The Future Of Travel: “Solar-powered yachts; Go around the world and never touch a drop of diesel”…

The Future Of Travel: “Solar-powered yachts; Go around the world and never touch a drop of diesel” With Boyd Taylor of Serenity Yachts

No matter how good things are in a moment, or how impactful our company is from an environmental standpoint, it’s always important to step back and see what other good we can do for others and for the world as a whole. We spend a lot of time working on innovative energy technologies. In the future, as the company grows and technology gets better, we would love to build autonomous vessels that could pick up garbage, scavenge for lost fishing nets, or even help respond to an oil spill.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Boyd Taylor. Boyd, executive director of Serenity Yachts, is paving the way for the future of yachting with unique solar-powered vessels. Taylor has always enjoyed boating and being on the water, and has brought the visionary concept of merging solar power and yachting ―a technology/green angle ― to reality.

Taylor has created pure electric and hybrid yachts for the modern sailor. These unique vessels harness the natural energy of the sun to allow the nearly endless range of a sailboat, without sacrificing the space and comfort of a power catamaran. Serenity’s quiet electric motors allow everyone onboard to enjoy the yachting experience, taking in the ocean air and listening to waves lapping against the hull ― not breathing in diesel fumes and listening to the rumble of the engine. Prior to founding Serenity Yachts, Taylor was an account executive/producer with JKC Communications, an operator of radio stations in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Before that, he served as a senior investigator/client relations coordinator with the Mintz Group, an investigative firm in San Francisco, California. He has also worked as a reporter for Alabama Public Radio in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and a BP claims coordinator for Citrin Law Firm in Daphne, Alabama.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Communication (cum laude) with a major in telecommunication & film, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (cum laude), from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Taylor, a resident of Winter Park, Florida, enjoys traveling in his free time.

Thank you for joining us Taylor. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My wife, Elizabeth, and I are both passionate about sustainability and travel, and we’ve always wanted to start an eco-friendly business together. Elizabeth and I started exploring market sectors where sustainability had not made a huge impact, and found tremendous room for improvement in luxury yachting. Thus, we started Serenity Yachts to elevate environmental consciousness in yachting without sacrificing the luxury experience that many consumers demand.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

To preface this story, you should first know that our boats are really quiet — electric motors make virtually no noise compared to your typical diesel engines. One night in Greece, we quietly came into an anchorage off of Antipaxos. In the morning, we walked out on deck and looked into the water to find we were surrounded by schools of fish, sea turtles, all sorts of wildlife in this remote paradise. About an hour later, a few tourist ferries came barreling in with their loud diesel engines, and the wildlife vanished. It’s probably the greatest experience, exploring the beauty of the seas without disturbing it.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Properly navigating different cultural norms is essential to running an international business, and we (two Americans) learned the hard way that there is definitely such a thing as an improper a cup of tea — especially if your captain is English. On the maiden voyage of the first Serenity 64, Elizabeth was boiling water for tea, and our newly-hired captain asked if she would kindly make him a cup as well. He asked for milk and sweetener, which she happily provided. The trouble is that Elizabeth was making green tea and, because she is vegan, she, somewhat puzzled, offered up her almond milk. The captain was appalled! “Proper tea,” as our captain was swift to inform us, is black tea — to him, specifically the brand PG Tips — and is to be consumed with dairy milk or creamer, unless otherwise specified. I won’t go into the proportions and delicate chemistry of combining the ingredients of a cup of tea but, needless to say, we laughed about this for ages after.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

There is nothing like cruising on a Serenity yacht. Whether you buy one to be green or because you hate paying for diesel, nothing beats the quiet electric cruising. There’s no need to sacrifice luxury or comfort. There’s no putting up with the diesel fumes, the rumble of the engine, or the logistical constraints that come with sailing. You get to cruise endlessly, exploring the most beautiful places in the world without damaging or polluting them in the process.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

I’m pretty young, so I’m still receiving more advice than I’m giving. My tip for anyone in any industry is to find the thing in your job that energizes you and use it as a reward to get you through the drudgery. I’m a hands-on person and I love digging into the physical/mechanical parts of my job, so I tend to get bogged down with financial or administrative work. Instead of putting it off, I use the fun part of my job as a reward at the end of the day to get through the boring stuff. Now, instead of hitting a 2:00 slump, I get energized because I finally get to do the work I’m most passionate about.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

My wife, Elizabeth — hands down. There would be no Serenity Yachts if it weren’t for her. She has sacrificed so much to help me get this business up and running. She’s an environmental lawyer, so her day-to-day job is literally saving the world but she still takes the time to help me. Every second she gives to Serenity Yachts helps us be a better, more sustainable company.

Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

We build solar-powered yachts. The idea is that you can go around the world and never touch a drop of diesel, if you have good weather and sea conditions — and you can do it in unparalleled comfort and luxury. As humans, we are driven to explore, to see new things, to experience the beautiful world around us but, historically, the earth has paid that price. Serenity Yachts has changed that. Now, you can explore pristine waters and coasts without polluting or damaging them in the process, so that you and future generations can come back time and time again.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

For some people, the “pain point” we are addressing is the cost of diesel fuel and the running cost of a yacht. As a company, we are addressing the unnecessarily large carbon cost of yachting. We want to show the yachting industry that you don’t have to burn diesel to have a luxurious cruise around the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

We are already seeing huge changes in the market. While not everyone has the capability that we do, we’re seeing other companies introduce green technologies to at least offset some of their emissions.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

My perfect vacation experience necessarily involves nature and the freedom to explore off the beaten path. Taking a Serenity yacht through the islands in the Bahamas epitomized this experience; my wife and I got to explore remote beaches and uninhabited islands. We were able to see sharks, stingrays, and other incredible marine life, which we might have missed out on if we had traveled differently.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

No matter how good things are in a moment, or how impactful our company is from an environmental standpoint, it’s always important to step back and see what other good we can do for others and for the world as a whole. We spend a lot of time working on innovative energy technologies. In the future, as the company grows and technology gets better, we would love to build autonomous vessels that could pick up garbage, scavenge for lost fishing nets, or even help respond to an oil spill. We are still a relatively new and small company, but we are striving to make a great and lasting positive impact on the world around us.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

My wife and I are already taking part in the environmental movement. If I had to pick another, I would start the Campaign for Human Decency. I would love to see people treat others and think of others more compassionately. I believe that we, as human beings, need to spend more time thinking about how our actions and choices effect other people and weigh our decisions accordingly, regardless of whether or not they are part of the same social group. Everyone has their own individual struggles, but can you imagine how much better it would be to deal with them if you could count on people to behave compassionately?

How can our readers follow you on social media?

I welcome everyone to follow Serenity Yachts on Instagram @serenity.yachts or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SerenitySolarYachts/. You can also check out our website — www.serenityyachts.com.

The Future Of Travel: “Solar-powered yachts; Go around the world and never touch a drop of diesel”… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Mary Maydan of Maydan Architects: “They told me it was impossible and I did it anyway”

My advice to women is to persist and believe in themselves, even in the face of workplace adversity. Women deserve to reach the top of our profession. When so many talented women decide to quit architecture we all lose. The problem is bigger than just representation in the workforce. The women that are not represented in the firms , are not represented in our built communities. We are missing their perspective, voice and vision.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mary Maydan. Mary is the principal and founder of Maydan Architects, a Palo Alto, California-based boutique architecture and interior design firm. Born in Tel Aviv, Maydan possesses a style that celebrates and reflects what it means to be modern. She founded her firm in 2004, and gained immediate recognition for her design of an ultra modern residence, which stood in sharp contrast to the traditional architecture that dominated Silicon Valley at the time. This first project established Maydan as a leader of a new trend and defined her niche — minimalistic contemporary architecture.

Prior to founding Maydan Architects, Maydan was the U.S. Correspondent of the prestigious newspaper, Globes, the largest and oldest financial newspaper in Israel. She lived in New York City, where she spent her time interviewing and writing feature stories about some of the most inspiring figures of our time.

Maydan relocated to Silicon Valley after meeting her husband. When they planned their first home, she fell in love with design and with the idea of making her own mark, as opposed to writing about other people who did great things.

Maydan’s high-end residential projects are driven by the motto that architecture should always be inspirational. She approaches each space as an artistic challenge, using her keen understanding of design, trends, construction, and cost to create one-of-a-kind homes that are beautiful, warm, livable and inviting. With her strong belief that architecture shapes the way we live our lives, Maydan focuses on creating designs that are functional, environmentally responsible and forward thinking.

Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to ‘get to know you’ a bit better. Can you tell us your ‘backstory’?

