What inspired your business – and what gap did you see that others weren’t addressing? I’ve always believed that branding goes far beyond aesthetics. After years working across agencies and startups, I noticed a recurring pattern – brands were investing heavily in marketing, yet lacking a clear identity underneath. They were visible, but not memorable.
Loved Brands was created to change that. The focus is on helping brands uncover who they truly are, and translate that into something people can feel, connect with, and remember. Not louder, not busier – just deeper.
How do you market your company and what has genuinely worked to reach new clients? What has worked best has been human connection and clarity. Not volume.
In a place like Monaco, relationships matter more than automation. Conversations, presence, and being able to express your perspective clearly have brought the most meaningful opportunities. When people understand how you think, they remember you.
What was the turning point in your business? The turning point has been shifting from offering a broad range of services to focusing purely on brand strategy and identity.
It brought clarity – not only in how the business is positioned, but in the type of clients it attracts. When your offer becomes sharper, everything else aligns more naturally.
What is one unglamorous but essential step every woman should take before launching a business here? Understand the local ecosystem before you launch.
Monaco operates very differently from larger markets. Administrative processes, networking dynamics, and even how trust is built require patience and awareness. Taking the time to understand how things really work here can save a lot of friction later.
What advice would you give to women ready to bet on themselves and start their own business here? Back yourself but build something that is truly yours.
It’s easy to adapt to what you think the market wants, especially in a place like Monaco. But the brands that last are the ones that stand for something clear and genuine.
Clarity creates confidence. And confidence is what people respond to.
Article first published May 17, 2026. Photo copyright: Gema Beltrán.
The International Professional Women of Monaco (IPWoM) group was created by Louise Morelli and Gabrielle Crump to bring together English-speaking professionals, working or retired, to swap information and share insights. Joanne Deen joined the admin side more recently. This week, the group cheered on their 100th member this week.
Next in the IPWoM series, meet Laetitia Noyon-Zwaans, founder Speakeasy by Laetitia. She brings to the table more than 20 years of experience in multilingual translation and interpretation, specialising in legal, institutional, and high-stakes international contexts.
She is also a founding member and former Secretary General of the Chambre Monégasque des Traducteurs & Interprètes (CTIM).
What inspired your business – and what gap did you see that others weren’t addressing? Monaco is a place where precision and discretion are essential, yet I noticed a gap in strategic language services for high-stakes environments. Translation is often treated as a technical task, but in legal, institutional or international contexts, every word, nuance, and format carries weight.
I founded Speakeasy in 2019 to combine linguistic mastery with strategic insight, providing services that protect credibility, reputation, and clarity. The gap wasn’t just in language – it was in institutional-grade execution.
How do you market your company – and what has genuinely worked to reach new clients? In Monaco, credibility and reputation are the most effective “marketing” tools. Delivering consistent excellence, being discreet, and understanding client contexts deeply has generated the strongest referrals.
Partnerships within professional networks and long-term institutional relationships have also been key. The business grows through trust and reliability, not visibility alone.
What was the turning point in your business? The turning point came when I shifted from providing translations to becoming a strategic partner in legal and institutional processes. A defining moment was interpreting during the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice for French president Emmanuel Macron and Dina Boluarte, the first woman to become President of Peru.
The pressure was doubly intense as I was the only interpreter so had to work in both language directions but this experience confirmed the power of combining strategic insight and discretion. It elevated both the scope of Speakeasy’s services and the quality of client engagements. Moments like these show that in Monaco, excellence opens doors that visibility alone cannot.
What is one unglamorous but essential step every woman should take before launching a business here? Understand the regulatory and administrative framework thoroughly. Monaco is structured and rigorous and therefore compliance, licensing, and formal requirements are foundational. Mastering these details early on creates freedom and confidence later, allowing you to focus on your career rather than bureaucracy.
What advice would you give to women ready to bet on themselves and start their own business here? Develop mastery. Competence builds confidence, and in Monaco, excellence is recognized and amplified. Do not dilute your standard to appeal to everyone – define your niche, uphold your values, and let your work speak.
Monaco rewards women who combine skill with long-term vision and professionalism. The path may seem daunting, but every step you take with courage and consistency positions you to shape this dynamic community — and inspire others along the way.
