Fabiola Hirschhorn’s path to success might seem backwards to some people. She went from working in wealth management for a large corporation—earning well over six figures—to cooking barefoot in a ship galley in the Caribbean. But this entrepreneur has created a life of purpose by following her passions: cooking, sailing and the ocean.
In 2018, Hirschhorn was living in South Florida and making $140,000 a year, however there was one problem: She lived to work. “I was convinced there had to be more to life than working for a giant, faceless corporation,” says Hirschhorn.
So Hirschhorn quit her job, and she and her husband, Nim, bought a yacht and started Sail Luna, a bespoke yacht charter company that offers private all-inclusive vacations in the Virgin Islands. Only problem: They didn’t have any experience. Sure, Nim had owned boats before, and Hirschhorn loved to sail and to cook, but running a charter company in the Caribbean was not something they had any idea how to do.
However, in a matter of months, Hirschhorn went from high heels to flip-flops and board meetings to happy hour. Four years later, she has no regrets.
Fabiola and Nim Hirschhorn, who quit their jobs to start Sail Luna, a bespoke yacht charter company … [+]
We caught up with Hirschhorn to find out how she made the transition and what her advice is for other entrepreneurs who want to pursue their passions.
Building a Foundation in Business: “I worked for a global wealth management firm for 16 years, climbing the corporate ladder and ultimately became chief of staff,” says Hirschhorn. “I worked really hard. I put in long hours, I showed dedication and loyalty. I built a reputation as a doer, a hard worker, someone who was always available and always eager to learn.”
Creating a Company: “My husband and I felt unfulfilled by the corporate world. He was working in IT. I always dreamt of owning a B&B or restaurant, so when my husband mentioned the idea of starting a crewed charter, I immediately said yes,” says Hirschhorn. “We worked very hard for a year, during the evenings and weekends, while continuing with our full-time jobs. It was very hard—many long days—and we built a new business from scratch with little guidance.”
My Background: “I was raised in Puerto Rico by boating enthusiasts, so growing up, I spent a lot of time on sail boats. While I never dreamed I would live on a boat full time, it does make sense given my background,” says Hirschhorn. “I also grew up with a love of food. The spark that ignited that flame was a cookbook that I was gifted at the age of 10. It’s amazing how these small and seemingly inconsequential actions can go on to shape the trajectory of one’s life.”
A view of the Luna in the Virgin Islands.
Our Inspiration: “When we were thinking about getting into this business, we met Estelle and Stephen Cockcroft, who run a company called Catamaran Guru. They helped point us in the right direction when we were looking to buy a yacht that would be the perfect fit for crewed charters. Later, they taught us how to create a successful crewed yacht charter business as owner/operators,” says Hirschhorn.
Leaving the Power Suit Behind: “My husband and I spent a year establishing our business during evenings and over weekends while continuing to work full-time corporate jobs. People thought we had lost our minds quitting such good careers. My role came with a certain level of prestige, and in the eyes of others, I was successful. But we knew it was the right thing to do,” says Hirschhorn.
The Path to Success: “We took a gamble. It took us a year to establish the business from scratch, and during that time it was only expenses. Once we started it took some time before we saw a profit. I guess this is normal for new businesses, but for two people used to steady salaries it was really scary,” says Hirschhorn.
Fabiola Hirschhorn, cooking in the galley.
Happy Guests = Happy Crew: “We welcome new guests every week. We get to know them, then adapt our charters to suit them in whatever way we can. Sure, we work long hours, but it’s very rewarding when a guest says they don’t know how the vacation could be topped, or book a second trip to ‘recreate the best vacation ever.’ We love our lifestyle, and we love sharing it with guests,” says Hirschhorn.
Breaking With Tradition: “Everyone in my family has earned a university degree and found success, so it was a big shock to them that after all my study I was leaving my dream job to cook and clean. That said, it was my family who inspired my love of sailing, travel and cooking,” says Hirschhorn. “But there’s no better place to have a business meeting than a Caribbean beach—so no regrets here.”
Shrimp ceviche at sea.
Why Happiness is Better Than Money: “Some people say money can buy happiness, but how much happiness can you actually buy? You can’t purchase a feeling of fulfillment,” says Hirschhorn. “We’ve created a lifestyle that fits our definition of success. It’s taught us to do what makes us happy.”
Pursuing My Travel Dream: “My husband and I love to travel, and even though we had a good amount of paid vacation days in our previous jobs, it never felt enough,” says Hirschhorn. “Now our job is to explore new places for our clients. And as business owners, we get to choose when we work and when we take time off to travel. We also love that we get to live on the water full-time, surrounded my nature. This makes us happy. People ask us, ‘Where do you live?’ And we always joke that we live on a different beach each day.”
A view of Luna (lower right).
Making an Impact: “People congratulate us on taking the leap and making it happen,” says Hirschhorn. “Many people have told us that we inspire them; that they dream of doing what we do but don’t have the guts to do so. But when they see how happy we are—which is the main reason we did this in the first place—I’d like to think that a few people believe that it’s worth a try; that they can do it too.”
Advice for Other Women Entrepreneurs: “Starting a business is difficult and scary. It demands dedication and planning. Begin while you still have a job to give yourself extra financial security,” says Hirschhorn. “And as Steve Jobs said, ‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.’ Do what you love.”
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