How Natalya Leahy learned 'nothing is impossible'

Natalya Leahy is a strategic global leader with a proven track record of improving and turning around business models, while driving sustainable growth. Today, she’s responsible for all aspects of Seaborn’s global ocean cruise business and operations and leads over 4,000 shoreside and seagoing employees. There are also now more than 200 female officers today at Seabourn, almost 40% higher than in 2019, when Leahy joined parent company Carnival Corp.

Leahy is a PSBJ Women of Influence honoree for 2023.

About Natalya

When you were appointed president at Seaborn, you did a listening tour, speaking to travel agents and guests about their Seabourn experience. How did this help you get started in your role?

It was so valuable to listen to what they had to say and helped me see what’s important to our guests, why they sail with Seabourn, what they believe makes Seabourn special, what makes them what to spend their vacation with us and why they keep coming back to us. As a result, we’ve been able to enhance and make changes in some of our offerings. I also spoke to many of our team members – both shoreside and on board our ships. They are what makes Seabourn so special.

You've established yourself as a proven leader in a historically male dominated industry. What advice would you have to other women looking to make their mark industry?

I will advise younger women to not be afraid to dream big. You have to see it yourself in order to be inspired and believe in it. Also don’t be afraid to fail, learn and move on. Do not dwell on failures. They are just part of growth. And please always let your aspirations to be known. People can’t read your mind; the more we talk about what we would like to learn or achieve, the more people line up to support our growth, development and dreams.

You are the founding member of the Special Olympics organization in Uzbekistan. What motivated you to get involved with this?

My ex-husband, Lawrence (who was my friend at the time), attended a conference and learned about the Special Olympics movement. After that event, we checked and learned that there weren’t any organized programs in Uzbekistan for people with mental disabilities at the time. This inspired us, along with a few other friends, to put together the first athletic event that engaged 100 kids and involved a $200 budget. That was the beginning of what I call “a snowball impact” of when the idea is good and the passion of people involved is contagious. Three years from that day, Uzbekistan had a Special Olympics program in every region and hosted the Central Asian games that involved a thousand participants from six countries and a multimillion budget.

What was the defining moment in your career that put you on your career trajectory?

My first job at Le Meridien Hotel when I was 17. I had just started college and desperately needed a job to pay my bills. But I really wanted a job in finance and I was pursing a finance degree and loved that. An American expat, who was the hotel controller, believed in my passion to work in finance and gave me the opportunity to start as an assistant storekeeper in the hotel. It changed my life. I met people from all over the world, it expanded my views of the business and opened my eyes to learn about the western way of running a business. By the time I graduated from college, I was the chief accounting officer and, most importantly, I had a deep belief that nothing is impossible.

Favorite thing to do when you're not working:

Spend time with my daughters and friends exploring new places in the world together

What's your hidden talent?

I can knit anything for you from hats to overalls.