THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS |
KRISTIN KARST | EPISODE 12 | SHOW NOTES
FEATURED GUEST
A native of Dresden, Germany, Kristin Karst has become one of the leading executives in the river cruise industry. After obtaining her degree in Economics of Tourism & Business Management and receiving an MBA from the University of Dresden, Kristin worked for American Express in Germany and Switzerland for eight years before relocating to the United States and entering the river cruise industry in 2000.
In 2002, she co-founded AmaWaterways together with Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy. Together, they built 25 award-winning ships sailing the rivers of Europe, Asia, and Africa over the last 18 years.
Through her role and entrepreneurial spirit, Kristin has successfully shaped the products and services of the company, while remaining one of river cruising’s strongest advocates. She has been recognized as one of 2020’s Top 100 Female Founders by Inc. Magazine for her relentless passion and commitment to creating the best experience for travel advisors, group leaders, and guests.
CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS
Routine: Dedicate the first part of her morning to stay strong with well-being. In addition to yoga, swimming or some form of exercise, it helps her collect her thoughts for the day. She has her team and business partner calls in multiple time zones then on with the days business of working to provide continued customer service, she considers what’s coming next for the customers, a life experience.
Discover: Explore, have new adventures, food, people, music and experiences…live in the moment! Be mindful in the experience, slow it down and see travel in a new light. Try new things, quality over quantity. Kristin is justly proud that they are a financially stable company with no debt and most all of their employees are still with AmaWaterways. Remarkable! It was exciting to hear her say that she thinks the rivers will throw us a wonderful Welcome Back party…count me in, how about you?
Innovation: It was impressive to hear of her many forms and vast range, such as adjusting her extensive travel schedule to shift it to a virtual platform…talk about a major shift when travel IS your business. Surround yourself with strong, intelligent women (and men!) both in the business circles and personal life. Kristin and AmaWaterways have done something very innovative with a program bringing in “Godmothers” for their ships! These are women who have made their mark in the hospitality industry. They have words of wisdom but also to the young women that are leaders in their own right. It’s important to put yourself constantly in the shoes! It’s great to see it from their own set of eyes. Out of challenges come new opportunities…as it was with 2020. While their focus was traditionally on the English-speaking cruises, they shifted to a German speaking cruise which was very successful, and it allowed them to create new and wonderful partnerships. In addition, their marketing department had to reinvent themselves this past year, they have always faced crisis. She talks about how they started right after 9/11 or the volcano eruptions, acts of terrorism, high and low water issues…it’s always how can you turn it around to make it happen!
INTENTIONAL INSPIRATION
Gentle acts of kindness treat everyone with politeness. Build the mutual respect for each other and that can build an extended family.
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INSPIRATIONS:
Michelle Obama
[…] celebrate the daily moments, savor life and all its adventures, be kind to one another, love more (think about Kristin and why they chose the name of their company “Ama” AmaWaterways) and go be adventurous in your daily tasks as your work towards your goals, your dreams while […]