Great recap of METSTRADE & Yacht Racing Forum Day 1 from one of our Management & Media Pathway mentees, Madeleine Lithvall ⬇️ What were your key takeaways? Love the insights from Women In The Marine Industry International panel, as well as hearing about new innovations in our sport!
Creative Consultant | MA Luxury Business @ POLIMI Graduate School of Management | Shaping narratives that resonate within the lifestyle, sports fashion and beauty sectors
INSPIRATION, INSIGHTS & INTERACTIONS Reflections on two days at METSTRADE with The Magenta Project in Amsterdam, day 1 What an enriching experience! My first day at METSTRADE was a whirlwind of inspiring discussions and future-focused insights. Here's a recap of the day: 🌅 Morning: Women In The Marine Industry International Breakfast event I had the privilege of listening to female leaders in the marine industry discussing leadership development, AI and industry foresight. My key takeaways: 🔹 Define your value: Reflect deeply on what makes you unique and how you can bring value. 🔹 Listening is crucial: Analyse and understand before speaking. 🔹 Empathy and authenticity: Lead with compassion and stay true to yourself. 🔹 The power of connection: Building one-to-one relationships strengthens communication and fosters sustainable cultures. We also explored AI’s growing role in the industry, with 74% of marine companies already leveraging it for creativity, productivity, and decision-making. It’s clear that technology is driving innovation, but the human element remains central. The conversations also touched on the future of the marine industry: 🔹 Technology drives progress: Startups and entrepreneurs will lead the way in making boating more accessible and user-friendly. 🔹 Sustainability is critical: The industry must embrace technical innovations to reduce consumption and build a more sustainable future. 🔹 Diversity and inclusion: With only 3% of the global marine workforce being women, there’s still a need to amplify diverse voices and foster mentorship for younger generations. ⚡ A thought-provoking reminder: Stop talking about empowering women. We already have the power — it’s about how we use and amplify it. ⚡ 🌊 Afternoon: Exploring Industry Foresight in Sail Racing In the afternoon, I joined the opening of the Yacht Racing Forum, where Marit Bouwmeester OLY inspired the audience with her call to support the next generation of sailors. The panels also discussed how innovations like those in the America's Cup could trickle down to benefit recreational sailors, showing how technology can drive progress across all levels of the industry. Key messages from the afternoon included: 🔹 Growth mindset: “It’s hard to learn if you already know.” Growth requires openness and humility. 🔹 Breaking barriers: Make sailing more inclusive by lowering financial and logistical hurdles. 🔹 AI in racing: Leverage AI to enhance performance while preserving the athleticism of the sport. The day left me inspired to dig deeper into my unique contributions and to embrace the opportunities for growth and change within the marine world. What are your thoughts on fostering innovation and inclusivity in your field? Let’s share some ideas! 🌟 Recap on day 2 will follow. #METSTRADE #MarineIndustry #sailracing #leadership #LeadershipInsights #AI #YachtRacingForum #TheMagentaProject