A new series featuring members of the International Professional Women in Monaco group, we start with Lisa DeRea Frederiksen, founder of Lisa DeRea Photography in 2018.
What inspired your business – and what gap did you see that others weren’t addressing? My business was inspired by my passion for seeing beauty in the world and capturing it with my camera. The need to share my work is inside of me and that is what inspired me to do exhibitions and enter contests, which led to selling my custom printed work that now hangs in homes, offices, and yachts around the world.
Photography isn’t about the camera. It’s about your eyes. It’s about knowing where to stand. It’s about knowing when to click the shutter. And when it all comes together, it’s magic.
How do you market your company and what has genuinely worked to reach new clients? In some ways the digital and social media world we live in now has helped for my marketing, but it also made it much more difficult. Before 2020, my primary marketing was exhibitions, both group and solo. Sadly, Covid shut down all exhibitions for a few years, many never to return again.
What was the turning point in your business? In August 2017, I exhibited in my first exhibition. In November that same year I exhibited in my first large exhibition show in Menton and won an award from the town of Sospel – and the prize was my own solo exhibition. I was surprised and thrilled, although my son, a competition sailor, asked why I did not win a trophy.
Three months later, in February 2018, the Monaco government granted me the official status of “Artist-Photographer.”
What is one unglamorous but essential step every woman should take before launching a business here? Hard to say, possibly the paperwork things to get started. Even opening a bank account here takes a long time.
What advice would you give to women ready to bet on themselves and start their own business here? Go for it! Monaco has an amazing network of wonderful women who are always helping and supporting each other. Also, the Monaco government has great websites – most with an English-language option – showing all the steps with documents to download for the things you need to do to start your business and complete reporting, which will be needed throughout the year, for example for the Monegasque Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (IMSEE).
This Saturday, May 2, at 7 pm, London’s Chamber Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Michael Higgin’s The Cloths of Heaven at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
A skilled ensemble of around 30 singers, the Choir is known for its versatility and clarity of sound. Their recent performances have ranged from major choral works by Johannes Brahms and Sergei Rachmaninoff to contemporary premieres, reflecting a breadth of musical engagement grounded in careful preparation.
The one-hour performance will be directed by Olivia Tait, assistant director of music at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, whose work spans beyond concert direction to recordings and collaborations with leading ensembles. She is joined by organist Jonathan Dods, who contributes to the musical cohesion of the programme as accompanist and director.
Michael Higgin’s The Cloths of Heaven, inspired by W. B. Yeats, will add for the audience an intimate, poetic warmth to Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem’s soft, luminous calm.
“We are really privileged in having such wonderful musicians with us this weekend and to experience the beauty of Fauré that the world so desperately needs,” says Father Hugh Bearn, who has been serving St. Paul’s Anglican Church Monte-Carlo since April 2023.
The free event at 22 avenue de Grande Bretagne is open to all, with no tickets required. A retiring collection will be taken in support of the ongoing work of St Paul’s Anglican Church.
The first official event of a year-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Wedding of Princess Grace and HSH Prince Rainier III was hosted at the Princess Grace Irish Library on April 2, 2026.
The talk was led by Wolfgang Frei, the nephew of Edward Quinn, the Irish photographer who photographed the very first meeting of the Prince and American actress in 1955.
Frei, curator of the Edward Quinn photographic archives, offered a vivid portrait of Quinn (1920–1997), whose lens defined the glamour of the Côte d’Azur during the “Golden Fifties.” Born in Ireland and later based in London before settling on the Riviera, Quinn became one of the most trusted photographers of an international elite that included artists, film stars, and royalty.
Central to Frei’s lecture was Quinn’s unique relationship with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. Quinn’s discretion and professionalism earned him rare proximity to the royal couple, allowing him to document both official engagements and intimate, historic moments. Most notably, Frei highlighted Quinn’s photographs of the couple’s first meeting in 1955—an encounter arranged during the Cannes Film Festival while Kelly was promoting To Catch a Thief shortly after winning an Academy Award for The Country Girl.