Prior to founding Maydan Architects, I was the U.S. Correspondent of the prestigious newspaper, Globes, the largest and oldest financial newspaper in Israel. I lived in New York City, where I spent my time interviewing and writing feature stories about some of the most inspiring figures of our time. I had the privilege of interviewing Mikahil Gorbachev, Mike Bloomberg, Barabara Waters, Larry King, Dan Rather, and Jerry Seinfeld, to name a few. I relocated to Silicon Valley after meeting my husband. When we were planning our first home, I fell in love with design and with the idea of making my own mark, as opposed to writing about other people who did great things. It was then I started Maydan Architects.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

We usually work on four to five projects a year and our latest project is always the one I am most excited about because this is our next opportunity to challenge myself and the team, reinvent and create something new and fresh.

Architecture, like other forms of art, can invoke feelings and inspire, but unlike other art forms it also operates on a functional and practical level, too. As such it has the power to shape the way we live our lives. The principles of modern design — open spaces, indoor-outdoor flow, and ample natural light — all add to the quality of our lives, and contribute towards health, mood and productivity.

In our practice we strive to deliver the extraordinary, to design for our clients dream homes, and create beautiful buildings that are functional and environmentally responsible.

In your opinion, what do you think makes your company or organization stand out from the crowd?

Our firm is known for disrupting the status quo in Silicon Valley and leading the trend of modern design in the area. My first project was an ultra modern residence in Palo Alto. It gained immediate recognition as it stood in sharp contrast to the traditional and Spanish architecture that dominated our area. This project established our firm as a leader of a new trend and defined our niche — minimalistic contemporary architecture.

Many firms don’t specialize in a specific style. They design whatever the client is interested in. We established ourselves in our niche and are happy to focus solely on that.

I think we look at architecture a little romantically. We want each project to be one of a kind and outstanding. Architecture is not reserved for iconic buildings. We don’t look at a residence as just a house. It’s a work of art. We believe that even low budget projects should be gorgeous. Everyone appreciates beauty, no matter what their budget is.

Ok, thank you for that. I’d like to jump to the main focus of this interview. Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us? What was your idea? What was the reaction of the naysayers? And how did you overcome that?

I started designing residences in Palo Alto in the early 2000’s, and at the time Silicon Valley was the place that led the world in terms of innovation, shining as an early adopter in everything but architecture. People loved French Chateaus and Spanish mansions, Tuscany was the height of style, and arches were a status symbol. The consensus was that modern was suitable for office buildings but that no one would be interested in living in a modern home, because it would feel like living in an office. “If anyone wanted modern, developers would have built modern,” I was told and was also warned: “It will be very difficult to sell such a house. It would sell at a discount of at least10%-20%”

This notion was unfathomable to me. I was not a developer but I was completely convinced of the beauty of modern and it being a perfect fit for our area and context. I was eager to break away from the traditional mold of pitched roofs, arches and random windows. I wanted glass walls and sliding doors that would bring great natural light and a view of beautiful green lawns into spaces.

I didn’t feel that I needed validation. I was wholeheartedly convinced that when introduced to this style, people would fall in love with it. At the time, I didn’t even think it was brave to go against the stream. I was just passionate about my architecture. In hindsight I can see how bold it was to expect people to turn 180 degrees, and find beauty in something that they were so used to thinking of as cold and office-like.

In the end, how were all the naysayers proven wrong? 🙂

My first project drew a lot of attention even before it was completed. People came to our construction site and asked me to design for them. When my next big project went on the market, the first open house got out of control. There were over 1000 visitors that afternoon and the line of shoes that people were taking off when they entered the open house went all the way to the street. The realtor decided from then on to only have private showings.

It was clear that people were open to modern architecture. Young techies loved the clean lines, open floor plans and sleek design. A few years later developers started building modern houses too. As an anecdote, my first house sold two years ago not at a discount, but at a huge premium, to the founder of Whatsapp.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

We never succeed alone. Many people contribute to our success, but the most influential people who made me who I am, are definitely my parents. As a toddler my mom noticed that I was very good at math. She kept asking me harder and harder questions and delighting in my answers. Like any first time mom she bragged about me to everyone. For years I was oblivious to the fact that there is a stigma around women and math. I grew up seeing myself through my mom’s eyes. It fostered a feeling that anything is possible and I can dream big.

I think my parents’ support is even more outstanding when it comes to the fact that they supported my decisions, even when they did not necessarily like them. I was doing really well as a journalist when I decided to switch careers and go into architecture. My dad, who was a well known editor in Israel, at the level that sets agendas and carries great influence, told me, “Journalism is not something that you leave. It’s a calling, not a job.”

