Andrea Tagliaferro (left) with Francesca Ragnetti (right)

The Women’s Yachting Awards is the brainchild of yacht designer and digital marketing strategist Andrea Tagliaferro. She has been working to increase the presence of women in the yachting business since launching Yachtfemme, a podcast that explores the luxurious world of yachting and introduces the leading women in the industry. The initiative is supported by Francesca Ragnetti, who has more than 20 years’ experience in companies such as Perini Navi, Benetti and Mangusta Yachts, and is the daughter of Giancarlo Ragnetti, one of the founders of Perini Navi.

This initiative aims to highlight the contribution of women to the growth and development of the high-end yacht sector and aims to create an all-female network that will allow the exchange of experiences and best practices between professionals involved in different areas of the yachting industry.

With an emphasis on collaboration and communication, this network offers a potential for growth in the sector. “It's very powerful how female representation can inspire future generations. While my platform highlights women today, my strategy has a long-term focus and aims to show future generations, or those just starting their careers in the industry, that leadership goals are achievable,” says Tagliaferro.

The award has three categories: Rising Star of the Year, which recognises the professional who has shown exceptional promise and rapid growth in their boating career, for their potential, enthusiasm and the impact they are already making in the industry; Entrepreneur of the Year, which recognises the individual who has demonstrated exceptional innovation and leadership in starting or growing a yachting business; and Trailblazer of the Year, for a woman who is breaking barriers and challenging the status quo in the yachting industry, setting new standards in her field, paving the way for future generations and inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

The 15 finalists – five in each category – have been chosen by a panel of judges from both the yachting and luxury sectors, including Roberta Bresci, sales and marketing manager of Bentley; Rose Damen, managing director of Damen Yachting; Liliana Cerilo, chief marketing officer of Lexica; the philanthropist Naomi Daines; the nautical journalist Angelo Colombo; and Norma Trease, director of the International SeaKeepers Society.

Why the sector is focusing on women
According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation, women are outpacing men in tertiary education worldwide, which means that in the near future the number of highly qualified female candidates will outnumber men for similar jobs, and, especially for Generation Z, more gender-diverse companies will be more attractive to the best candidates.

In addition, the International Labour Organisation highlights the fact that when companies adopt inclusive policies, the expected likelihood of increased profitability and productivity, the ability to attract and retain talent, increased creativity and innovation, and enhanced reputation increases dramatically. In today’s uncertain economic climate, gender diversity in management is necessary for competitive business performance, especially when considering the skills shortages predicted for the coming decades, and companies overlook the leadership potential of women at their peril.

Also, women’s empowerment is about adopting a way of thinking and seeing the world based on feminine qualities such as mutual respect, cooperation, harmony and coexistence, moving from a society managed and controlled by competition and violence to a society of co-existence based on mutual understanding and cooperation. In other words, from hard power to soft power. It is not simply a question of women achieving social positions similar to those of men; what is important is not to achieve a particular social position, but rather to bring about a change in behaviour.

Francesca Ragnetti quotes the lawyer and world peace scholar Enza Pellecchia: “For many years I thought I had to prove that I was as good as a man, only to discover that I was hoping for my potential. Instead now, I want to be as good as a woman!”.

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