These now-iconic images, taken at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, captured the poised American actress and the reserved sovereign at the very beginning of a relationship that would captivate the world. As Frei emphasised, Quinn’s photographs were not merely documentary but instrumental in shaping the public narrative of what would become the “wedding of the century” on April 19, 1956.
The presentation also explored Quinn’s broader body of work, including his coverage of Monaco’s high society events such as the Bal de la Rose, founded by Princess Grace. Today, Frei and his wife Ursula continue to preserve and promote the Edward Quinn Archive, ensuring that these defining visual records of Riviera history remain accessible.
According to the Director of the Irish Library Paula Farquharson (above with Frei), this opening event “set the tone for a commemorative year celebrating not only a royal union, but also the photographer who immortalised its very first moment”.
Save the date: On Friday, April 17, MonacoUSA will host a special Networking Event on the eve of the princely couple’s civil wedding in 1956. The Association’s featured guests will be the Groupe Nice-Matin who will present their extraordinary “Hors Serie” magazine which brilliantly captures in 116 pages this historic event in both English and French version editions.
Article and photos courtesy of Annette Ross Anderson. Article first published April 3, 2026.
What a privilege to sit down with Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon, Vice Commander at US Fleet Forces Command, who was in the Principality for a friendly visit on March 9. At a private cocktail, the officer was welcomed by members and friends of the US Navy League of the French Riviera – Monaco Council, as well as members of the Yacht Club de Monaco, of which the Manhattan Yacht Club is a reciprocal club.
In July 2026, Sail4th.org and the US Navy have organised one of the largest tall ship and multi-national naval ship gatherings in the world, with US Fleet Forces Command and Rear Admiral Blackmon key to the detailed planning. Monaco’s maritime heritage Tuiga (1909) and Viola (1908) will sail to New York to celebrate 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Beyond the semiquincentennial, he also talked about the roles that legacy, technology, and women play in the US Navy. And what it means to serve your country.
Nancy Heslin: Can you tell us about your distinguished 37-year career with the US Navy?
Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon: I am the Vice Commander at US Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. My boss is responsible for all ships, submarines, and aircraft on the East Coast of the United States. He is also the naval component commander to Northern Command that provides defense support for civil authorities and maritime homeland defense, as well as being the naval component commander for Strategic Command. He’s responsible for all our ballistic missile submarines in the world.
My job is to assist him, and the rest of the staff there, in executing those missions that we’re responsible for. It’s very busy right now and it’s been busy ever since I joined in 2021. We help to generate and train the forces that deploy. So forces that right now are in harm’s way were trained by our team.
You’ve been in the service with the Navy for almost 40 years. When you visit academies where young people want to have a career in the Navy, what is the question you get asked the most?
I get a lot of questions, from midshipmen and cadets about what is life is like at sea, aboard ship. And I share with them how interesting and different it is to be out to sea. It’s a unique experience sailing across the Pacific Ocean, when you’re out in virtually the middle of the ocean. You go out in the evening and look up and you see, you know, a hundred thousand stars or a billion stars or whatever, and it’s just a surreal experience. You’re very minuscule in that big world.
And then there’s the power of the sea. My first ship was a destroyer. When we were cruising on deployment, we hit an area with 40-foot waves. You realize how vulnerable you are even on such a powerful ship, that those seas can be really formidable.
I would imagine that if you are in sea conditions like that but you’re still trying to be that strong Navy sailor, you would not want show your emotions to anyone else on the ship?
I learned very early on that when I was told there were going be rough seas, I always took a pill to keep me from getting seasick. You really need to be on your game when you’re out at sea.
What are some of the other aspects about being in the US Navy that maybe midshipmen don’t think about?
I think right now there is such a focus for the Navy on the professional development of their military, their navy officers, and their sailors, that there’s great opportunities for additional education, for exchange programs, even with corporations. We’ve put Navy sailors into Google and Amazon to see how those operations work and then bring that experience back to the Navy to help us to continue to improve and create efficiencies.
The other aspect is that – certainly as a naval officer, a midshipman coming out of the Academy or an ROTC program – you’re going to have responsibility for up to 50 or 60 people right away. Immediately you walk on the ship, you’re responsible for this.
What do you mean when you say ROTC?