I knew that I couldn’t keep two jobs and be a good mom. It would make it impossible to succeed in any of them, so I pushed back and took a leave of absence from the newspaper. From the minute I made up my mind, he was 100% behind me. Supporting me, giving feedback, standing by my side when everyone thought that it was completely crazy to push for a new trend of architecture in our area.

It must not have been easy to ignore all the naysayers. Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resilience? Can you share the story with us?

In Elementary school I was chubby and was teased a lot by the other kids.It had a huge impact on me. At age 11 I learned to focus on healthy living. I changed the way I ate, lost weight, and with the newly found confidence that my tenacity and will power gave me, went on to make many new friends in middle school. I have stuck with the healthy lifestyle ever since.

Though the weight is long gone, the teasing had a lasting affect on me. The experience made me want to take action. When something doesn’t work out as I’d like, I need a plan. I can’t just sit and mope. I want to fix it. Having a course of action makes me feel instantly better as I know that I am working towards solving the problem. I also give a lot of positive feedback. It’s subconscious. If anyone deserves praise for anything, I am eager to give it and make them feel good about themselves.

Based on your experience, can you share 5 strategies that people can use to harness the sense of tenacity and do what naysayers think is impossible?

Find your passion and trust your judgement

We are very passionate about architecture and being loyal to our vision, which made breaking tradition easy. If you ask two people a question there will be three opinions, so if you want to be original and think out of the box, don’t ask people who will try to put you right back inside the box. Follow your passion and trust your own judgement.

Find great role models.

I draw inspiration from those whom I look up to. As a journalist I cherished my interview with Barbara Walters. I was in my mid twenties and she was an icon, known for making people open up and reveal their innermost feelings, often tearing up. I started by asking her: “Can I make you cry?”. She answered: “Of course you can. But I will make you cry first”. She asked me about my parents and my childhood, revealing some of her tactics. It was a huge privilege to get interview tips from the woman that paved the way for female journalists.

Go all the way

You can’t break tradition half way. In the beginning of my career I got many calls from people who wanted a modern interior but craftsman (or other traditional) exteriors “to fit better with the neighborhood”. As eager as I was to get the work, I turned these projects down. It seemed to me a huge mistake to build a house that hasn’t decided what it wants to be. It wasn’t my passion to design it and more than that, I thought that it would have very little appeal. For modernists it would not be modern enough and for traditionalists it would be too modern. If there is one piece of advice I can give, it’s that when you break tradition you have to believe in your vision and go all the way!

Focus on what’s important

Michelle Obama once said, “I can do it all, but not at the same time.” I am still working on that. I have 4 kids and a strong instinct to try to be everything for everyone all the time, but it’s a recipe for failure, so I am constantly learning my boundaries and I focus on the things that are really important, as a mom and at work.

Be optimistic, think positive

I am a natural optimist. I look at something impossible and I wholeheartedly think that I will find a way for it to work out. My eldest daughter often tells me: “Mom, you scare me with your optimism because I will end up so disappointed. I am going to ask dad.” I think of optimism the opposite way. I think that an optimistic person has the guts to try more and persist. It’s self fulfilling. My advice is: Think positive and don’t give up!

What is your favorite quote or personal philosophy that relates to the concept of resilience?

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us.” — Maria Shriver

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

If I could inspire change in any field I would like to help promote equality in architecture. A recent major survey of the field found that women account for half of graduates from architecture programs in this country, but they make up about 20 percent of licensed architects and 17 percent of partners or principals in architecture firms.

There are many committees and organizations that work tirelessly to promote equality in architecture and I am convinced that it will be achieved. The question is not if and when, but how and what we have to do to get there. I believe that seeing female role models succeed is empowering, and mentorship is crucial. Both will help tremendously, but I can’t overstate enough that there is no simple solution or quick fix. Change is slow and takes time.

My advice to women is to persist and believe in themselves, even in the face of workplace adversity. Women deserve to reach the top of our profession. When so many talented women decide to quit architecture we all lose. The problem is bigger than just representation in the workforce. The women that are not represented in the firms , are not represented in our built communities. We are missing their perspective, voice and vision.

Can our readers follow you on social media?

Readers can follow Maydan Architects on Facebook at Maydan Architects, Inc. and on Instagram at @maydan_architects.

Mary Maydan of Maydan Architects: “They told me it was impossible and I did it anyway” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.