Strong

These women inspire

Women prove time and again how strong they are. Be it as a mother, as a partner or as a businesswoman. Their stories and their careers are often particularly inspiring. It is time to bring some successful, influential and strong women in front of the curtain. Because this is the only way they can encourage other women to follow their own path. All of the visionaries presented here impress with their achievements, their commitment, their courage and their future-oriented thinking. You should get to know these strong women and their stories:
Text: Claudia Hilmbauer'

Tessa Hempson: The ocean rescuer

The lead scientist of the "Oceans Without Borders" project, a joint initiative of the South African tour operator andBeyond and the Africa Foundation, has dedicated herself entirely to the oceans. With great perseverance and dedication, she is committed to saving the marine ecosystem. The South African grew up on a farm hundreds of kilometers from the ocean. She discovered her passion for the underwater world with her grandparents. They had a house by the sea. Today, she explores the islands of Vamizi, Benguerra Island and Mnemba Island together with andBeyond. She is particularly interested in the movement patterns of fish. This is because she can use them to develop suitable conservation strategies to preserve marine diversity. And subsequently to leave it more intact and beautiful. www.oceanswb.organd www.andbeyond.com

Cecilia Gasdia: The artist

She already demonstrated a remarkable talent on the piano during her school days, and her career got off to a brilliant start in 1980 when she won the "Maria Callas" singing competition. The TV spectacle was broadcast throughout Italy: we are talking about Cecilia Gasdia. Born in Verona, she went on to play a leading role in La Traviata in Florence, followed by 90 other roles. Since 2018, she has been the talented and passionate artistic director of the opera festival in the Arena di Verona. Superstars from the worlds of opera, ballet and concert have been coming and going ever since. Thanks to Cecilia Gasdia's tireless work, the Arena di Verona, the largest open-air opera in the world, is one of the most famous stages in Europe. Celebrities such as Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo and Riccardo Muti are just some of the prominent guests she has brought to the Arena. www.arena.it/de

Susanne Countess von Moltke: the visionary

It takes a certain calmness to manage the daily balancing act between family life, hotel renovations and business. After all, Susanne Countess von Moltke is not only a passionate mother and hotelier, but also a board member of the renowned Relais & Châteaux hotel association. Together with her husband, she lives a special kind of tourism at Relais & Châteaux Gut Steinbach. The two follow their vision of sustainable tourism and self-commitment. After all, Susanne Countess von Moltke wants to leave the Chiemgau's nature unspoiled for future regions. Consequently, an organic certified farm is part of the estate. Among other things, the endangered "Tauernschecke" goats live here. They return the favor to the hotel owners by serving as natural lawn mowers. Almost without complaining. "We can only preserve tradition while at the same time offering our guests a contemporary experience by honoring our homeland, tranquillity and the land," she says about Gut Steinbach. www.gutsteinbach.de

Esin Güral Argat: the magician

On her very first visit, businesswoman Esin Güral Argat not only fell in love with the islands that would later become JOALI and JOALI BEING (opening on November 15, 2021). She was also enthusiastic about the remote island of JOALI Island and its neighboring islands. That's why it acquired them without further ado. Nothing is to be built on them. They belong entirely to nature. The woman, who comes from a Turkish glass dynasty, also devotes herself entirely to nature in the two JOALI resorts. Not a single tree was felled for the art-focused accommodation, only replanted. With her sense of beauty, Esin Güral Argat has created almost magical places in the Maldives. The holistic wellbeing concept harnesses the power of the wonderful tropical nature. Sustainability is of course a top priority for the visionary, but she is also strongly committed to equal rights for women and their advancement. www.joali.comand www.joalibeing.com

Marina & Miriam Lee Masciarelli: The passionate ones

Masciarelli is one of the most renowned family-run wineries in Italy. The foundation stone for this was laid by winemaker Gianni Masciarelli. It is thanks to him that the region and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo are now known all over the world. Today, the winery produces 2.5 million bottles a year and exports to over 60 countries. This is thanks to the mother-daughter team Marina and Miriam Lee Masciarelli. After the early death of her husband Gianni, Marina took over the business and, together with her daughter, she is making her mark in a world still dominated by men. And her product is a bit like her: elegant, powerful and focused. A respectful and sustainable approach to natural resources is close to the hearts of both women. www.masciarelli.it

Maria Luisa Lalli & Henar Gil Rios: The experienced ones

Both Maria Luisa Lalli and Henar Gil Rios are no strangers to tourism. They can both look back on many years of experience in the luxury hotel industry. OZEN is now relying on twice the female power. The luxurious island resort OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI in the Maldives is managed by Italian-born Lalli. With her natural and empathetic manner, she impresses not only the guests, but also her team. At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, the Spaniard has her say. This polyglot has lived and worked in the USA, France, Asia and Mexico. In the Maldives, she uses her in-depth knowledge, initiative and creativity to create the perfect team spirit to achieve joint success. www.theozencollection.com