The Reserve Officer Training Corps are universities where our students also do Navy classes. They get commissioned like they would coming out of the Academy. So, you get a public or a private education and are then commissioned into the Navy out of that program.
Being responsible for 50 people is a lot to put on someone right away. How do you train them?
It is. I think they do a fantastic job at the Naval Academy and through the ROTC programs to get people prepared, but it really is a test that happens in real time. You learn whether you’ve got it or not.
In my case, I did an International Affairs Program at George Washington University and was commissioned. My class started with 229 students and we commissioned 33 of those original students, so there was quite an attrition rate of those students who came in.
I think part of the attrition is that you realize you’re part of an important mission that’s not always safe.
What do you remember as being the toughest part of your training? I’m sure it still sticks in your mind.
The part of the training that was most challenging was being pulled out for six weeks or so of the summer to go out with the fleet and serve with other sailors. That was pretty challenging. I did that in our base out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We would be up at 5 am and come back into port at 10 or 11 pm. Then do it all over again the next day.
If you look at today’s climate, there’s a lot of instability in the world and a people have different feelings about different countries. So how does the US Navy teach someone to serve their country?
It takes a special kind of background or special kind of patriotism. We do see quite a number of Navy personnel that come as part of a legacy, from families that have served. My father was a naval officer and had done the ROTC program at Penn State. He was stationed on the Sixth Fleet flagship and so my parents spent their first year of marriage in Villefranche in 1962. Part of my coming back here has been to be able to celebrate his legacy.
And what role do women now play in the Navy?
I have an opportunity in my role to go to our recruit training center in Great Lakes and interact with the new sailors coming in. And it’s really interesting to hear their stories and hear their questions. A couple things that were really unique was how diverse it is, how many women are coming into the Navy, and all military services, but also minorities, people from foreign countries that come into the Navy. And part of their opportunity is to become citizens of the United States once they’ve served.
If you look back to when you began your studies, does technology now play a different role in education and how we learn?
In the US Navy, we’ve looked at technology as an enabler so that the sailors and the midshipmen are able to utilize technology. We’re really trying to capitalize on that, but it does come back to fundamentals. When the Navy was founded 250 years ago it was a sailing ship navy and we navigated by the stars.
We are teaching these midshipmen how to navigate by the stars because we can’t guarantee that we’re going to have the technology to enable everything that we can do, so we have something called mission command. That’s when we tell our commanders. They have a responsibility to actually execute the mission in the absence of communication. If we can’t communicate from the fleet, then they still know what their mission is and they can execute it.
We are trying, first of all, to build redundancies so that we can continue to maintain communication, but also to be able to look at those what-ifs, you know, those contingencies of losing communications or having challenges at sea.
When you look back over the years, what’s one of the moments that was either the most challenging or just took your breath away in service?
I was in Kuwait three days before Saddam Hussein invaded. Now, when I speak to sailors at various events, I ask, “Who has participated in Desert Storm or Desert Shield?” And there’s usually only one or two hands that go up – or no hands.
That Kuwait experience was really very early in my career and it was the real thing, as in “I am in harm’s way right now.” It was challenging, but coming out of it, I felt that the training that was provided, even in the short time I had been in service, had helped prepare me for that.
And the Navy has provided great opportunities for me. I’ve been to 41 countries. I’ve worked for NATO, I’ve sailed all the oceans. I’ve been really fortunate and I wouldn’t do it any differently, really.
Claudia Batthyany, project manager of Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting YCM Luigi Sinapi, Rear Admiral of the Italian Navy, Director of the International Hydrographic Organization Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon, Vice Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Susan Feaster, Acting President US Navy League French Riviera – Monaco Council Arnaud Maoulierac, French Naval Officer
The US Navy League French Riviera and Monaco Council has just been revived. What is the purpose of these associations over time for the US Navy?
It’s really important for our sailors. To understand, a lot of them deploy for 6, 7, 8 or 9 months. That’s a lot of time away from family and friends. And so that support system that the Navy League provides for our sailors’ families back home is critical to the execution of our mission. We don’t want our sailors that are out doing their mission to have concerns with the family back home, and the Navy League is critical to being able to provide that support and that link from communities all over the world. The Navy has had a long history here in the Port of Monaco, that’s for sure.
