Women making
set boundaries and put the brakes on their careers . I hope that I serve as an example that you can continue to drive towards your career goals and have a family . What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry ? My advice would be to pursue what you enjoy doing with confidence and do not let self-doubt keep you from trying something new . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? I enjoy running , tennis , traveling and spending time with my husband Josh and our two daughters , Sophia and Emma .
Rachel Auslander
Director , Partnerships & Development , Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation ( RBFF )
Education : B . A ., George Washington University Years in the marine industry : 12 years What first drew you to the marine industry ? Growing up in Rhode Island , I was around water all of the time , especially sailboats , but I was specifically drawn to RBFF ’ s mission – increasing participation which generates more funding for conservation efforts . That , plus the educational aspects of TakeMeFishing . org and opportunities to build relationships in the industry , meshed nicely with my mission-driven background .
What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry ? Don ’ t be afraid to try something new – so many skills that seem unrelated on paper are actually quite transferable and you should go for it ! Sharing the work you do ( and the fun you have ) with your non-boating network makes boating more accessible for all . Flexibility is a skill that is so important in an ever-changing world . If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry , what would it be and why ? I am proud of so much of the work we do at RBFF and our accomplishments over the past 12 years . A personal accomplishment I am proud of is building a relationship between RBFF and West Marine that led to women-focused webinars during Covid-19 and post-Covid-19 . Hyper-local information sessions in 4 West Marine stores across the country featured female RBFF # WaveMaker Ambassadors sharing their knowledge base and skillsets . Not only did this cross-promote fishing to a primarily boating audience , but it showcased successful female anglers to a national audience , which helps diversify our sports for generations to come . Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry ? Why or why not ? I ’ ve been lucky at RBFF to have a great female mentor who is also a working mom , and to be given the opportunity to meet and network with other professionals in the industry . The majority of marine professionals I ’ ve encountered have been kind and welcoming , even for someone like me without a lifetime of boating know-how . I truly had no idea how big the marine industry was until joining it . How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry ? This industry is both for those with a passion for the sport and for those looking to excel in their own business focus area . I hope others who are looking to make a change in their professional careers will see my career track and go for it . What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry ? Network , network , network . The marine industry has so many great conferences , shows and opportunities to meet other professionals in various stages of their careers . I have found that women , especially , in this industry are so supportive of one another and are always happy to assist when they are able . Ask one of them to mentor you .
Also , due to my background , I like to say “ It ’ s fishing and boating , we ’ re not curing cancer .” It reminds me to take a breath , take a look around , see the bigger picture and have fun ! What is your favorite place to go boating ? While I don ’ t get up there much anymore , I have such wonderful memories of sailing with family and friends off the coast of Rhode Island . Now , I enjoy taking a boat tour when I visit new places – it ’ s a great way to see a new city or coastline .
Perissa Bailey
Vice President & General Manager , Electrification , Mercury Marine
Education : B . S . Computer Science & Engineering ; M . S . Computer Engineering Years in the marine industry : 1 year What first drew you to the marine industry ? I was drawn to the industry by the passion consumers have for our products . It is extremely exciting to be a part of the marine industry at this time ; being able to contribute to defining the future of boating is nothing short of exciting ! What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry ? Some of the biggest lessons that I have learned in the marine industry are associated with the unique challenges and opportunities posed by mobility on the water . Those challenges and opportunities include solving for additional degrees of freedom , applying both new and existing technologies to vessels to improve
18 june 2023 www . boatingindustry . com