Marie Harrington – Rally Rookie / Adventure Pro – Hailing from a rural town in Massachusetts, Marie may have started out on a quiet country rounds, but life has taken her far and wide. A seasoned adventurer with stamps in her passport and stories in many languages (at least attempted), she’s navigated the challenges of living and working abroad, including the always entertaining chaos of doing it all over again when she has the chance. Now based in the Ft. Worth, TX, Marie spends her weekdays immersed in the world of financial services; come rally time, she’s trading spreadsheets for sand dunes, and emails for engine revs. The youngest of three girls, Marie is no stranger to holding her own, and she bringing that same tenacity to the rally course. She’s up for just about anything, especially if it involves her adventure buddy (also named Marie) who she has known for 25+ years. This rally might be a far cry from her day job, but if there’s one thing Marie thrives on, its stepping out of her comfort zone – and having a blast doing it — The desert has no idea what’s coming.
Marie Willard grew up in New Hampshire where she perfected the arts of grit, sarcasm and surviving long winters. A first generation college graduate, she turned her knack for spotting patterns into a career in data analysis in financial services. Early on in her career she met Marie Harrington, who became her roomate and eventually life long friend. Once the Marie’s lived together in Massachusetts -and now they conveniently live on either side of Dallas. Problem solving is her happy place, though she is just as comfortable behind the wheel chasing horsepower and adrenaline. Her first midlife ‘adventure’ was roller derby. Now she’s keeping the helmet and challenge – and exchanging it for the Rebelle experience. She takes adventure, but never herself too seriously. She is happily married to her husband Mike, who tolerates her hobby. Her stepson Tom is her lead advisor on modifications to her beloved rally truck Taco Loco. At the end of the day Marie thrives where curiousity and adventure collide, preferable with a lot of laughter and maybe just enough chaos to keep things interesting.
While I work in 'financial services' I try to remember that my work supports the every day American retire or invest with peace of mind.
Fort Worth, TX
Boston University / Finance
"Whether you think you can or can't" — you are right
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in my 20s and it really changed how I see people, their motivations and what's possible (for others and myself). Pretty much everyone is very similar, they just communicate it through their own cultural lens.
My friend Marie mentioned it, and wow did that sound like an OPPORTUNITY!!!
Doing something that seems 'impossible' - especially if it involves travel, accomplishment or helping people achieve more.
Podcasts:
Liz Moody
Mel Robbins
Sour Loss, Sweet Lessons / Deshauna Barber
My entire life
My objective is to experience it all - and not get us lost!!!
I love everything about food (cooking, eating) and cycling - best case I do both!
No previous experience in motorsports but I've always liked how things work or figuring out how they work - including engines
I love to ski, cycle, (long gone are the days of running)
Its amazing how long you can run a quality vehicle through prolonged heavy usage, abuse, fire and god knows what and they still run. After a few years living in East Africa I had a new appreciation for Toyota (that Hilux is something else!)
When I'm not redlining it through a wash, I lead analytics teams at Toyota Financial Services, proving that horsepower and brainpower go hand in hand. I am fiercely committed to empowering women, whether it's mentoring rising talent at Toyota or volunteering at Girls Inc, Dallas. It's important to show the next generation that women below whereever there is dust, horsepower and strategy.
Prosper, TX
Wellesley College - dual major - Economics and Spanish
"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." — Eleanor Roosevelt
My personality type is INTJ. Less than 1% of women are INTJs, making it one of the least common personality types for women. I share it with Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Katniss Everdeen.
I am at a point in my life where I don’t have to care for others on a daily basis. And, I have the resources for a hobby. I want to experience things like the Rebelle while I am healthy enough to do so. Some might say it’s a mid-life crisis, but I like to think that my happy place is where learning, adventure and challenges meet.
Tina Turner
Top three podcasts:
Freak O Nomics
The Rest is History
Madigan’s Pubcast
Raising my two stepsons Micheal and Thomas
Grow, remain friends with Marie, take care of the truck and have a once in a lifetime experience. Finding black check points = bonus.
For years, I played roller derby with a hip check and a war cry—until my husband, in an unwise moment of honesty, said I might be “too old to skate.” Instead of sulking, I found a new sport: one that let me keep the helmet, the adrenaline, and the challenge.
I grew up watching motorsports - NASCAR, F1, WRC (World Rally Championships in Spain). I admired and noticed that the most successful teams were the ones that focused on strategy, preparation, testing and refusing to give up, even after a bad day. Regardless of the outcome of the race on Sunday the only thing that matters is prepping for the next race on Monday I have much to learn as a rookie, but try to bring that same mindset to the Rebelle - developing a strategy, practicing, executing and being willing to pivot when things go sideways.
I’ve always love to drive, even before it was legal for me to do so. My dad taught me how to drive a tractor trailer when I was about 11. It was intimidating, but also a terrific lesson in transmission management, understanding how a vehicle will respond and being aware of your surroundings. It also taught me to try scary things and stick with them even when things get challenging.
