Alumni Q&A: Adrian Walker (MBA 2014)

Next year marks Boataffair’s 10-year anniversary. What have been the defining moments for the company?

2019 was a cornerstone for us. At the time, we were focused on yacht charters and boat swapping as an additional service, which allowed owners to exchange boats globally and explore new locations without the need to charter. However, we noticed that there simply wasn’t demand in the market for boat swapping. We’re very open about that failure. We had to have the courage to pull the plug on an entire idea and redirect our resources into what was going well.

What did work was private crewed luxury yacht charters. We decided to make that our core offering, moving away from smaller, uncrewed boats. Today, we offer a hyper-personalised yacht experience, with luxury fully crewed charters, a concierge service and tailored itineraries globally aboard vetted yachts. Quality control is key to us, we only work with yacht operators and yacht crews where a superb client experience is guaranteed.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, like many businesses, we weren’t sure if the company would survive. But as restrictions lifted, we found an increase in demand for private yacht charters. People felt safer on our private yachts than in a crowded hotel. Word of mouth started to spread, and we were starting to be featured in travel publications. Our clients today include elite athletes, A-list stars, HNW multigenerational families and corporate clients.

More recently, we have started to expand internationally. We hit a major milestone last year when we opened our Singapore office, under the brand name Boataffair Asia Pacific, run by fellow alum Andrew Sutherland (MBA 2019).

Ultimately, we always believed in what we wanted to achieve. When we first started this company ten years ago, we wanted people to disconnect for a moment - to take themselves offline and just be present with each other. That initial idea is still at the core of the business, we have just achieved it with two or three pivots along the way. 
 

What are your aspirations for Boataffair?

We have realised what works now, and that is something we want to continue. We want to grow internationally and tap into global markets which are a bit neglected. However, any growth must be in a sensible and controlled manner. We don’t feel the need to become a multi-billion-dollar company in three years. We are a family-owned company, funded by our own savings, passion, and hard work.
 

You left a career in finance to pursue an MBA and start a business. What drove that decision?

I don’t regret my time working as a Chartered Accountant. What I loved most about working as an auditor was getting to know a new company every couple of weeks. It helped me to understand business processes, and I really enjoyed talking to the clients. But I never felt like I was really making an impact, and I came to the realisation that I wanted to create something of my own.

I went against a lot of people’s opinions. My parents and friends all thought I was crazy to leave a stable career, good salary and pension. But none of those things are of any value if you’re not happy.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career change?

Don’t let fear of failure hold you back. A lot of people don’t break out of the career path they are on because they are afraid of failing in some manner. It’s okay to fail, and sometimes it can be a step forwards. One day you can look back and say, ‘I tried, and I am proud.’

Listen to that inner-voice – the one that tells you what you would do without external opinions, or if the fear of failing wasn’t holding you back. If you have a persistent voice, like it was for me, then do something about it. I would urge everyone to find their courage within!
 

You run Boataffair with your wife, who you met at Imperial. How do you juggle running a business with family life?

Nataliya and I both joined Imperial for very similar reasons. We had both started our lives over, and we connected on day one of the programme. We quickly realised our skill sets really complement each other. What she excels at, I might not, and vice versa.

As is always the case in life, the journey has been up and down. Our second child was born during the pandemic and that was very challenging.  But we support each other. When one of us is struggling, the other steps in. We are also fortunate to have a very supportive network of family and friends around us.

It’s much easier now than it was three years ago. Our youngest child is turning six in the summer, and he now understands what Boataffair is. Then our eldest is practically a teenager. He is starting to become more interested in strategic decisions, and even does a bit of social media for us. We are more convinced than ever that Boataffair is a family business!
 

What did you take from your MBA at Imperial into Boataffair?

Coming from a finance background, I was programmed to be the ‘numbers guy’. But when I started at Imperial, I quickly discovered I had a skill set beyond finance and cash flow. Doing an MBA, especially at Imperial, you are forced to get to know yourself better and by facing your fears, you will discover your other talents.

I remember a workshop at Imperial which was on managing expectations and negotiation. It was one of the highlights of my entire MBA journey! I discovered one of my strongest skills is to put myself in someone else’s shoes and find common ground to reach a win-win situation. It is something I use all the time at Boataffair, and I wouldn’t have discovered I was capable of it without Imperial.