Yacht Dames
Yacht dames are women who have found success pushing the boundaries in the yachting industry, from field leaders to yachting entrepreneurs.
Damen Shipyard
CEO Engel &
Völkers Yachting
PR and Press office manager of Heesen
Partner and head interior designer at Nuvolari Lenard
Vice President of Marketing
at Boats Groups.
Director of YachtAid Global and boards memeber of ISS
Yacht Designer, Co-founder and Managing Director of Reymond Langton
Pascale Reymond is a Yacht Designer, Co-founder and Managing Director of Reymond Langton. Pascale was born in France, studied between Paris and London and now resides in England.
In 2001 she established Reymond Langton with her partner Andrew Langton, after working multiple years designing superyachts. Pascale overseas the design studio, seeing projects from conception to their final stage.
Pascale has a diverse creative background. She gained a Master's in Art History. Studied Interior Design and 3D design. She is a qualified archaeologist and has done many excavations. She worked as an antiques dealer and even in the film industry. Her diverse experience enriches her design and is reflected in her work.
Eleonora Pitasso is the Shipyard Relationship Co-ordinator & Sales Broker at Burgess.
She is the Italian “with the Austrian pinch” of Burgess, she comes from the very end of North-East in Italy. Eleonora is based in Monaco “I keep the sea view even from my flat – can’t stay far from the water”- Eleonora
Eleonora is a Superyacht Sales Broker and Shipyard Relationship Co-Ordinator on behalf of Burgess. Her role is dual and consists of a B2C level connection with clients and a B2B level to make sure her Sales Team is up to date about all the new construction opportunities on the market worldwide.
“The confinement time has given me back the opportunity to start painting again. In my academic courses I won a few artistic selections and actually, I was asked to choose between Architecture and Diplomacy…and… here we are
Norma Trease Director of YachtAid Global and ISS board member.
Norma was born in Paraguay, raised in Paris, high school Virginia, college Italy, and currently based in Fort Lauderdale.
She began in yachting as a chef, moved to Fort Lauderdale to find love, and opened Crew Network, which sold 12 years later to Fraser Yacht. She has worked as a journalist, founding Dockwalk & Crew Report. She is a public speaker, host and commentator on yachting and finance.
"My business development career has covered start-ups, including OnlyYacht, First Call, Marina Port Vell. And successful consulting gigs counting Northrop & Johnson, BWA, and several shipyards. I currently serve on the boards of ISS and YachtAid Global."
Anissa Mediouni is the CEO at Engel & Völkers Yachting. She
was born in Belgium where she graduated as an interpreter, she speaks almost 6 languages. She is based in Monaco but splits her time between the Principality and travelling on multiple business trips worldwide throughout the year.
Anissa started on the premium real estate division of E&V. And, ten years later she developed the yachting division of Engel & Völkers, where today she leads the global division. She strategizes and works on relationship building to grow the E&V client network.
On her personal time, Anissa enjoys cooking for friends and hosting fun dinner parties. While Sundays are reserved for hiking in the nature with her husband and loving German shepherd. She is also a passionate traveler and loves reading a good book.
Yihharn Liu is the first women to win the prestigious Young Designer of the Year award. “Winning the award fully opened the door for me to the yachting industry.” -Yihharn
Yihharn was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. And, now lives in Southampton, United Kingdom. She works as a Yacht Designer at Tony Castro Design, and her responsibilities include exterior design, general arrangement, and more.
She loves participating in activities in nature, mountain climbing, surfing, traveling especially sailing. When she was a child, she visited her grandfather in Penghu, where he was captain and fishing fleet owner. And, as a result, “I have strong feeling/connection to ocean since I was young (around 6)”.
Rose Damen is the managing director at Damen Shipyards yachting division.
She graduated from Erasmus University in Rotterdam and received her MBA at INSEAD. Worked for 5 years at an investment fund, while on the board of DAMEN. Now she runs the commercial department focusing on clients and sales.
"I’m involved in the operational side as well as the commercial side" she is directly involved with the project management and the client, all the way to the delivery and even thereafter.
She in a strong believer in diversity. We have people from Spain, Romania, Poland, Germany, all over the world – and it’s that kind of diversity that makes a team strong.”
Courtney Chalmers is the Vice President of Marketing at Boats Groups. She was born and raised in West Point, USA. A small town surrounded by three rivers, so growing up, she spent a lot of time on the water. She now lives in Miami where Boats Group is based.
She has been with Boats Group for over 15 years, leading all that is marketing. She oversees the product marketing, digital marketing and PR teams.
