Roshni Gajjar speaks to Franco Chiocchetti, Founder and CEO, RaceOn - a performance engineering company behind championship winning teams in motorsport.
Listen on YouTube and Apple Podcast.
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I'm in an ever evolving quest to discover the "Why". StratAstute has enabled that so beautifully - the purpose, people and partners I get to work with are fuel that keeps me going, despite the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.
Grey hair wisdom earned and real-world tests of resilience navigated, over a rather choppy and turbulent decade. On reflection today, I realised that I love my work more everyday.
It takes, on average, 20 years to build a success story - we've only completed the formation lap...
What I've learnt most:
- Success is not a destination. The more you grow, the further to go.
Thank you for our support! Let's Talk to keep going and growing, with shared Purpose.
Roshni is a chartered accountant, practicing as a strategy consultant and resilience coach. Her passion and profession connect in the intersection of strategy, health and sports, which she believes are vital catalysts for success. In all she does, she advocates to "Lift As We Rise".
Future Ones is "S'porting STEM Success" at the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town, happening six decades after the 1962 Camps Bay Hillclimb. In what promises to be a spectacular shootout on 25 and 26 October 2025, motoring and motorsport fans will be treated to the speedy parade of classic cars on Saturday and the race for King (or Queen) of the (Table) Mountain on Sunday. The grid of competitors includes Jan Lammers, a former Formula One driver and Le Mans winner, along with a line up of experienced South African contenders.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Art principles (STEM and STEAM) underpin car and track design - this event will be a test of engineering excellence, risk management and precision teamwork, on track, along the track and at race control. The 1.8km route has been astutely prepared along the spectacular Philip Kgosana Drive, formely De Waal Drive, starting on the city side and turning around at the Walmer Estate end. Fans get to watch the revving action, from the general access areas, the reserved-seating grandstand, the VIP hospitality lounge and the fan zones. Route design, track safety and logistics have required meticulous planning by the organisers, in close collaboration with the City of Cape Town.
“There is nothing that has as much variety and is as accessible, where you will be that close to the track. Spectators will be only a few metres away from cars that could potentially reach an eye-watering 300km/h. You just do not get that in any other form of motorsport.”
- Garth Mackintosh, event co-founder.
Supported by Motorsport South Africa and the deeply rooted motoring community in the region, the Speed Classic Cape Town further boosts the investment case for short, sharp racing in the Western Cape, following the long-running Knysna Simola Hillclimb. Other major events hosted include the Cape Town e-prix (FIA, Formula E) in 2023 and the Cape Town WRX (FIA, World Rallycross) which has been hosted at Killarney International Raceway intermittently since 2017.
“We are proud to support the Speed Classic Cape Town and as a city we love to host world class events. I believe this race has the potential to grow into a real mainstay event in Cape Town and become a prestigious occasion that will bring visitors from around the world and showcase our city globally.”
- Geordin Hill-Lewis, Executive Mayor of Cape Town.
Economic and environmental sustainability are key success factors to keep next generation motorsport fuelled responsibly. Event-specific Supplementary Regulations govern fair play for all competitors over race weekend. This is where STEM and STEAM professionals can play their part to help future-proof motorsport - Future Ones influences and enables just that, in motorsport and allied industries. Follow our blog for more insights as this event grows.
To the passionate fans following on social media - keep your motorsport posts and comments kind.
Future Ones is a not-for-profit that fuels "Pupil-to-Pinnacle" success in motorsport and allied industries. Driven in partnership with QFinsoft, an Ansys channel partner in South Africa and S2L, a digital literacy initiative pioneered by Mobilearn Africa.
On 24 September, Heritage Day, here's to all who have the green and gold dancing in their hearts, on and beyond the sport scenes.
There is no place quite like our "home". Today:
> Celebrate our "geesvol" SA spirit;
> Acknowledge our diverse wisdom;
> Plant and water one seed carrying potential prosperity.
The future is in our hands...
Mould it, with positive intent, to grow, expand and share the pure joy of being South African.
Stay Passionately Resilient.
Roshni Gajjar is the Founder and Managing Director of StratAstute Consulting specialising in strategy consulting and resilience coaching for decision-makers, professionals and rising stars in business, sports and health.
On 9 August, South Africa celebrates Women's Day.
To all the women in South Africa and beyond - keep growing your world, with purpose-driven passion. Together, let's Lift As We Rise.
Women's Month Consulting and Coaching offer
Coaching sessions at R980.00 per session for 8 women, representing:
>Female entrepreneurs in business.
>Women in sport and sports administration.
>Rising stars (18 to 25) in sport.
Invest in one session or a series of sessions between 8 August and 8 December 2025. Send your details and share your goal. Contact via the website.
Read more about the StratEx 4.0 coaching Products.
>Lead with purpose.
>Perform with passion.
>Succeed with resilience.
Offer expires on 09 September 2025.
Terms and coaching standards apply. Excl VAT.
Five years ago, our world changed in unthinkable ways. "Being present" now includes virtual meetings, shopping, learning, celebrations, relationships, sports ... In a virtual world, what does "Achievement" mean? Are you feeling that fulfilling sense of achievement?
