What drew you to Regent?
Everything the brand stands for, from the amazing product to the world-class team both on our ships and shoreside, to our loyal guests who are part of our Regent family.
It’s an exciting time for Regent, we are celebrating our anniversary and in the midst of a newbuild.
Yes! And that’s only the beginning. We continue to be at the forefront of including as much as possible into the cruise fare to allow our guests to concentrate on spending their time on truly relaxing and deciding what they want to do in the next wonderful destination. As we look to the future, we are building on our heritage of perfection with Seven Seas Grandeur™. Inspired by the past and stunningly reimagined for the future, she will offer our guests the unrivaled space, unparalleled service, exceptional cuisine and transformative experiences for which all Regent ships are known for, beginning the moment they step aboard.
Throughout your career you’ve been at the forefront of pivotal moments, like taking NCLH public. What’s it been like to carry this distinction and what would you say to other women trying to follow in your footsteps?
While Wall Street and the financial industry is still very male-dominated, it is changing. There was a time where I was one of few women in the room, but it’s evolving and I am now joined by others. It’s certainly important to see women in leadership roles across a variety of industries. And I think it’s really important to have a diverse viewpoint around your management team, not only through gender, but also diverse backgrounds.
My advice to women as they navigate their career is to find your passion and follow it. Passion leads to success. In addition, challenge yourself by stepping outside of your comfort zone. When you push yourself to try something you’ve never done before is when you have breakthrough moments and when you grow most.
In your previous role, you also oversaw our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, through our innovative Sail & Sustain program.
I am very proud of our accomplishments and our commitment to drive a positive impact on society and the environment through Sail & Sustain. Sustainability is extremely important in our industry. Regent visits over 450 destinations globally and our business is inextricably linked to the preservation of our planet and the protection of our shared resources.
There are so many impactful sustainability initiatives that have come about through your work. Can you highlight a few?
Our team has done an amazing job delivering impactful sustainability initiatives. The cruise ecosystem extends to ports, tour operators, local suppliers and many other entities. We invest heavily in our destinations, support infrastructure development, sustain the environment and the livelihoods in areas we visit and boost local employment. We also procure various local supplies in port including food and beverages, hotel supplies, fuel and utilities, all of which help stimulate the local economy.
We are very committed to driving a positive impact, and even during. Even our pause in operations didn’t stop us from supporting communities in need. We, along with our sister brands, provided $10 million of cash support to six Alaska port communities who were severely impacted by the loss of cruise tourism during the pandemic.
That is truly amazing! We are so looking forward to returning to Alaska this summer. Do you have a favorite destination that you are eager to visit once again?
The Amalfi Coast is one of my favorite places. I love the cuisine and nothing beats taking an excursion to Capri to witness that cobalt water. If you truly want to fall in love with cruising, embark on a Regent cruise to the Mediterranean.