Courtney is actively involved in industry associations to support growth in boating. "The weekend and free time are typically spent on the water (with our dogs!). When we're not on the water, I'm on the tennis court." - Courtney Chalmers
Valentina Zannier is head interior designer and partner at Nuvolari Lenard design. She is from Venice, and says she is "lucky to live in the heart of one of the most breathtaking places on the planet" - Valentina
Nuvolari Lenard design was founded by Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard. Valentina oversees the interior design department. She is involved in projects ranging from semi series boats, to yachts over 100m. As an architect she additionally gets requests, to take care of properties.
"I truly adore my job. I feel blessed to work with the best group of artists and artisans the world can offer. It's an endless learning process. I can’t find proper words to describe the positive energy this job gives me daily" -Valentina Zannier.
Marcela de Kern Royer is the business development consultant for ICON Yachts. She is from Guatemala and now lives in Monaco. A Guatemalan married to a German representing a Dutch company. " a citizen of the world!"
Marcela studied Business in Monaco and got her MBA between Boston, Dubai and London. At Icon Yachts she specializes in new construction of yachts over 50 meters, refits and conversions.
Marcela is the founder and first president of YPY Monaco and founding member of AMLA. Marcela is a new mom and " I love being out in the sea sailing with my husband."
Darina Weitzmann is the owner at Adrian's Yacht Services & Founder of Marine White List. She is originally from Naberejni Celni Russia, but relocated to South Florida USA.
She founded Marine White List 4 years ago. Her company searches and vets the best boating experts in South Florida. The top experts are added to her website where people can request their services.
Darina is a strong advocate for environmental and humanitarian causes. She has volunteered at wildlife rescues across Central and South America. She also loves diving and going on adventure travels in the jungle with her husband.
Antonella Scarfiello is an exterior engineer for one of the biggest yacht builders in the world. Antonella is originally from Italy, but relocated to the Netherlands for her career.
She studied architecture in Rome and yacht design at the Politecnico in Milan. After gaining design experience in Italy and Great Britain, she moved to the Netherlands to work as a yacht engineer.
"I have a great passion for rock music, self-confident people and gummy candies". Click on the icons below, to learn where she works!
Lauren Cotton is the President of Cotton Crews.
Lauren is a florida girl from Lighthouse Point, FL. And now lives in West Palm Beach, FL USA.
Cotton Crews works on crew placement and crew housing. They house over 250 crew in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale and place hundreds of crew!
"When I am not in the office, I enjoy being on out in the boat or traveling with my husband." - Lauren Cotton
Karine Rayson runs The Crew Coach.
She is from Durban- South Africa and resides in Perth Australia. She began her yachting career in 2008. And continued after to develop her skills in the human services sector.
Her core purpose involves supporting individuals and teams to overcome personal and collective challenges.
The Crew Coach helps yacht crew members conquer their personal and professional challenges so they can lead more meaningful and purposeful lives.
Kitty Mcgowan is the President of the U.S. Superyacht Association. She is originally from Pittsburgh, but lives in Fort Lauderdale.
Kitty is a former yacht stewardess and chef. She transitioned into the business side of yachting. And has served as the president of the U.S. Superyacht Association for the past 10 years.
The U.S. Superyacht Association is a non-profit whose mission is “to promote and support the U.S. superyacht industry and its members worldwide through advocacy, marketing and education.”
She loves boating and music "Boating and music are in my blood, anything tied to either puts me in my happy place! -Kitty
Lauren Coles is the CEO of Yoga Yacht and Daisy Yoga
She is originally from California, currently based in New York and is moving to Monaco in January.
Yoga Yacht started as an event for her corporate yoga clients. Yoga yachts creates experiences that bring attention to your wellness, your boat, and your cause. For fun, she loves to sing jazz.
Randi Barry runs Nautic Nomad and drophook. She is from Vancouver Island - Canada and now lives in Fort Lauderdale - Florida. She started in the industry as a yacht crew, then crew agent and now works full time on her two business ventures Nautic Nomad and drophook.⠀
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Nautic Nomad is a Yelp for Yachties. It gives Captains & Crew the ability to access updated information about the best destinations, businesses and services that they particularly need. Drophook is a fishing app similar to Instagram but for fishing.⠀
Sara Gioanola is the PR and Press office manager of Heesen.
Sara was born in the hills of Monferrato and lives between Tuscany and The Netherlands where she works for Heesen. She has been the PR and Press office manager of Heesen Yachts for the past ten years.
She loves sailing, cooking and practicing yoga “three years ago I discovered Jivamukti yoga in NYC and I’m soooo in love with it”
Vanessa Stuart is the administrator for ISS International Superyacht Society. She is a highlander from North of Scotland. And, now lives in Fort Lauderdale USA.
Vanessa studied art at college, worked as a Chief Stewardess for 15 years, and since 2000 is the administrator for the International Superyacht Society. ISS provides information about issues affecting the marketplace, owners, crew and industry members.
"For fun, you might also find me on the dance floor doing some salsa rather than the highland fling these days or maybe it’s time slow down to just waltz a little" - Vanessa