Women in Yachting – An Interview Series Part 8: Niomi Matysek, Commercial Coordinator at Hill Robinson

By YATCOPosted on Interviews, Women in Yachting
Women in Yachting - Part 8 | Niomi Matysek - Hill Robinson

Year after year, women in yachting have taken a larger and more significant role in the industry. They are emerging as powerful, effective, and efficient – as much as men in yachting, and have gone beyond the role of charter broker. Here, YATCO takes the time to get to know some of these women – whether they are yacht sales brokers, shipyard coordinators or marketing masters. Here, you can get to know Niomi Matysek, Commercial Coordinator at Hill Robinson.

Featuring Niomi Matysek, Commercial Coordinator at Hill Robinson

What drew you to the yachting world?

I was not especially drawn into yachting per se. I discovered yachting through my first job out of university, many years ago back in 1999. I was hired to do Public Relations for the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, which had just opened on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia. The owner was a Prince from one of the royal families of Malaysia and he very kindly gave me a starting chance.

How did you get your start in yachting?

After 2 years of island living and doing PR for the yacht club, I decided to pack it all in and the pull of “going away” was too strong to resist. The fact that things on the personal front were not ideal was also a strong motivator, but I needed to be able to earn money while being away.

At that time, RLYC was one of the very few marinas that could host the “big, over 30m” yachts so we had some of the famous ones of the time come in to stay with us. As the PR girl, part of my job was to make sure that the yacht and crew were taken of. So of course, some of them became friends and the idea came from a chief stew/chef couple who decided to settle on the island. So I quit my job, sold off everything I could for money and came out to France, with 4 names on a piece of paper. And I got to Antibes on a Sunday afternoon – that was a great culture shock as nothing was open! I was lucky to get a hotel room for the night!

Who are some influential people in your life that you look up to?

I always had such respect for those with patience and who know how to use that amazing trait to get the best out the people around them. I have worked with many who showed that giving is much better than taking and I try to live by that tenet. And I am extremely lucky now, surrounded by an amazing culture of teamwork and collaboration.

What are some challenges you face and how do you overcome them?

Realizing that others will not do the job the way I would, and accepting that the job will be done well anyway – differently but well. Yes, apparently not everyone will take apart a cupboard and rearrange everything inside at 3am because it was messy – who knew?!

It took a person that I love to say the right thing at the right time for a lightbulb to go off in my head about this. And since then, I always remember that everyone has their own value to bring to the team, and they should be given the space and freedom to add their value.

What are you currently working on and how do you stay inspired?

I am currently now working with the Commercial Chief Officer to streamline, expand and push forward the Hill Robinson and Moravia brands to the next level. I stay inspired by keeping my goals in front of me and achieving them. I stay inspired by helping to find the solutions that work, and find joy in helping others find success, no matter how small.

All Women in our Women in Yachting Series:

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