It’s a big year for the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary and you are a part of organizing the July 4th tall ship event?
I have a team at Fleet Forces Command. They’re responsible for the International Naval Review in New York City for a semi-quincentennial celebration so we’re really just super excited to be able to have so many allies and partners participate with us – with tall ships, with warships – it’s going to be a really fantastic event.
And Monaco’s Tuiga yacht will be in New York for July 4th.
So, July 1st through the 8th will be the full celebration, with the main event on July 4th. It’s going to be phenomenal. And the other thing I’ll mention, just because we’re so close to France here, is that the Statue of Liberty will have a prominent position in the videos and photos of the event.
Article first published March 23, 2026. Image copyright Nancy Heslin.
International Women’s Day, Monaco was celebrated at full throttle this year with the inaugural Speed Queen Kart Trophy.
The feel-good, all-female amateur race brought girls and women together on March 8 for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition at Box 98 Monaco in Fontvieille.
Go-karters battled it out on the track between 10 am and 2 pm to secure a spot in the Grand Finale, when the fastest stars from every category went wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted 2026 Speed Queen KartTrophy.
Tiffaney Perlino, President of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco, and Speed Queen organiser, says, “I was delighted to see the energy and enthusiasm on the karting circuit,” Tiffaney says. ”There were drivers of all ages and many of them brought friends and family to cheer them on, making it a really friendly-family atmosphere. We saw a lot of happy faces.”
She adds, “A big thank you to the young talented female VIP drivers who were available to talk to the girls and share their passion and experience. I hope this will encourage more girls and women to seek out what this exciting sport has to offer.”
Madeline Lasalle walked away with the 2026 Speed Queen Kart Trophy, as presented by Tiffaney.
Trophies for best lap time in category went to: Camille Spallarossa (Kids), presented by Lina Salamanca, an emerging talent and winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi.
Carla Ackermann (Junior), presented by Vicky Farfus, a Monaco resident who finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Madeline Lasalle (Senior), presented by Ella Häkkinen, Monaco resident and the youngest driver of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Enriqueta Casanas Ficini (Masters) presented by Celine Cottalarda, Comite droits des Femmes.
And the Team Trophy went to Martine and Carla Ackermann, presented by Charles Flaujac President of the Karting Commission ACM.
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 included 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch spread and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the Automobile Club de Monaco, who also supplied the magnificent trophies.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix,” says Tiffaney. “It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
Watch this space for the 2027 Speed Queen Kart Trophy date.
For more information, contact comfemsport@acm.mc.Article first published March 9, 2026. Photos: Copyright Nancy Heslin.
At first glance, the story of Sabrina Gazza’s may seem familiar enough. The Monegasque dreamed of becoming a teacher and picked up a mathematics degree from the University of Nice. But then, like for many of us, her career path took an unexpected twist. “For the past twelve years, I’ve been working at a temporary employment agency as part of a wonderful team,” says the married mom to 15-year-old twin boys.
But any similarities end on April 19, 2023. The then 42-year-old and her family were in St. Barts visiting her niece who had an internship at the time. Sabrina, born and raised in Monaco, had grown up next to the Mediterranean but had a lifelong fear of the sea and lacked navigation skills. That particular day, the group had decided to go out on a boat but stayed close to the coast so that Sabrina could swim.
“There was a bit of a swell, and we began to dangerously drift towards the rocks,” Sabrina describes. “To avoid causing damage to the boat, I jumped into the water with my sister, Albane, to push it back. Once the boat was in the clear, the captain opened the throttle. I was still leaning against the side of the boat and was sucked into the propellers.”
Sabrina took a deep breath, convinced she was about to drown.
“When I resurfaced, everything went silent. I paddled to keep myself afloat, aware that something was wrong, but not knowing what. Albane immediately saw the gravity of the situation. Without panicking, she pulled me out of the water and applied makeshift tourniquets with whatever she could find.”
Suddenly the silence was broken – “screams, commotion, panic”. “That’s when the pain overwhelmed me”
As it happened, doctors who were vacationing nearby heard the commotion and rushed over, carrying her to the harbour where emergency services took over.
