goes way back to my childhood . My father had his own company in the marine business , and I loved accompanying him to boating exhibitions and events . I ’ d help him with cleaning the boats or setting up the events . This brings back many memories . I also had my own little boat when I was younger , from a young age I would discover the Frisian lakes together with my parents or friends . This fueled my love for being on the water and understanding the rules and guidelines on the water . It is those moments that laid the foundation for my passion for the marine industry today . Being on the water is freedom to me . What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry ? One of the biggest lessons I learned is that there is still a big gap in the marine industry when it comes to innovation , environmental responsibility , and sustainability . The journey to introduce our 3D-printed boats made from recycled materials shows that bringing new ideas to life requires a strong belief in your vision in order to make a meaningful impact . I learned that building a strong network is incredibly valuable . Connecting with others and building a community brought me personally , and professionally the right people around me . This had a big contribution to succeeding in the marine industry . If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry , what would it be and why ? One of my most memorable achievements is winning ( as a team ) the Eco-Focused Boat of the Year at the International Boat Builder Awards last year . It is a huge compliment winning this award because just five years ago , we were not even in the marine industry . It is a validation of our effort and concept , but it also highlights that sustainability is recognised within the industry . We are making “ impacd ,” which is our goal to make within the industry . This moment will always be special to me , we were so surprised that we , as a small company , achieved this in such a short time . Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry ? Why or why not ? As a woman , and with my career background , people were surprised to see me . Especially as a founder and leading a marine business while coming from FMCG . The industry is overall a bit more used to men . We started our journey as IMPACD with a team of three family members : Jorgen ( my partner ) working on the technical side , my dad ( bringing in boating knowledge , while working for us ) and myself . From the more traditional perspective people were used to reach out to the men in our team . This was a challenge however it also made us more unique besides our authentic story . How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry ? As a woman in a male-dominated industry I want

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www . boatingindustry . com june 2024

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