Incredible careers
Episode 5: From the Pacific to the Poles with Emily Penn
What happens when a sailing adventure changes everything?
For Emily Penn, what started as a journey across the Atlantic and Pacific turned into a lifelong mission that would lead her from the water to small island beaches and into global policy rooms.
In this episode, Emily explores with Dee Caffari how a love of the ocean can evolve into an extraordinary and unexpected career.
She shares how earning her RYA Yachtmaster qualification opened professional doors, why living with a remote Pacific community shifted her purpose, and how those experiences inspired eXXpedition — her pioneering all-women sailing project tackling ocean plastic while empowering others to take action.
From hands-on science at sea to influencing decision-makers at the United Nations, Emily’s story is a powerful example of how time on the water builds not just seamanship, but leadership, resilience and a sense of responsibility.
Whether you’re already working on the water or simply driven by a passion for the sea, this episode invites you to imagine where your own sailing journey could lead — and how your unique ‘superpower’ can make a difference.
Tune in and discover how one voyage became a catalyst for global change.
In our next episode…
We continue to discover the breadth of careers that a love of the water can inspire. We explore what it’s really like behind the polished decks of a super yacht, and also one man’s journey from windsurf enthusiast to instructor and now coaching athletes at the pinnacle of the sport.
From Super Yachts to Super Starts is available from Tuesday 28 October.