Just before being airlifted Pointe to Pitre University Hospital, Sabrina was able to say to her mom: “It’s just an accident, no one is to blame.” Her mom understood immediately that her daughter was going to fight for her life. “And that’s exactly what happened. I had no other option but to pull through, for myself and the sake of my loved ones.”
Sabrina had a double amputation below her knees. After 10 days in intensive care at Pointe-à-Pitre, she was transferred to the Princesse Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco for a fortnight before being sent to Pasteur Hospital in Nice for another two weeks. She then spent four months at the Hélio-Marin Centre, a rehabilitation facility in Vallauris specialising in musculoskeletal, neurological, and amputation care. “That’s where the real work began.”
As she recalls, “The hardest thing in rehabilitation was seeing how lonely some patients were – no family, no friends, only other patients to support them. I realised how lucky I was. I really didn’t face any difficulties, and for the first time in a long while, I was solely focused on taking care of myself.”
From Monday to Friday, Sabrina underwent two physiotherapy sessions and a workout every days, plus there were visits from family and friends. She spent the weekends at home. “This routine helped me stay focused and keep going without my mind getting the better of me.”
She says it was the unconditional support of family, friends and health care professionals – from start to finish – that kept her going. “Since the accident, I need more reassurance and to be acknowledged. I may appear to be strong but the truth is I often need to be comforted. The fact that they are there for me every day has helped me cope and continue moving on.”
To be able to walk with prostheses, Sabrina had to strengthen her abdominal muscles. She tried different sports, but they were too limiting. Then in May 2025 the assistant secretary of the Sociéte Nautique de Monaco (SNM, Monaco’s rowing club) introduced her to Ludovic Savoye, who would become her rowing partner. “Rowing ticked all the boxes … except for being a water sport. But they convinced me to give it a try. So I started with the ergometer, which gave me access to the sport without going out on the water straight away.”
By September, Sabrina decided to try rowing with the club at Lake Saint-Cassien. “It was the logical next step. Like everything since the accident, the day I decided to return to the water, I did so without questioning myself at all.”
In January 2026, Sabrina started rowing in an adapted single skull in Port Hercules. “I feel some apprehension, but I’m confident it will eventually pass.”
Sabrina combines four weekly sessions on the ergometer with one or two outings on the water, with the goal of skulling more and more frequently. “On the days when my progress feels slow, Ludovic and my family are there to remind me of everything I’ve achieved and this helps put things into perspective. And, two or three sessions later, I get back into warrior mode and continue to push ahead.”
Warrior indeed. In January 2026, eight months after first trying the ergo, Sabrina competed in her first French National Indoor Rowing Championship in Paris. She placed first in the PR3 Mixed Inclusive 4×500m Relay, in which each team has one para-athlete; third in the women’s 500-metre PR2 category – a class comprising functional use of arms and trunk with a fixed seat; and fourth in the 2000 metres. (Photos: Sabrina on the ergo, above, and with first place team SNM below. Facebook Fédération Française d’Aviron.)
“Obviously, I was nervous beforehand but as soon as the starter went off, that tension turned into energy. The atmosphere – intense and welcoming – allowed me to stay focused and push myself.
“What made the moment more special was the presence of most of my family and friends, who had come to Stade Pierre de Coubertin to cheer me on. Seeing them in the stands and feeling their support was invaluable. And I think my children were really proud of their mom. For me, that was one of the greatest rewards of this first competition.”
The medallist now has her eye on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles for the mixed doubles event. With Ludovic, the teammates are going to compete in as many competitions as possible to show that they deserve a spot at the highest level. The only slight complication is that Ludovic is not Monegasque. “Despite this, we are moving forward together, with the same goal in mind.”
As Sabrina puts it, “Participating in the Games would be a dream come true, a chance to take my life back. Not an end in itself, but a symbol – a symbol of everything I have rebuilt, of everything I refused to give up on. And when I look back … I could never have imagined this, even in my wildest dreams.”
“What I would like people to take away from all of this is that we all have a strength within us that we don’t realise. We don’t choose the challenges we face, but we can choose how we deal with them. In my case, I decided to move forward, to fight, and to continue living life to the fullest – even if it’s different.”
