Captain Karen Holtan on leading by example, why she doesn’t let positive words go unsaid and how she is inspired by something that made her father proud.
How did you become a captain?
After university, I spent five years as a leadership and outdoor educator and then became a scuba instructor. My first scuba job was working on a week-long dive charter vessel where I worked my way from dive instructor/deckhand to captain. While running these vessels in the Bahamas, I would run into yacht crew, chat with them and learn about the industry. I then got my STCW and ENG1 and transferred over to yachts in 2009.
Where is your favorite destination for cruising, and why?
The crystal-clear turquoise water, white sand and beautiful isolation of the Bahamas will always have my heart. Croatia, however, is a place that I always talk to guests about and hope to get back to sooner rather than later. Croatia has the crystal-clear water combined with the historic and clean walkable cities with a proud local energy.
Where is still on your yachting bucket list?
I have so many places on it, but they all involve giving memorable experiences. I want to take guests to go chipping ice off an iceberg in Alaska, snorkeling eye-to-eye with a whale shark in Indonesia and filming epic videos while sliding through the Corinth Canal.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“When in doubt, there is no doubt, the answer is no.” It’s a phrase I learned from my scuba instructor trainer, and I have used it in tough situations with divers, crew and owners over the years. I use this phrase to explain my safety reasons when making tough decisions.
If you were stranded on a desert island, which crew member would you want with you and why?
The chef! For some reason, a lot of my chefs have had great banter, are the heart of the boat and have a dark sense of humor.
What is the biggest crew challenge you deal with as captain?
Leadership development of crew is a big but fun challenge. As people move up the ranks, they may not have had the best role model to follow, so it’s common for new managers to be overly harsh or overly soft as they find their way. Therefore, breaking down bad habits and building new soft skills is vital to help HODs grow while increasing longevity and mental health.
What is your one top tip for other captains?
Leading by example. It’s a cliché, but time and time again it’s been proven that relying only on your title creates a leader that people do not want to follow. How you lead others ultimately builds a great reputation for you and your boat.
What do you look for when hiring new crew?
Before my dad passed, somebody asked him what he was most proud of. My father said that he loved that he taught my sister and I to always keep learning. Considering we are both in male-dominated fields, I think he was right. Therefore, I try to continue that tradition and look to hire individuals that want to push, continually learn and grow.
What’s one lesson you learned through experience?
I once assumed that crew understood that when I didn’t give any feedback, they knew that I was happy with their performance. Unfortunately, one individual thought I didn’t respect anything that they did because I didn’t talk to them. Our communication broke down as their anger built, he lashed out and I had to fire him. It was an unfortunate outcome where I learned a hard lesson that specific and positive feedback is absolutely critical for all crew to know they are important to the team.
The BOAT International Captains’ Club is a unique group that brings together nearly 400 like-minded active superyacht captains for world-class luxury events and networking opportunities in venues and on yachts around the world. For more information, email captainsclub@boatinternationalmedia.com.