World Yachting Day and International University of Monaco Celebrate Talent

On the occasion of World Yachting Day, International University of Monaco (IUM) celebrated three alumni who, through different career paths, are contributing to the evolution of the yachting industry. The event offered an opportunity to reflect on the value of education, leadership and knowledge sharing within a sector that continues to evolve.

Awards were presented to Salvatore Zacco for Entrepreneurial Vision and Leadership, Chiara Piardi for Professional Excellence and Leadership Potential, and Giulia Garello for Academic Excellence and Intellectual Contribution.

For Salvatore Zacco, the recognition represents an important milestone in an entrepreneurial journey that has always been centred on a broad vision of yachting.

“IUM represented a fundamental stage in my journey,” he explains. “It allowed me to understand that the yachting sector is truly a global industry that integrates luxury, hospitality, services, finance, marketing and business management.”

According to Zacco, exposure to an international and multicultural environment was decisive in developing a mindset focused on innovation and value creation. An approach that continues to guide his entrepreneurial decisions today.

It is precisely this connection with the university that led him to return to IUM as a lecturer, convinced that the growth of an industry also depends on the ability to share experience and expertise with new generations.

“I strongly believe in the concept of giving back. Sharing experiences, mistakes, successes and lessons learned allows young professionals to approach their careers with greater awareness. If, through my contribution, I can help even a few students find their own path, I consider one of the most important goals of my professional journey achieved.”

Education represents one of the pillars of his activity. From this conviction came Lusmar, the academy founded to support the professional development of people working in the maritime and yachting sectors.

“Technical skills are fundamental, but today they are no longer enough. Owners and charter guests expect increasingly high and personalised service standards. For this reason, we focus on power skills: leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, problem solving, attention to detail and a culture of excellence.”

For Zacco, one of the main challenges of contemporary yachting is precisely the ability to train complete professionals capable not only of performing their jobs correctly, but also of creating memorable experiences.

Looking to the future, his vision is that of an increasingly integrated and collaborative industry.

“There are extraordinary excellences in every segment of the industry, but they often operate separately. My ambition is to help create connections between these worlds and build an increasingly complete and efficient supply chain.”

A vision reflected in the various ventures he has founded, from Yachtitude to Lusmar, through to Navilvs Shipyard, a project aimed at developing an international destination for yacht refit and maintenance in Sicily.

“Sicily has an extraordinary geographical position, a unique maritime heritage and highly valuable professional expertise. Our goal is to help transform it into an international reference point for owners and captains.”

If Salvatore Zacco’s journey tells a story of entrepreneurship, that of Chiara Piardi represents the emergence of a new international leadership within major yachting groups.

Awarded for Professional Excellence and Leadership Potential, Piardi was the first ambassador selected through the Under 30 contest organised by Azimut Benetti Group, an experience she considers one of the most significant of her professional career.

“Being the first ambassador selected through the Under 30 Contest represented both a great responsibility and an extraordinary growth opportunity.”

Among the values that most represent her is the determination to always strive for excellence, a principle she also identifies within the Group’s DNA.

“This approach constantly pushed me to challenge myself, grow professionally and always give my best in every project and every relationship.”

During her professional experience, one of the most important challenges was learning to operate in international environments, dealing with stakeholders from different cultures and markets.

“In the yachting world everything evolves very quickly. Events, relationships, customer expectations and operational activities require adaptability, problem-solving skills and great attention to detail.”

An experience that taught her the importance of authentic relationships and teamwork.

“I learned how essential it is to collaborate with others and represent the brand with passion, credibility and ambition.”

Today, the role of ambassador has a meaning that goes beyond simple corporate representation.

“Being an ambassador means conveying passion, authenticity and a lifestyle. It means creating an emotional connection between the brand and the people who experience it around the world.”

In her case as well, the path at the International University of Monaco played a central role.

“IUM certainly provided me with a solid academic background, but above all with an international, open and dynamic mindset that I consider essential in the luxury and yachting sectors.”

The opportunity to study in a multicultural environment enabled her to develop skills she now uses daily, from listening and adaptability to the management of international relationships.

“I believe the experience at IUM helped me build a broader vision of my future with greater awareness and determination.”

Awarded for Academic Excellence and Intellectual Contribution, Giulia Garello instead represents the dimension of research and reflection on the future of the sector.

Her entry into the yachting industry was not initially predictable. When she started her studies at IUM, she imagined a different career path, but it was precisely the university environment that opened new perspectives thanks to an ecosystem of discussion and networking that helps students discover their own direction.

“The first step of my career came thanks to the advice of professors and people connected to the university. Then it is up to each individual to find their own direction and pursue it.”

Today, she considers it important to maintain that connection through activities based on sharing experiences and giving back.

“It is important not to detach yourself from the university community. Returning to share your own journey can help other students find inspiration and opportunities.”

The award she received is closely linked to her research activity. Her thesis analysed how yachting is perceived by younger generations belonging to UHNW families, a topic that continues to accompany her in her professional experience.

“The research originated from a personal passion for the sea and from what I observed while working in the industry. I realised that, for many young people, yachting is still associated with a traditional image that does not always reflect the expectations of new generations.”

For this reason, Garello attributes great value to initiatives such as World Yachting Day.

“Yachting represents a very small portion of the world population and is often perceived incorrectly. Behind this industry there is an extremely complex global supply chain that generates employment, innovation and economic value in many countries.”

According to her, World Yachting Day offers a concrete opportunity to tell this story and bring new talent closer to the sector.

“Opening the doors of the industry, creating opportunities for meetings and organising moments of discussion means allowing people to understand the true value of yachting. It means building a stronger community and attracting future generations of professionals.”

Three awards, three different journeys and one shared conviction: the future of yachting depends on the people who choose to innovate it and share its value with the generations to come.

Rebecca Gabbi

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