PBN 2021 Leaders & Achievers Awards
Susan Daly | Vice president of strategy, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association/Composites Alliance of Rhode Island
Raised in a sailing family in Fairfield, Conn., and involved in competitive sailing since age 11, Susan Daly went on to earn an art history degree from Yale University and an MBA from Boston University – a switch in gears, she says, but not as much as one might think.
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“Art history was a great interest of mine at that time and though I realized I wasn’t interested in being a curator, I am still interested in the topic,” she said. “A liberal arts degree taught me critical thinking and problem-solving – analytical skills I still use today.”
With all elements coming together, Daly has found her niche advocating for and connecting folks within Rhode Island’s marine industry as the vice president of strategy for the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association/Composites Alliance of Rhode Island. She’s held the position since 2015.
Though she has never owned a boat nor had one particular business mentor, Daly has found opportunities and rewards in the boating world, combining the knowledge she’s gathered from business experts along the way.
Daly has raced sailboats around the world, negotiated digital media rights to produce live, online coverage for the America’s Cup in 2000 as general manager and vice president of Quokka Sports Inc., and has overseen marketing accounts for brands such as Visa Inc., Amoco, Microsoft Corp., The Gatorade Co., Motorola Inc. and The Quaker Oats Co.
Daly’s real love is taking big ideas – especially with startups – and bringing them to fruition.
Rhode Island’s marine industry is a great place in which to do that, Daly says.
“We have some of the best-in-breed companies in all the world here; and not just companies that build boats, but smaller companies providing everything that goes on a boat: electronics, marinas, boat designers, charter companies, instructions, the full gamut of everything needed to get out on the water,” she said. “Rhode Island is the envy of the United States. There is truly amazing talent here and there is also lots of water, so it’s truly amazing to sail here.”
