International Women’s Day 2020: The Courage To Stand Up In Yachting

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also making a call to action for gender equality.

It's vitally important to not only celebrate the women in yachting who are pioneers in largely male-dominated roles, but to recognise the unsung ladies who don't have a high profile but are an integral part of the industry.

"Gender should not be a defining factor in choosing a career you love"

You may wonder why we still need to celebrate such a day in 2020. Whether it's improving gender pay gaps, representation in senior management positions, investing in female-run businesses or fostering female leadership in yacht crew, International Women's Day isn't about roaring for feminism or making women in yachting stronger. Women are already strong - we are amazing and needed! Today (and every day), we should be challenging the way the yachting industry perceives that strength.

Why International Women's Day matters:

? To foster diversity and make conscious choices about gender equality.

? To share truthful stories in yachting media from a female perspective, and keep asking hard questions.

?To celebrate excellence - the accomplishments of every woman in yachting should be an inspiration to another. We should raise each other up!

?To share knowledge, collaborate and network with other female professionals in the yachting industry.

? To challenge stereotypes, acknowledge our self-worth and know our contributions are respected.

? To nurture female leadership through mentorship and inspire younger generations to pursue maritime career paths.

"You can't be what you can't see"

So, today on this beautiful Sunday, I pay homage to all the amazing women in yachting who bring their energy, creativity, competence, perseverance and passion to the industry. I look forward to hearing your tales of tomorrow.

#IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay #Yachting