March is Women’s History Month with International Women’s Day falling on March 8, 2025. In celebration, YATCO took the time to highlight a few women in business within the yachting industry. In Part Two of this feature, we speak with Randi Barry of Nautic Nomad and Joanna Hirst of Ethereal Blooms.
Click here to read Part One of this interview series.
Randi Barry – Nautic Nomad
Randi Barry started her career in the yachting industry in order to fund her dream of attending fashion school in Paris. After getting accepted into Parsons, Randi set out to find the fastest way to make and save money. Through research she discovered the yachting industry and took a job as a Junior Stewardess onboard a 50M motor yacht. With a background in sailing and experience in high-end hospitality, yachting was a perfect fit for Randi.
After a hiatus to complete her Fashion Studies program, Randi returned to yachting and worked her way up to Chief Stew with the occasional sous/crew chef position. Eventually, Randi transitioned to a land-based role in Crew Recruitment and founded Nautic Nomad as a method to connect yacht crew with needed resources. As part of Nautic Nomad, Randi has built community within the industry which led to co-hosting the inaugural Adrift Film Festival, putting on her first fashion show on board a yacht during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, giving back through the annual “Yachting Loves Florida” Thanksgiving Drive, and launching the first ever yachting podcast.
YATCO: What was the inspiration behind Nautic Nomad?
Randi Barry: The inspiration was to connect yacht crew with resources. I’ve experimented throughout the years on various ways to do this, whether through podcasting or crew recruitment, which is what I mainly do now. I would say the biggest skill from yachting that has helped me cross over comes from seeing a problem and working to find a solution. At the end of the day, that’s at the heart of what business is.
YATCO: What challenges have you faced as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry?
RB: I firmly believe that anyone who denies that women face disadvantages in the yachting industry (and nearly any other) has internal biases they need to address. The data is clear, and it’s easy to see the disparities with just a bit of research.
On a personal note, having a traditionally masculine name has given me a unique advantage, as I was often underestimated growing up. I’ve noticed that people treat me differently via email until they learn I’m a woman, and I use that to my benefit. I truly thrive when I’m underestimated because it gives me the opportunity to exceed expectations.
Navigating the yachting industry presents challenges, especially in identifying missed business opportunities. It’s often a matter of not knowing what you don’t know. Some deals may be missed because others don’t take you seriously or try to exploit your kindness by seeking free labor. To address these issues, I rely heavily on comprehensive contracts. These agreements are essential, particularly when dealing with difficult yacht owners, captains, or unreliable crew members. A well-structured contract outlines everyone’s expectations and responsibilities, providing legal protection and clarity. This ensures all parties are aligned and helps minimize disputes.
YATCO: Can you share a moment in your career when you felt particularly proud or empowered as a woman in yachting?
RB: Doing the fashion show at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2022 was incredibly empowering. I’m so grateful for all the powerful and amazing women who came together to make that happen.
Watch the Behind the scenes of Randi Barry’s fashion show at FLIBS 2022 video on YouTube.
YATCO: Are there support networks or mentorship programs for women entering or working in the yachting field?
RB: I feel like there are a lot of resources that we can tap into. I love attending [President of the U.S. Superyacht Association] Kitty McGowan’s Inspire events. Rose Damen, Managing Director of Damen Yachting, also hosts events from time to time at boat shows which are really fun. Andrea Tagliaferro from Yacht Femme has a great support network as well. There is also Samantha Moore who hosts a lot of networking events for Professional Women in Yachting. When Gemma Hulbert from The Yacht Stew is in town, she always has networking events happening. I feel it’s so important to meet other women in the industry and support one another.
YATCO: Can you identify a female mentor who influenced your career?
RB: My first Chief Stew Victoria Steyn is an absolute powerhouse. She’s transcended yachting to now use her abilities at problem solving for some of the most incredible and influential people in the world.
YATCO: How do you maintain a sense of community with other women in the industry?
RB: Staying in touch through social media and ensuring when we are in the same city, wherever in the world, that we make sure to connect. Even if it’s briefly for coffee or by volunteering at each other’s events (like when everyone to came to Paris to help with my fashion show). Or making sure to meet up for Birthdays like my friends did this past year in Versailles!
YATCO: What message would you like to share with other women who aspire to work in the yachting industry or start their own business?
