament to the power of following one’s passion and purpose, Mr. Lester inspired our graduates to break barriers and follow their hearts as they set forth in their collegiate studies.
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About Bill
Keynote
Video
Bill Lester was born in 1961 and graduated from Skyline High School in Oakland, California in 1979. He was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1984.
Before becoming a professional race car driver, he spent 15 years working initially as a computer scientist and then as a software development project manager for Hewlett-Packard. But he left H-P at 37 years of age to pursue his true passion of becoming a professional race car driver. Lester eventually competed in NASCAR and also raced sports cars professionally. Over his 10-year career, he won over $2 million in prize money, drove over 30,000 laps, earned multiple podium finishes, led laps, and won. In 2012, Bill completed his stellar racing career by proudly representing Team USA during international karting competition.
Bill enjoyed some significant honors and achievements during his racing career. While he was racing in NASCAR, General Mills featured him on Honey Nut Cheerios collector edition cereal boxes for two consecutive years. Lester also appeared on the cover of Black Enterprise magazine and had feature articles written about him in USA Today, The New York Times, and Car and Driver magazine, among many other publications.
Lester performed TV work while he was racing with a two-year stint as a broadcast analyst for the Fox Sports South show called “Around the Track” and later for the NBC Sports show called “NASCAR America.”
Bill is now an author and speaker with his first published work named Winning In Reverse. A motivational memoir, the book identifies his eight keys to successfully achieving his dream of becoming a professional race car driver that anyone can apply toward living their best life.
See keynotes with Bill LesterA critical component to utilize when attempting to accomplish common goals. Using examples from his background both in professional auto racing and corporate America, Bill cites how collaboration brings forth best ideas and synergies. Teamwork fosters cooperation and incorporates different views, knowledge, and experiences to arrive at optimal solutions to problems.
Bill shares personal stories of how persistence is integral to his personal achievement and success, just as it is to that of others. Persistence and determination are just as key. He shares examples of how utilizing different techniques that encourage perseverance can render obstacles once thought insurmountable to become attainable.
Innovation is key to navigating and advancing in todays’ society. It is no longer business as usual. Pivoting is the new normal. Reinvention, and the creation of newly developed strategies, processes, and methods is integral to both business competitiveness as well as personal achievement and growth. Bill thoughtfully provides insights to support these statements.
Whether it was attending a high school with a student body of 2600 students of which only a dozen or so were black, or being one of only a handful of black students to graduate a top university with an engineering degree, to working as one of the few black project managers in Silicon Valley during the high-tech boom of the 80s, or driving race cars in the rarified air of NASCAR, Bill grew accustomed to typically being “the only one in the room”. He reflects on these experiences and how he navigated them to his benefit. He also speaks to the power of embracing diversity and how incorporating people of different backgrounds and experiences can lead to more effective and productive outcomes.
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