This weeks edition of Shaped by the Sea is a conversation with Nadine Proctor the CEO of M & H Finland (Marine and Hydraulics). I had the pleasure of catching up with Nadine at Monaco Yacht Show. Nadine is a pioneer of innovation in the world of hydraulics. We got into everything from running a business, sexism in yachting, work life balance and so much more.
Hi Nadine, thanks for agreeing to talk to me. Can you start by telling me a little bit about yourself?
Yes, I'm Nadine Proctor. I'm 37 years old and I've been in the industry pretty much all my life. Following my dad from a little girl because he's always been in the sailing industry basically from 1995. So, we moved from South Africa to Finland in 95 to help Nautor Swan with the first 112-foot sailing yacht, which was at that time the biggest in the world.
Wow, amazing.
Yeah, and that was fun. And to put hydraulics and PLC on our first sailing yacht ever. So, he started with that, and we were only supposed to be a few years and then just do one off and then go back to South Africa. But Swan kept on building more yachts. They did five of the 112 feet. Then Baltic started to build Visione, 147 feet. Yeah, 147. Yeah, so then we stayed to do that and then he set up his own company in 2003.
I joined the company 2011. so about 14 years now. Now I'm the owner of the company for two and a half years.
What started just helping him out became running the family business. My dad’s still involved as a consultant, but doing hydraulics and electrics, electronics, control units, control systems, all kind of systems for our Super Yacht clients all over the world. I have a great team of engineers behind me. Around eight people now, but a lot of subcontractors and our partnership with Bosch Rexroth Group internationally worldwide.
That's a lot of people management. That's a lot of leadership to take on.
Especially in a male-dominated industry of hydraulics and the yachting industry.
What about what you do? What about yachting and about engineering and hydraulics keeps you motivated? What makes you keep doing it? Why do you love it?
Very good question. I would say it's in the DNA. Like I said, it's a passion for sure. It's a real passion. This industry just absorbs you in and I guess growing up with it, it's kind of like brainwashed me into the industry. From a child already traveling with my dad, every holiday he was working on some boat, and we were with as a family. In the engine room and being small and little and then getting hands dirty. Being curious because it was a little bit boring in the beginning and then as a kid you want to do something. That was how I got into it. Once you know the industry and it's a tight community of people, but once you're in, it's like friends for life. People in yachting are a family, well like I said, trust is a huge thing in the industry. Once you have the trust of certain people in the industry, it's like a group of friends. It's like a family.
Why does it keep sucking me in? That's a very good question. It's not for the money for sure. But…it's the people.
The people are friendly. The people are very different from any other industry. I think because our lives are so aligned with our jobs and that's what the beauty of this industry is. It's so about people. I mean, this industry, these billions of dollars don’t exist without the people like us that have the knowledge to understand and make these things happen. Knowledge and who to contact, who to support. Our systems are dealing with people's lives at the end of the day. They've got to be reliable and trustworthy.
Excellent quality like having Bosch behind us and everything is super important to have that worldwide service. We have a promise that we are on board within 24 hours anywhere in the world. That's a big promise.
Well, because of the Bosch worldwide community, we will always have somebody from there that will be on board. At least you will have somebody on site. To look at your system and go, okay, yeah, this is what's happened. This is what's wrong. Let's fix it.
That's fantastic Nadine.
We have direct contact with the factory, which allows us to do research and development. Like this hybrid electric propulsion systems now that is important. We’re developing that with the factory. The volumes are not high, but because of the importance of the industry and who the owners and who the people are, they are willing. We are like a buffer between the Bosch and the end customer.
What would you say to a young lady trying to get into the industry, not necessarily on board, but to get involved in the yachting industry as well?
I'd say everything is possible. I mean, like I said to you as well, if you have faith and believe in yourself and believe that you're a good person, you will do well. If you want to do good, I believe good will come back to you as well. If you just be persistent in your dreams and it's something that you really want to do, then do it.
Nobody's going to stop you, people want to also support each other. There's enough for everybody in this industry. I think as a young person, you're going to have challenges, it's like sailing. You're going to have the waves at some point. You're going to have storms. Then there's also sunshine and beautiful moments and relaxing moments. Taking care of yourself as well and what you want to do. Don't let anyone tell you that it's not possible.
The support from my dad has been extremely important. The support I've got from the industry has been important. You're always going to get people that are a bit negative, but you’ll always meet positive people too, it's all around you. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people.
Finally, how do you find the industry has changed in the last 14 years and its attitude to you being a female CEO? Do you feel like the industry has grown? Is it more accepting than it used to be? Or do you still feel like there's a long way to go?
That's a good question. I would like to say that it's more accepting. But there is a long way to go. I still get many prejudiced comments and reactions, especially when I was under 30. That was one of the hardest times.
For example, in Monaco, everyone we meet thinks I'm my dad's girlfriend. That was incredibly uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it's always been like that and occasionally it's still like that. It’s hard to know how to react, but I don't think you should be arrogant either and say, Oh, I'm a boss, I'm a leader, I'm the owner of the company. People make mistakes. And then you play with it and go along with it. Then when a question comes up, then you speak your truth. Women do it to each other, assume we must be the girlfriend the wife, or the stewardess, which is like crazy.
The industry is developing and being more accepting but there's still a long way to go. I think women should be more supportive of each other. Maybe I shouldn't say this. But the biggest prejudice or the biggest problems that I've heard are from other women. We're not very good at building other women up. I think it’s something that's really missing.
Okay, we've got fantastic foundations in the industry that are paving the way. But it's not enough, you know? We should be building each other up, not knocking each other down. The main support I've received is from other men.
Because they say, you go girl. You got this. Especially when they realise in the older generation, they really are lifting us women up more and more. Those are the, like you said, your dad and my dad, they are supportive because they see the potential.
I'm 37, so there's biological pressure. I don't have any kids. I don't have a family. You've got to also think of that aspect as a family aspect, and it is important to have family. Women do have that biological difference, but it doesn’t hold us back. I've travelled with my dad, and my mom always came on board, and the crew accepted it. They were like, okay, bring your family, just work at the same time, and that's how I got sucked into the industry.
As yacht crew we welcome this because it's the one thing that we all crave, because we miss our family. When we see other families, and we've created this little, you create a little family when you're a crew on board, and you see other people with their kids and having fun and enjoying good moments, and you feel a part of that, and it brings you that little connection that maybe you're missing sometimes, which is amazing.
Luckily, a lot of owners also understand because they are also mostly family driven. The owners have always been supportive when my dad's brought us on board, and even played around with their kids at the same time.
Nadine, I really appreciate the time you took to share your story with me, Thank you. I hope young people wanting to get into yachting read this article and take away from it that anything is possible.
Interviewing Nadine was a true pleasure, a powerhouse inspirational lady at the forefront of sail yacht engineering innovative .
As always, keep smiling , laughing and loving the Sea xo
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