Is virtual achievement the same as real-world achievement - feeling it, connecting with it and sharing the high-fives, handshakes, hugs, smiles and cheers that achievement invokes in us humans? What are the psychophysical trade-offs in this intangible virtual reality? It impacts people and therefore impacts teams, organisations and communities.
Change can be imposed on society and we deal with it. What needs to be acknowledged is that the process of change takes time to take root and settle. We all "just got on with it". We use real-world language to describe unprecedented events and a digital revolution in progress. We don't yet have the words to truly convey what the world has experienced, and continues to experience, in this age of sudden, crazy-paced change. The human mind, emotions and physiology are still trying to adapt.
In my work and conversations this year, I can hear the weariness, the fatigue, the overwhelm of all that people, teams and organisations have endured since 2020. Resilience compels us to adapt, to be agile, to get up and bounce-back - with 5G speed! Yet strategy is a long-term game; and will always be. In this context, it is natural for you, your team, your loved ones and ecosystem to feel a bit weathered by the next normal headwinds that keep blowing. These factors impact performance, progress and sustained resilience.
As the mind envisions 31 December, you may be asking the question, "So what now?"
Stop. Pause. Pat yourself on the back. Breathe. Try these steps:
1) Stay focussed on what you want to happen.
2) To year-end - unlock potential.
3) Take positive actions, with due discernment.
4) Calibrate your achievement scale.
5) Believe in the vision. Be sure to review it, refine it, revitalise it.
Doing this alone might get you to the finish line. Doing this with others, will get you to further into that “uncertain Future”. Your choice — what does “Achievement” mean to you?
If / when the voice nudges for support, Let's Talk about your strategy to stay purpose-driven, with motivated momentum.
Roshni Gajjar is the Founder and Managing Director of StratAstute Consulting specialising in strategy consulting and resilience coaching for decision-makers, professionals and rising stars in business, sports and health.
When you connect with the purpose of your work, that calling motivates performance from the inside, despite the odds ...
I visited a State hospital this morning. A stark contrast to the basic healthcare infrastructure that one expects, as relates to ambience, sterility, resources and many other aspects. To the critical eye, "everything" is lacking and the SDG3 quality-healthcare advocate in me was quick to observe that, "Things are falling apart...". Those in the system, openly say that; their tenacious focus confirms it.
However, this is the amazing silver lining ...
What is far from falling apart is the spirit, committment, dedication and sheer passion from the hospital personnel - from the security gate, to ward staff to interns and specialists. One patient said, "They really CARE!". This is no overstatement - despite the depressing surroundings on an icy morning, the warm greetings, smiles, jokes shared and enthusiasm are so positively infectious!
I pondered these questions:
If these professionals give it 100% in a somewhat uninspiring working environment, what could happen if the environment stepped up to leverage the high quality human spirit? What would wellness mean in South Africa? A potential scenario to consider for NHI?
Is it possible that despite the best economic incentives and benefits, without Purpose, performance, at best, stays in neutral?
A bias declaration: The idealist in me would love for every human to be 100% healthy - it is the foundation of success. My view.
As adults, saying "Yes" to serve in the best interests of one's organisation, clients, career, relationships and community carries inherent trade-offs. Over time, the "tipping" effect leads to rolling hindsight gaps, evergreen in the mind.
Look closely into your own review mirror to find the prospective threads of progress:
1) Understand the story.
2) Evaluate the impact/influence to date.
3) Lift the lessons.
4) Acknowledge the experiential upside.
5) Reframe the "should haves" to "I choose to...".
Know and transcend your blind spots. Let's Talk.
It is a privilege to have been invited to play my part in tackling the rising risk of online abuse, online hate and hate crime in sport, supporting the International Federation of Motorsport's (FIA) United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) global, collaborative combat initiative.
"The level of sustained toxicity has reached crisis point. It is time for all of us to unite - and to act." - FIA President, Ben Sulayem.
Athletes, officials and volunteers are at risk, particulary females and young adults who are eager social media users. The high-competition.. high-rivalry nature of sport creates a culture of "us" and "them" which, when overlayed with prejudice, disrespect, intolerance and hate, can turn nasty, with or without malicious intent. This is amplified on digital platforms where e-sports, online communiities and online betting are growing.
While this plays out online, the high performers in sport are trying their very best to play their A-Game, represent their sport and countries and to earn an income. The negativity, insults and threats turn toxic, causing psychological and emotional harm to the individual and, over time, eroding the spirit of sport.
“Maybe you can think that it doesn’t hurt us. But it does. We are humans … sometimes, when we receive (these) messages, we are already emotionally destroyed after a tough loss...” - Caroline Garcia, female professional tennis player, after losing at losing at the first round of the US Open, 28 August 2024 (full post on X, formerly Twitter).
The research project is targeted for completion in 2026. This topic touches on the delicate balance between human rights and freedom of speech which requires upgraded due care in the digital era. On this basis, my reseach will investigate the strategic rationale and governance principles that support the combat of online abuse by federations across selected sports, including cricket, cycling, golf, motorsport, tennis and rugby. I urge sports federation leaders not to wait for published research but to apply due care and put online abuse higher on the agenda.
International and national federations are invited to get in touch directly or through Motorsport South Africa or the UAOA.
Sport must continue to be a force of unity, not division. Play Your Part - practice mindful kindness, online and everywhere.
Click on the latest press release and research context for more details.
