Industry Disruptor, Dhardra Blake, on Founding One of the First Day Charter Businesses in the Yachting Industry

Welcome, Dhardra! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

12 years ago, I disrupted the *Yacht Charter* market by focusing on DAY Charters (or any charters LESS than a week) as most companies only offered a WEEK minimum!? MANY people can NOT afford the TIME.. (some the $$, but mostly TIME – our most precious commodity!) Upon founding LuxuryDayCharters.com, I humbly became known as the GO TO Day Charter person in the industry as my colleagues say~

So Dhardra, what excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

Meeting efficient smart women who I can learn from and network with!

Starting your own business can be…scary!! What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I needed to be able to work at my OWN pace & not WAIT for answers from others.. I like to move it move it! haha

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

Yachting industry as far as marketing, non-profit volunteer work for yacht industry charity, crewing on yachts as chef, stewardess, after my corporate career and being laid off from an internet company just prior to 9/11..

Did you always have a feeling you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No, I didn’t!

Dhardra, can you take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out?

Network network, network! Use as much free advertising as possible.. Facebook was great! Now IG rules..

Entreprenistas overcome daily challenges. What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way?

People will talk poorly about you & try to bring you down (competition); persevere & keep your head high!

Dhardra, what would you say is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

A few.. booking 2 weeks on a 160′ yacht, a month charter at beginning of Covid Summer to a couple in Sag Harbor, and an A list celeb that keeps coming back each year since we are very discrete to avoid paparazzi!

We all would looove to believe in work-life balance. Are you a believer or do you think it is a myth?

HA! I definitely believe in it, BUT am I practicing it, well that’s another story. At the moment, I am forcing myself to get a massage each week.. (also needed per hit & run limo accident at Super Bowl XXXIV!)

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

Try to get the PROPER systems in place early on….

You have lots to celebrate! Have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

A collaboration with a few ladies from the E 100 event (posted on Celebrations)!

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Hoping to staff up & scale… then take a VACATION! 😉 A real one.. far far away!

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!