Racing Around the World & Changing It: Meg Reilly on Leadership and Impact

By Liz Schmidt | Women Offshore Blog | Podcast Episode 249

In Episode 249 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Women Offshore Executive Director Liz Schmidt sits down live at METSTRADE in Amsterdam with Meg Reilly, circumnavigator, sustainability leader, and global change-maker, for an inspiring conversation at the intersection of sailing, leadership, and impact.

Meg’s journey began far from the sea. After building a successful career on Madison Avenue, she made the bold decision to step away and pursue a lifelong dream: sailing around the world. In 2013–14, she competed in, and won, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, an experience that reshaped her understanding of teamwork, resilience, and global interconnectedness.

Today, Meg blends her offshore experience with her background in communications, leadership, and diplomacy to help international brands, governments, NGOs, and events develop sustainable strategies and inclusive communities. She holds an MBA from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she deepened her focus on sustainability, governance, and global systems.

Meg currently serves as Marketing Chair for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and leads sustainability initiatives across the maritime and sporting industries. Her work emphasizes collaboration, cultural understanding, and the role sport and sailing can play in advancing environmental and social progress.

Recorded live on the show floor at METSTRADE, this episode captures the energy of a global maritime gathering and highlights how leadership on the water translates into leadership on the world stage.

Tune in to Episode 249 to hear Meg share how winning an around-the-world race changed her career, why sustainability requires diplomacy, and how the maritime industry can lead by example.