Sabrina doesn’t see herself as a source of inspiration. “I just move on with what life has given me, trying to stay positive and do my best. But if my story can help someone, then I’m happy.”
Société Nautique de Monaco gave her “a warm welcome and kindness” from day one. “There is a real sense of solidarity, a simplicity in communication, and, above all, a shared desire in a passion for rowing.
“My rowing partner, the coaches, the club members … everyone, in their own way, has helped me find my place. I feel supported, encouraged, and never judged. It’s an environment where I can progress, surpass myself, and feel fully legitimate. After everything I’ve been through, that means a lot.”
Article first published on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2026.
Start your engines – this International Women’s Day, Monaco is celebrating girl power at full throttle.
On March 8, Box 98 Monaco at Les Terrasses de Fontvieille will host the very first Speed Queen Kart Trophy, a feel-good, all-female amateur race designed to bring women and girls – from age seven upwards – together for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition.
In a country synonymous with the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix, motorsport is part of the DNA. But while the drivers’ grid has historically skewed male, the fanbase is shifting fast. According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
The Speed Queen Kart Trophy taps into that momentum with a day that blends competition, and celebration. Racers will battle it out for the fastest lap between 10 am and 2 pm followed by the Grand Final at 3 pm, when the fastest stars from every category go wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted Speed Queen Trophy.
Drivers Ella Häkkinen, Vicky Farfus and Lina Salamanca will be on hand to share their passion and expertise, offering tips on kart driving technique and talking about their future projects and ambitions.
Monaco resident Ella (below) is the youngest female member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Vicky (above), also a Monaco resident, is competing with Iron Dames and finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Lina (below) is the winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi, an emerging talent driven by strong ambition.
The trio will also be alongside event organiser Tiffaney Perlino, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), at the prize giving to present trophies, which are offered by the ACM.
“I have always loved motorsport and loved driving but like many women I never really had the opportunity to race,” says Tiffaney. “It wasn’t just about opportunity to be honest. It was also that I didn’t dare. It all looked so out of my comfort zone.”
That all changed for Tiffaney when years ago a girlfriend had a joint birthday party with her husband at a karting track. She decided to get behind the wheel and give it a go – and had the time of her life. “It gave me the confidence to try other motorsport activities and I haven’t looked back. I wanted the chance to give the same opportunity to other girls and women, who are hesitant, to try racing in a relaxed and friendly environment.”
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 includes 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the ACM. Whether you sign up solo or with your daughter and her friends – or make it a family affair cheering from the sidelines at no cost – it’s a high-energy and highly memorable way to mark International Women’s Day together, swapping the usual panel discussions and ladies lunch for helmets and horsepower, and the next-generation.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix. It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
If you ask Barbara Buljat Raymond, PhD, about her favourite childhood toy, she’ll fondly recall how her grandfather once gave her a blackboard from the school where he worked as a handyman in Croatia. “I dreamt of becoming a teacher and my younger cousin, poor thing, often played my student.” That all changed when she was given her first computer at age six. “From that moment on, I became the family’s ‘IT Guy’.”
The Monaco resident describes Croatia as a young country that embraces its historic cultural influence. “In my hometown of Rijeka, people live in beautiful villas from the Austro-Hungarian era, my Grandma speaks to me in Italian, we produce our own Mediterranean olive oil, and every morning we drink Turkish coffee. That’s quite the mix, right?”
Having grown up in a large family home with her cousins, and with a budding professional volleyball career, the thought of leaving Rijeka never entered Barbara’s mind. She obtained a double degree in Business Informatics and International Management from the Faculty of Economics and Business Rijeka, where she later became a lecturer and researcher teaching IT-in-Business and Digital Marketing courses. This opportunity led her to France.
Her doctoral studies required research abroad and Barbara is “endlessly thankful” the faculty supported her suggestion of the University Cote d’Azur (formerly the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis). Living in France was a dream come true but there were a few hurdles.
“I had to combine my teaching activities in Croatia with my research work in France, which meant a lot of logistics and back-and-forth trips. I had done a couple of student exchanges before so studying in English was easy but, honestly, French is still a challenge!”
