For more than 20 years, the International Superyacht Society (ISS) has served as the global business-to-business organization for the yachting industry. Among other things, it fosters relationships among and provides educational opportunities for businesspeople in this market. It’s striving to attract the next generation of yachting-industry members, too, by offering a free one-year ISS student membership.
The ISS student membership is open to those currently pursuing studies focused on a yachting career. Benefits include relationship building with a variety of industry professionals. Students with craftsmanship skills, for example, can meet shipyard executives. Budding designers can meet the chiefs of leading studios, including naval architects and interior designers. Those interested in the regulations side of yachting can encounter flag-state regulators. Furthermore, ISS student membership affords the chance to influence professional-training curriculum. Ultimately, the idea is to allow these up-and-coming professionals to help guide the yachting industry’s future.
Wright Maritime Group, a large-yacht support and operations organization, is underwriting the free membership. “The industry is served by mentoring our young professionals to be the next generation of leaders,” its chief, AJ Anderson, comments. Derik Wagner, ISS president, says the move “opens unique career pathways to build important long-term relationships with top industry influencers.”
If you know of someone who would benefit from the student membership, have him or her contact Vanessa Stuart. Information to include: name, email address, school(s) where enrolled, and details on the career path he or she intends to pursue in yachting.