As the yachting industry continues to grow, more and more women are making a significant impact on this traditionally male-dominated space. Here, YATCO takes the time to get to know some of these women – from all areas of the market – and highlight the important work that they contribute to the industry.
Maha Elyazzaoui is the Marketing Manager of Moravia Yachting.
Table of contents
- What drew you to the yachting world?
- How did you get your start in yachting?
- Who are the influential people in your life?
- What are some challenges you face in the industry and how do you overcome them?
- What advice would you give you someone starting in the yachting industry?
- What is the most rewarding or enjoyable element of your job?
- What is your favorite thing about working in the yacht market?
- What are you currently working on and what keeps you motivated?
What drew you to the yachting world?
Born and raised in the French Riviera, I rapidly understood the appeal of yachting from a young age.
During my studies at the International University of Monaco, I had the opportunity to follow a yachting specialization class for one semester as part of my master’s degree in Luxury Marketing.
We were fortunate to welcome some industry players for some classes and get the chance to exchange with them.
My interest came at this moment. I understood that it was a challenging industry where I would be able to constantly develop my knowledge and learn every day.
How did you get your start in yachting?
My first job in yachting was an end-of-study internship at Camper & Nicholsons as a marketing assistant. This first experience confirmed my desire to enter the exciting world of yachting.
After this valuable internship, I joined VanDutch Marine and Zephyr Yachting where I furthered my marketing knowledge and industry experience.
However, my real entry into the yachting world began when I received a job offer from Moravia Yachting in 2021 to join the growing team in Monaco.
Who are the influential people in your life?
My family is, of course, top of this list. The values they instilled in me made me the person I am today.
From a business perspective, I admire people who start from nothing and find success thanks to their determination. These are the people that inspire me every day.
What are some challenges you face in the industry and how do you overcome them?
The yachting industry is very challenging and that’s what attracts me. Having joined Moravia Yachting in its early days, my first challenge [was] to contribute to the positioning of Moravia Yachting in the yachting market as THE Monegasque boutique brokerage. Working in marketing makes the challenges even more exciting and my creativity as well as my energy are a perfect fit to face them!
What advice would you give you someone starting in the yachting industry?
My advice is to be patient. This is a complex industry with many resources, so it takes time to discover all its facets.
As soon as you understand how the pieces of the puzzle [fit] together and apply yourself to your work, you can make incredible things happen.
What is the most rewarding or enjoyable element of your job?
I particularly enjoy when I finally get the chance to see the result of months of work and concretization of projects. For example during the boat shows season, I’m responsible for our yachts’ presence in general from berth organization to advertising and communication during the show. I enjoy seeing how yachts can stand out.
What is your favorite thing about working in the yacht market?
[I enjoy] all the aspects that this industry can bring together at once. This market gives us the chance to meet inspiring people and talented chefs, see breath-taking yacht designs, the most beautiful destinations, and super innovative projects. I am lucky to be able to enrich my knowledge in several fields. It is all the diversity that I like [about the yachting industry]!
What are you currently working on and what keeps you motivated?
I am mainly focusing on yacht marketing for both Hill Robinson and Moravia Yachting fleets.
What keeps me motivated are the challenges I face with the nature of my job, like when it comes to finding strategies to promote our fleet with storytelling, a new format of promotion, projects, etc. The brainstorming moments with my team are the best!
Connect with Maha on LinkedIn and learn more about Moravia Yachting here.