Her research was in the field of Management Sciences, a discipline in social sciences dealing with problem-solving and decision-making in human organisations, closely linked to management, economics and business. “I know it all sounds abstract and scary, but we, mysterious academic people, need to be precise about the terms and methodologies we use.
“For example, in my PhD project, I investigated the use of technology and information systems to address the challenges of environmental sustainability communication. More precisely, I focused on motivating individuals to adopt green behaviour – like reducing the consumption of single-use plastics.”
She elaborates, “Behaviour-changing information systems are digital tools built with the intention to change somebody’s behaviour. For instance, we developed a mobile app that used augmented reality to simulate direct experiences of plastic pollution in 3D environments. We wanted to investigate whether ‘living’ an environmental issue first-hand had a different effect on people rather than reading an article or watching news about the same issue.”
In 2023, Barbara earned her doctorate in Management Sciences. “The hardest part of my PhD path? Definitely self-discipline! It requires a lot of alone time, a great deal of intellectual effort, reading complicated literature and attempting to explain complex things in a simple manner. Above all, it demands effective time management. It is very easy to get lost along the way.”
Her long-term career goal is to remain connected with academia to share her knowledge about digital tools for communication, but also to apply it in practice with digital marketing and communication services.
With nearly a decade of doing digital marketing as a “side hustle” including 15 successful projects under her belt – and the four years she spent researching digital tools for communication – Barbara decided to “make things real”. She launched a specialised digital marketing and communication agency, The Pink Cat.
“Well, on the one hand, it is not so different from my studies but on the other hand, it is indeed another world. I am finally able to produce concrete, tangible work and immediately apply it in real life, something I was really missing in the research world.”
The Pink Cat offers a range of digital services – logo design, website creation, visual identity, video creation, social media management, digital marketing strategies and promotional visuals (flyers, posters, brochures). “Additionally, we provide teaching to empower others to acquire those skills,” Barbara emphasises.
But what really sets The Pink Cat apart from other agencies is the scientific background. “While other experts with a doctoral degree either stay in the academia or provide consulting services, I like to manage projects from the beginning to the end – from the strategy through the creation and implementation.
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in communication and every brand campaign requires prior research and strategy,” she stresses. “After four years of applying rigorous research methods to study how different communication impacts human attitudes and behaviour, I am pleased to apply this knowledge in every step of our marketing projects.
“Nowadays, customers demand and expect a lot of entertaining, visually appealing and interesting content from brands, often involving the management of multiple communication platforms simultaneously. The advantage of having one agency who manages all this at once lies in consistency – we ensure that a brand’s visual identity and style remain continuous across all channels.”
For Barbara, a logo is a brand’s face. “Yes, the logo is often the first thing people notice about a company and creates a lasting impression on consumers but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. A strong visual identity, encompassing consistent designs across web, social media and printed materials, plays an equally important role in establishing a memorable brand presence and positive impression.”
Following her heart, Barbara eventually moved to Monaco and found it tough in the beginning due to the language barrier. “If you ask what Croatia is special for, hospitality is definitely something we are proud of , but luckily for me, people in Monaco were as well so nice and welcoming that I soon felt at home.”
Married now for nearly two years, Barbara has settled in to life and is focused on expanding her professional network with The Pink Cat. “There are many inspiring brands who, I believe, have interesting stories to share. And I am happy to help them do so.”
The Pink Cat’s Tips for logo creation
Does your logo accurately reflect your brand?Ask friends and colleagues to guess what the logo represents. If it’s supposed to be for a clothing store but they think it’s a restaurant, it’s time to reconsider.
Is the logo versatile? In other words, does the logo look good on various background colours, in different sizes and on different communication channels – like social media and printed materials?.
Will the logo still hold up in 5 years? While it is tempting to be trendy, it’s always better to go for something classy and timeless. – Barbara Buljat Raymond, PhD
Article first published April 12, 2024. Photos and video copyright Good News Monaco.
Did you know that according to the World Atlas, Croatia and its 1,244 islands earn the #22 spot on the list of 50 countries in the world with the most islands (Sweden leads the way with 267,570)? One of the most popular television shows of all time, Game of Thrones, was filmed in Croatia, both in Split, and Dubrovnik, which was the location for Kings Landing.
