Inspirational Women in Yachting - Romy Barden
As part of our International Women’s Day series, we shine a spotlight on Romy Barden. She tells us a little bit about what it’s like to be a female Director in the yachting industry, her career highlights, challenges and the inspirational woman she’d love to have dinner with if she got the chance.
Full Name: Romy Barden Job title: Yacht Accounts Director, Fairport
Nationality: USA, Born in Jacksonville, FL, raised in Ohio, graduated from Ohio State University
Number of years in yachting/business: 4 years as stewardess on private & charter yachts, 15 ashore working in yacht accounting.
If I could have dinner with one inspirational woman, it would absolutely be my maternal grandmother. She was the most creative, amazing person. She got her pilots license at a time when it was uncommon for women to do so…
Tell us a bit about your journey of how you became a senior level business woman in yachting?
When I felt it was time to step await from working onboard yachts, the natural course was to get back on dry land and find a job that was still in the industry, and that would allow me to use all the knowledge I had gained at sea. I was put forward for a position at the newly minted Yacht Management department at a yacht brokerage house in Fort Lauderdale and that situation fit the bill perfectly. It called on my previous accounting experience whilst drawing on the terms and procedures of yachting.
What is your favourite aspect of the job?
In the years I have spent working with Graeme Lord and Fairport Yacht Support, I have found that my favourite and most rewarding aspect of the job is onboarding new accountants. Whether they are new to the industry or have a prior history in yachting, I love to teach them the “nuts and bolts” of the inner working of running the business of yachting.
Romy Barden with team (third from left)
What has been your biggest challenge as a Director?
I would say that working in any field these days have the challenge of ‘never having enough hours in the day, however, it is an enjoyable experience if you are doing what you are cut out to do and love doing it.
Do you have any standout moments or highlights in your career?
Leaving my accounting career in Cleveland and taking a crazy leap of faith to work on yachts at the age of 38 was certainly a standout moment in my career. Cruising the St Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes, spending months in Costa Rica & Galapagos Island. Going ashore and utilising my prior work and yachting experience to develop an incredible team of accountants at Fairport Yacht Support.
Have you encountered many hurdles in your career due to your sex?
I am thankful I have not had to deal with any hurdles due to sexism. I feel fortunate to have worked with very professional mentors and colleagues along the way.
What would you say to any females out there dreaming of a senior level role yachting?
Yachting has traditionally been a very male-dominate world but we have seen the tides changing over the last decade. There is still room for improvement however, male or female, I think that in order to be in any senior position, you’ve got to learn and hone good leadership skills. This includes being organized, decisive and having good communication skills is absolutely paramount. It is also imperative that you work as a team with your colleagues and support in the career growth of others. If at the end of the day, we can look back at it all and think we supported each other then, then the job has been a success.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you say to her or ask her?
If I could have dinner with one inspirational woman, it would absolutely be my maternal grandmother. She was the most creative, amazing person. She got her pilots license at a time when it was uncommon for women to do so; was a professional painter; had multiple greenhouses in her backyard in which she cultivated orchids & bonsai trees; travelled extensively and raised two children. If I could ask… I would want to know where she found her energy!