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Jenny Matthews
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & the world of Superyachts. Co-Founder of She of the Sea & LEGASEA | Chief Mate 3000GT
Jenny Matthews is a prominent figure in the yachting industry, known for her efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in this traditionally male-dominated field. She is the co-founder of two significant organizations: She of the Sea and Legasea.13
Career Background
Jenny Matthews began her career in the yachting industry and has spent over a decade working in various roles. She qualified as an Officer of the Watch after eight years in the industry.2 Currently, she serves as a chief officer on superyachts.3
Entrepreneurial Ventures
She of the Sea:: In 2018, Matthews founded She of the Sea, an organization dedicated to promoting gender diversity in the yachting industry.2 This initiative was inspired by her realization that she had never worked with another female deck officer throughout her career.2
Legasea:: As a co-founder of Legasea, Matthews has been instrumental in creating the first industry-wide mentoring program for career-focused yachting professionals.1 This program aims to remove barriers to career progression and provide equal opportunities for all professionals in the industry.
Advocacy and Impact
Jenny Matthews is recognized as a thought leader in the yachting industry, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She frequently speaks at industry events and conferences, sharing her insights on these critical topics.15 Her work focuses on:
- Raising awareness about diversity issues in yachting
- Promoting equal opportunities for all professionals
- Encouraging professional development through mentorship
- Conducting research to define the industry landscape through data
Matthews' efforts have been featured in various industry publications, and she has been interviewed by numerous organizations for her perspective on creating a more inclusive yachting industry.45
Through her work with She of the Sea and Legasea, Jenny Matthews continues to challenge the status quo and push for meaningful change in the superyacht industry, aiming to create a more diverse and inclusive environment for all professionals.
Highlights
‘ Scratch beneath the surfaces of stainless steel and glass, and we see we aren't producing and operating yachts, we are building containers that hold space for the people in them to create the most deeply human experiences. When discrimination, apathy, ignorance, blame and fear flourish in our workplaces, this leaches into our product and leaves us sterile, uninspired, and bland.'
It was an honour to contribute to the latest SuperYacht Times issue with a guest column. We explore why people, diversity, equity, inclusion, authenticity and empathy are the deeply embedded DNA of everything yachting. We also look into how the empowered individual can arm themselves once they decide that they are no longer going to wait for someone else to ‘do something about the current barriers…
Ill be diving into this topic head first at the upcoming Superyacht technology conference, and would love to hear what comes up for you reading this piece!
Head www.legasea.org.uk to check out our exciting new developments!
Have you ever thought about moving to a shoreside role?
Join us on the 19th of April at 1830 CET as we explore what you can start doing now to prepare, the skills needed, the opportunities available to you and what to expect! We will be joined by Ryan Green - Head of Yacht Management and Gareth Yeend, MSc CEng CMarEng Yacht Engineer turned Technical Manager from Burgess and Tim Clarke - Director of Quay Crew
This is an opportunity to ask unanswered questions and learn from industry leaders on how to successfully navigate the gap between working onboard and working ashore!
Follow the link to RSVP - https://lnkd.in/e5ucW-JZ
#superyachts #yachtcrew #maritimeindustry #captains #crewmanagement #stewardess @JennyMatthews Legasea
