I am so humbled to be nominated for this award, because after 24 years of working in the yachting industry, I have been fortunate enough to build build my reputation, knowledge and experience and have invested time, passion, blood, sweat and tears into making this career a success and every nominee is so deserving to be there and respected within the industry, so it is very humbling to be part of such an exceptional group of people. Thanks to ACrew and seably for creating this opportunity and for the person who nominated me – I am very honoured and humbled to even be considered.
I have been in the service and hospitality industry for 32 years. After finishing my University studies, I joined the yachting industry 24 years ago and worked as a Stewardess, Stew/Deck, Chief Stewardess, Chief Stew/Medical Officer and Purser on yachts up to 90 meters. I returned home in 2007 and immediately started on compiling my Introduction and Chief Stewardess course manuals and syllabus and fulfilled my dream to start a training school for Steward/esses. Even though I am a business owner, teacher, mentor, I very much believe that I have a huge responsibility to help create a culture of environmentally friendly work practices on board.
I specialize in entry-level Steward/ess training and have trained 2 000 Steward/esses since opening my yacht training school in South Africa in 2007. I believe in ‘bending the tree when it is young’ and creating an opportunity for these new ladies and gentlemen to be taught the ins and outs of this amazing industry before they even enter into their first jobs. In the last decade, my focus has shifted hugely into teaching eco-friendly and sustainable cleaning methods using products like vinegar and baking soda and replacing the hundreds of chemicals previously used, yet still keeping in mind that as Stews, they work with sometimes irreplaceable and highly valuable surfaces and fabrics. During my training courses, I focus on specifically environmentally friendly cleaning, laundry and guest and crew toiletry products, etc. because the fact is that all of this will eventually end up in the oceans. I make it my mission to try to influence these young and eager minds on the ways you can improve your cleaning methods and service habits without losing the quality and standards expected from you in such a perfectionist and high-end industry.
As far as mentorship, I launched a very popular Steward/ess Facebook group in 2013 – called YACHT STEWARDESS AND STEWARD TIPS and this group has since been providing a wonderful platform for advocating the same theme – providing excellent service, but focusing on the environment and the (good or bad) effects our laundry, cleaning and everyday habits can have on the ocean. Sometimes a small tip, like teaching the members the terrible environmental effect of using balloons on board, can have far-reaching positive effects on the environment and the way we think as Steward/esses. This group has proven to be extremely popular with Steward/esses in the industry and we have a following of nearly 14 000 members. It has twice been awarded ‘The most popular yachtie Facebook group to follow’ by yachting publications over the past few years. In the group, we created a safe space to mentor, support, advise, teach and coach without judgement or the often harsh/judgmental comments that is prevalent on many Facebook groups.
My main goal each day is to try and create a culture of SHARING knowledge through not only my own continuous self-development and education, but encouraging Steward/esses to support each other, to continue improving and increasing their knowledge and experience and stimulating thought processes and ideas. I do this in my classes, my teaching, my articles and columns, the Facebook group and through personal mentorship and advice to my former and current students. It has always been my focus to remove the culture of secrecy that used to exist in the industry amongst Steward/esses in my active years of being a Stewardess. There were times where I joined a yacht and there was NO information left behind by the previous interior team on guests, the yacht, the surfaces and fabrics, etc. This was always an infuriating and frustrating experience and I have always focused on creating a safe environment for sharing information with one another and together improving ourselves and creating better service and experience for our guests – which at the end of the day, is what our jobs are all about. Through sharing, you create stronger teams on board, achieve a higher level and standard of service to the guests and reduce stress and frustration and negative communication between team members.
As far as mentorship, I keep in touch with many of my former students and often get contacted by Steward/esses in the industry regarding not only cleaning or job-related issues, but also about personal questions like being pregnant on board, handling difficult team members, etc. I try to create a supportive and confidential environment for these individuals and may not always have all the correct answers, but provide my time and ear, which is sometimes all it takes to make that individual understand that there are people out there who want to help them or care for them.
I have written almost 100 Steward/ess related articles for various yachting publications – printed in yachting magazines and online. Currently I do a bi-monthly column for www.onboardonline.com – covering subjects like eco-friendly cleaning habits and products on board, how to effectively teach and train your interior teams on board, how to care for marble, self-care whilst on charter and working 18 hour days, high-end flower and orchid care, table setting, etc. I have been a judge at several Table Setting Competitions at the Monaco Boat Show, have sat on several international panel discussions regarding Steward/ess related issues and for an extensive period was part in several aspects of the G.U.E.S.T Steward/ess program for yacht Steward/esses. I was also a G.U.E.S.T. training provider for several years. I also played an integral part in the original development of the programme.
My personal belief and life motto is that you can have education, knowledge, book-smarts, experience, but without PASSION, you cannot reach the young minds you are trying to positively influence. I see a yacht as a beautiful objet d’art and it is our jobs as Steward/esses to take care of it like it is a rare Picasso. By carefully explaining the complicated intricacies of a yacht, its team/crew, its delicate interior, the guests and guest etiquette, daily expectations and responsibilities of a crew member, I try to create awareness and awaken the PASSION within my students before they even joined the industry.
Thanks again for considering me for this wonderful opportunity – it certainly is an honour.