RB: I believe there’s ample opportunity for everyone. Given the challenges we already face, it’s important to foster a supportive environment rather than engage in adversarial behavior.
Watch the Randi Barry Fashion Show at Paris Fashion Week 2024 video on YouTube.
Learn more about Nautic Nomad here or connect on Instagram.
Click here to follow Randi Barry’s fashion brand on Instagram.
Joanna Hirst – Ethereal Blooms
Ethereal Blooms is a luxury eco-florist based out of London, England. The company supplies designer preserved floristry to superyachts, luxury hospitality establishments, private residences, and brands such as Bulgari and De Beers. Ethereal Blooms are 100% real flowers, bio-treated to last up to a year with no maintenance required. Each bouquet is hand crafted by expert florists to the client’s specific requirements.
Inspired by a passion for innovation, luxury, and sustainability the founders, Kathryn Popplestone and Erni Visser, recognized that while beautiful, fresh floristry is one of the most wasteful industries in the world. The founders set out to find a way to make stunning bouquets that last, in turn saving up to 90% of the CO2 used to refresh weekly blooms over a year.
While working as a Stewardess, Joanna Hirst began to consider her career path outside of the yachting industry when she noticed her childhood friend had started Ethereal Blooms. Joanna is now the Head of Yacht Sales for the company.
YATCO: How was Ethereal Blooms first introduced to the yachting industry?
Ethereal Blooms: I had been working onboard as a Stewardess for around 6 years when I noticed that my childhood friend Erni Visser had started a floristry business and that they had just launched in Harrods. I was looking for my next step after yachting but didn’t want to waste all that I had learned and experienced in my time in the industry. Ethereal Blooms was a product that solved so many problems on board for stews and I felt like I was the right person to introduce the concept to the yachting industry. I introduced the flowers to boats at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2019 and now we are on board over 100 yachts.
YATCO: How did Ethereal Blooms’ partnership with Burgess come about?
JH: Georgina Menheneott, Partner and Head of ESG at Burgess approached us a few years ago having seen some press about how sustainable our flowers were. She is part of the Burgess Blue Oceans team who look to champion and partner with initiatives that can help their fleet and the industry as a whole make steps towards more sustainable practices. They started by switching their office and yacht show flowers to Ethereal Blooms. Through offering special discounts to their fleet and educating their captains and crew, Burgess has introduced many yachts to this more sustainable alternative to fresh flowers on board.
AQUIJO, a 282ft (86)m Oceano sailing yacht, and INFINITE JEST, a 246ft (75m) motor yacht by Turquoise Yachts, are among the 100+ vessels to have Ethereal Blooms onboard.
Watch the Sailing yacht AQUIJO while underway video on YouTube.
YATCO: The company recently attended the Dubai International Yacht Show. What was the response to your product? Will you be attending any yacht shows in the coming months?
JH: We had a fantastic response to the flowers at the Dubai International Yacht Show and had conversations with some big industry names with some exciting partnerships coming up. We’re excited to bring our product to the growing market out there. Regarding the other yacht shows – With most of our customers fitting into the mega yacht category, Monaco Yacht Show is our biggest show of the year. However, we will likely be making an appearance at some of the US-based shows this year with FLIBS being the biggest.
YATCO: Can you share a moment in your career when you felt empowered as a woman in business?
JH: Back in 2021, I was nominated for an ACREW award in the Environmental Award category which was a very proud moment. I missed out on the prize to Lauren Wardley from Ethical Yacht Wear, who is also doing great things for sustainability in the industry. I would definitely call that a very empowering moment for me as a woman in business.
YATCO: Can you identify a female mentor who influenced your career?
JH: I’ve had many great female role models in my time. Several Chief Stews taught me how to slow down and think clearly when the plan changes at the last minute or some unexpected challenge shows up.
YATCO: What message would you like to share with other women who aspire to start their own business?
JH: If what you are offering has real value, solves a real problem, and you’re passionate about it, then your enthusiasm will truly be infectious. That’s half the battle. Talking to yacht crew about Ethereal Blooms is the easiest thing in the world because I know that this will make your life easier. I know that this will save the program money, and I know that you’re not going to believe your eyes when you walk past that bouquet of flowers three months later and it still looks exactly the same as when you placed it on display.
Click here to learn more about Ethereal Blooms or connect on Facebook and Instagram.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
Read Part One of this interview series here or browse YATCO’s Women in Yachting articles.
