Marie Watkins

Marie Watkins is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Polaris Talent Inc., with over 30 years of experience leading HR and Talent Acquisition strategies across Fortune 100 companies, startups, and industries like motorsports, entertainment, and technology. A dynamic entrepreneur, Marie blends innovation and insight with a passion for empowering others.

She is the recipient of the SBA’s 2022 Wisconsin Women’s Business Champion Award and has founded five companies, including DriveHer Consulting, which supports women in motorsports and other high-performance fields through business coaching and leadership development. Marie mentors with organizations such as WWBIC, Gener8tor, Capital Innovators, and RCEDC and is trained in Lean Startup, Business Model Canvas, and BizStarts methods.

Deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Marie serves on the boards of several nonprofits including The Academies of Racine Unified, The Inclusive Bean, The Shift Up Now Foundation, and the Metropolitan Educational Theatre Network. She is also the President of the Wildwood Park HOA in Caledonia, WI.

Through her work, Marie inspires growth, champions inclusivity, and equips underrepresented entrepreneurs with the business skills and confidence needed to thrive.