Emily Parker Means Business on the Women's Baja SAE Team

What is Baja SAE at Embry-Riddle?

The Women’s Baja Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team is an organization that designs, builds and races off-road vehicles in competitions against up to 150 other schools nationwide. The team at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach, Florida, campus competes at the national level and is the only team with a tracked vehicle, nicknamed “The Tank.” Most teams race a traditional four-wheeled vehicle.

While the organization retains ‘Women’ in its title to honor its founding members, Embry-Riddle’s Baja SAE team is a co-ed organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and academic disciplines — and that’s how Emily Parker (’26) originally got involved.

Adding Business to the Equation

Emily initially enrolled at Embry-Riddle as an Aerospace Engineering student, but quickly discovered a greater interest in writing, delivering presentations and managing projects. She ultimately switched to the Aviation Business Administration program with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and a minor in Project Management.

Emily joined Baja SAE at the beginning of her senior year because she saw an opportunity to offer business expertise in an engineering setting.

“As I became more familiar with the team, I realized we didn't have a formal business plan that outlined our goals and direction,” she said. “No one asked me to create one, but I felt it was something the team could benefit from, so I took the initiative and put one together.”

Baja SAE’s leadership immediately recognized Emily’s contributions and potential to elevate the team to a new level of success, offering her the title of public relations and business lead.

“You don't have to wait for permission to care about the team's success, and often those small, proactive efforts are what people remember the most,” she reiterated.

As a lead, Emily manages the team’s marketing, planning, sponsorships, outreach and communications — everything outside of engineering the vehicle. Every day brings new opportunities and challenges that require collaboration and problem-solving skills Emily will use in her career.

“One of my biggest goals was to help transform the business side of the team from simply completing the minimum requirements into operating like a true organization with long-term goals, stronger industry relationships and a more recognizable brand,” she said.

Gaining Professional Leverage in an On-Campus Organization

Baja SAE offers students an environment where they can apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world project. While designing and building the vehicle, team members refine their technical, interpersonal and professional skills.

“You go through multiple design iterations, learn how to use industry tools and equipment and complete the technical documentation that goes along with the engineering process,” Emily explained. “You quickly learn how to work with people who have different ideas, backgrounds and skill sets, all while keeping the same end goal in mind.”

Everyone on the team plays an important role. Emily compared running Baja SAE to “running a small business.” Even if a student comes in with minimal engineering experience, the group leadership will teach them the technical skills they need.

The organization also provides members with abundant networking opportunities, such as at a national Baja SAE competition. By growing and managing sponsorships and industry partner relationships, Emily has also created unique pathways to professional development and connections for team members.

“Through competitions, sponsor visits and industry events, you meet engineers and professionals who were once Baja students themselves and now work at companies and organizations you only dreamed of working for,” she said. “They understand the value of the program because they've lived it, and many are eager to share advice, mentor students and even recruit future employees.”

For Emily, building up Baja SAE’s opportunities has transformed her leadership skills and left her feeling better prepared to take on career challenges that once intimidated her.

“I've learned how to take initiative, solve problems, think strategically and work effectively with a team,” she said. “This position has given me the confidence to lead projects, build professional relationships and make decisions that have a lasting impact on the organization.”

Carrying Embry-Riddle Experiences into Career

Although Emily had limited engineering experience when she joined Baja SAE, she drew on her specialized business knowledge to meaningfully contribute to the team.

Similarly, she participated in meteorology research throughout her undergraduate studies, learning to present complex concepts and communicate findings that did not come naturally to her at first.

“Before joining the project, I had very little knowledge of meteorology, but taking on something completely new broadened my perspective and gave me confidence in my ability to learn unfamiliar subjects,” she said. “It reminded me that some of the most rewarding opportunities come from saying yes to experiences that initially seem intimidating.”

Because Emily embraced new experiences beyond her academic focus, she gained invaluable lessons that shaped her career aspirations.

“It's never too late to join a club or try something new,” she encouraged. “Even if you're shy, take that first step and attend a meeting; you never know where that one opportunity might lead.”

Following her graduation in December, Emily plans to attend law school, earn her J.D. with a focus on contract law and earn her MBA. She intends to start and run her own business someday.

“My experiences at Embry-Riddle, especially through Baja, have shown me how much I enjoy leadership, problem solving and building organizations, and I hope to carry those skills into my future career.”