Ciara Hegarty: From Healthcare to Catering in Formula E

Ciara Hegarty is a Catering Manager in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, but she wasn’t always involved in the motorsport industry. In fact, before joining Formula E, she worked as a clinical dietitian. So, how did she transition from healthcare into motorsport? Females in Motorsport spoke with her to learn more about the career transition and role she plays in the championship’s hospitality and crew catering team.

Five years ago, Ciara graduated from university and began working as a clinical dietitian. Her primary role was to assist patients in managing their nutrition. Her entry into motorsport was “a bit of a random accident”, which started when she came home and saw her housemates watching Drive to Survive, the Formula 1-based Netflix TV series that showcases the behind-the-scenes of drivers, teams, and races. 

“I know it’s a taboo thing to say that Drive to Survive is what got you interested in motorsport, but that happens to be my story! It really is a testament to what the show did for the sport. It’s unbelievable to think how many more fans and women are involved now. It’s kind of like if you wear a band t-shirt and someone comes up to you and says, “If you can’t name three songs, then you’re not a real fan,” she tells Females in Motorsport.

While she had no background in motorsport whatsoever until now, watching the show made her reconsider her current job and explore different career paths.

“All the while [I was] working in healthcare, the challenge of being a new graduate in the field was compounded by the COVID pandemic. That was quite intense, so after about a year of that, I was starting to burn out and decided to take a break,” she mentions.

During this transitional period of her life, Hegarty moved from Ireland, her home country, to London, hoping to try something new. 

“I thought, ‘I’m going to move just to see what happens,’” she says. “I started working in a bar, which is kind of what happens when you’re not sure what the next move is, and I loved it immediately.”

Having studied nutrition at university because of her love for food, human well-being and teamwork, she notes that she saw possibilities to enter the catering and hospitality scene.

“The experiences [from working in healthcare] did transfer to this new role for me, and then as a Formula 1 fan, living in the UK [meant] I could be near an event,” she says. “I worked in one of Silverstone’s hospitality suites, and that weekend was just unbelievable. The buzz was something I’ll never forget. I had the best time ever, so that was the turning point where I knew this is where I wanted to be.”

Since the day she discovered her passion for working in motorsport hospitality, Ciara only had one thing left to do: research. She mentioned how she dedicated time studying job descriptions, looking up agencies, different caterers that were involved, and what roles were available within catering and hospitality. 

“I got here by working backwards and asking myself, ‘How do I advance myself from where I am now to where I want to be’” she notes. “It was a series of calculated moves and exposure experiences that were building up my skill set and CV to get closer to my goal.

“I got involved more in the events industry in London, working with different caterers including the company that does the Paddock Club in F1. Then, I volunteered at my local Formula E event a couple of years ago. When I saw the catering coordinator role come up,” she recalls. “I was like, this is it. I have enough goods now that I can put myself up for it. So I went through the process, got the job, and I’ve been in Formula E ever since!”

She mentions that her day-to-day role involves working with a lot of women, and that she hasn’t faced many challenges due to her gender. 

“The catering and hospitality space is not particularly male-dominated at all,” she says. “If anything, it tips slightly more towards women. So I was never really held back in that regard.

Photo credit: Ciara Hegarty

“I’m lucky that I haven’t had to manage that aspect of it,” she mentions. “Formula E does a good job of championing women, not just with words but with their actions as well. As a company, [Formula E] employs about 200 people full-time, and that’s a very 50-50 male-to-female ratio. Even at the C-suite level, half of our execs are women. For us, it’s a really positive thing to be working side-by-side, men and women together.”

Ciara recalls the Formula E women-only pre-season testing event that occurred in November of 2024 in Madrid, and how it was one of her favourite events of all time. 

“I was so excited to be a part of an event that gave these women a platform,” she says. “Getting to meet them was so cool because I’ve been following their careers for years. It was great to be amongst them, welcome them to Formula E, and give them lunch.”

Another unforgettable moment for Hegarty was delivering the champagne to the podium in Mexico City. She remembers having seen the massive grandstands on TV so many times, and being there in person helped put the personal development she had been through into perspective.

Photo credit: Ciara Hegarty

Today, Ciara is a catering manager. She and her team look after their own team and crew catering, which includes the race teams, global suppliers and staff. Then, she also handles catering within hospitality spaces in collaboration with the Premium Experience team, who create lounges and exclusive experiences for partners and guests.

She also mentioned how her role in catering also strives to work towards Formula E’s sustainability mission. 

“We work with local caterers wherever we go because they are the experts in their own cuisine,” she added. “Whether we’re in Japan, Brazil or Germany, the people making the food are typically from the area, sourcing seasonal and local produce. It’s important that our catering operation is as low-emissions as possible.

“The team and crew feeding is all about providing simple, high-quality comfort food for staff who are on the road a lot. It’s a slice of home comfort and an important piece of wellbeing for our working ecosystem,” she remarked. “On the other side of the coin, catering for hospitality represents the absolute best of luxurious local cuisine that we can find, and a chance to be a bit more creative.”

Lastly, when asked for a piece of advice for women looking to break into the motorsport industry, her recommendation was to “play the long game”.

”It can be hard to give it a go, apply for jobs, and not hear back,” she says. “Whatever job you’re in now, try to find ways that you can create experiences for yourself that can demonstrate the skills that our industry requires. Ultimately, we all love motorsport, that’s why we’re all here, but that’s not going to be enough to get you the job.

“When leaving one career path behind, you might think, ‘Oh gosh, what’s next?’” she acknowledged. “I thought I was never going to have a fulfilling career because I didn’t know if I’d ever find that thing that sparked my excitement. So there’s relief in finding out what you want to do. Then, you try to go after it and make it happen. It takes time and patience, but one day, you’ll meet the right person who sees the potential and drive in you. One yes is all it takes.”

Ciara’s story gives wonderful insight into the diverse roles within motorsport. She not only proves that breaking into the industry from a completely different field is possible, but also reminds us all of the growing presence of women in motorsport, helping the world to reimagine an industry more inclusive.