On the Road with Aston Martin President Laura Schwab
The President of Aston Martin looks forward to decaf coffee runs through the drive through
Billie Jean King wrote in her 1974 autobiography, “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.” It’s a description that sounds much like the ride of an elegant super car — and explains why the trajectory of Laura Schwab makes perfect sense.
From captain of Notre Dame’s division I tennis team to President of the Aston Martin of the Americas, Schwab has taken on fierce competition with grace. Aston Martin is unique among luxury carmakers, as a historic British racing marque that are also objects of great beauty. Schwab is quick to describe her non-traditional path to the C-Suite, as she swerved from a law career into the car industry, and never looked back. Her crafted LinkedIn posts offer up bits of inspiration and relatable personal experiences. When it comes to her personal experiences, a perk of her job is an incredible commute in the brand’s refined lineup of dream cars.
Where did you grow up? Were cars a part of your growing up experience?
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and was obsessed with playing tennis; everything else was peripheral. My first car, a two-door Nissan Sentra, was more a vehicle to get me to and from the courts. I thought it was amazing that I even had a car!
What is your preferred method of getting around town?
Probably the Aston Martin DBS Volante. It’s just the most fabulous, amazingly powerful, smooth ride. We call it “the brute in a suit.”
Do you own a car and what do you think of it? If you don’t, why not?
No. I don’t own a car. I’m so lucky to work for the world’s coolest brand, and fortunate that the job comes with the amazing perk of a company car.
Tell us about something memorable that happened to you in a car.
Some of my greatest highs and lows I can remember from the vantage point of being in the driver’s seat of a car.
Here’s a low point: Shortly after I started out in the corporate world, a colleague dressed me down -- he told me I didn’t know anything, and that I looked like a 12-year old, when I was in my late 20s! I calmly left the meeting, got into my car, drove straight to Taco Bell, scarfed two Nachos Bell Grande, and bawled my eyes out. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but many of us have been there! Worth noting: that former colleague and I stay in touch to this day.
And a high point: The first week I joined Aston Martin, I got to drive a different Aston Martin home every day. I remember feeling this sense of exhilaration. I’d drive so slowly to work, because the cars were all amazing, and I spent the whole time thinking, “Don’t hurt the car. It’s not yours!”
Do you think we should give up our cars? Why/why not?
Of course not! Cars aren’t just about the machinery, or in our case, hand-crafted luxury and high performance; they’re symbols for something bigger. They represent boundless independence. Just as much as clothes, or makeup or shoes, cars say a lot about how we wish to be perceived by the world. There’s also something special about the safety of the space — you can cry, sing at the top of your lungs, squeal with delight, whatever you need to do. It becomes a sanctuary.
What do you do while you commute/travel?
My commute isn’t that long, but sometimes I’m on calls to the UK. When I’m not, I call my mom (who lives in Kentucky). Sometimes I’ll head to the drive-through at Dunkin Donuts, which has the sweetest people working there, and they love my car. I must be the only person on the planet who orders decaf coffee, and when they see me pull up, sometimes they’ll say, “I put a fresh pot for you!”
I love when I’m driving and pretty often see people waving, and smiling when they see the cars. It inspires so much love and positive emotion, and is a great reminder of how much people love the brand. It’s really special to be part of that magic.
What is your dream car?
It’s probably my current car, which is the DBS Superlegerra coupe, but I’d love to have the Volante (the convertible version). Beyond that, I can’t wait for the DBX, our upcoming SUV. I want to add the pet-pack accessory, so I can have Belle, our chocolate lab, in the lap of luxury.
What is your dream destination?
Staying at home has me reminiscing about some of my favorite trips. Springtime last year, we took our top five dealers to Spain; we were in Barcelona for the F1 race, then we went to Mallorca. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I loved spending it with so many good friends. We spent the days swimming, drinking, eating, and the highlight was when we got a yacht to take us around Mallorca, and we all jumped off, into the water.
What is your favorite road?
For so long, it was the road my parents lived on in Louisville, because I just love the feeling of coming home. Now I have an affinity for Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It’s so wonderful to take a spin down the road, and the visuals are just stunning. Even though it’s right nearby, it never gets old.
What is the best color for a car?
I love our Frosted Glass Blue. People are always drawn to it, not knowing why, but it actually has finely crushed glass in the paint. It’s wild! And blue’s my favorite color, because I’m a Kentucky Wildcats fan.
When you are driving or riding or flying what do you listen to?
If I’m driving, I listen to Alt Nation on satellite radio. And if I’m flying, when I’m not working, I might sneak in a Hallmark movie.
Do you see yourself in an electric vehicle some day? Why or why not?
We’ll soon have a hybrid V6 system in our hypercar, the Valhalla. Electrifying the engine pushes the power into otherworldly territory. Production is limited to only 500 units, but if someone accidentally approved one as a company car, I wouldn’t refuse it. (Side note: around the office, we jokingly started kind of singing “Val-HALLA!” every time we refer to it.)
Finally, when we can all move freely again, where do you want to go?
I’d love to see my family, and it doesn’t matter where that happens. My parents, and my sister (who’s a new mom!) and my brother are all in Louisville. In times like these, when we’re taking extra care to keep ourselves and our communities safe, it forces us to reconsider what’s truly important. But if a particular destination needs to be the answer, I’d love to visit Napa with my husband and daughter. The region is so beautiful, the wines are great.