Kathy Ireland is embarking on a new business venture as she dives into the world of commercial fishing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In July, the 62-year-old supermodel and businesswoman announced that she had obtained her open-ocean commercial fishing license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and would be working as a crew member on the 4th Watch, a vessel captained by her husband, former emergency room physician Dr.\u00a0Greg Olsen.<\/p>\n
During an interview with Fox News Digital, the Sports Illustrated cover model explained that she had discovered her passion for her new occupation through Olsen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty wonderful,\u201d Ireland said of becoming a commercial fisherman. \u201cI\u2019m so grateful for the opportunities that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up camping and fishing,\u201d she continued. \u201cMy husband, he\u2019s been fishing since he was 3 years old.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland told Fox News Digital that Olsen spent 40 years as an ER doctor before recently retiring, and for the past two decades, he has balanced both his careers in medicine and commercial fishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to go out with him on the boat,\u201d she said. \u201cThis season, an opportunity opened up. And when the calendar allows, I go out there with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her Instagram post, Ireland clarified that she would not be giving up her \u201cday job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kathy Ireland announced that she had obtained her open-ocean commercial fishing license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and would be working as a crew member on the 4th Watch. Facebook \/ Kathy Ireland<\/p>\n
Ireland is the CEO, founder and chief designer of her global lifestyle Kathy Ireland Brands, which licenses products and services including fashion, home decor, furniture, health and wellness and business solutions.<\/p>\n
Since Ireland founded kiWW in 1993, the company has grown into a vast business empire. In 2021, kiWW generated $3.1 billion in retail sales, according to Forbes.<\/p>\n
While speaking with Fox News Digital, Ireland drew parallels between\u00a0her business career\u00a0and working on a commercial fishing boat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lessons I\u2019m learning from being out at sea are amazing,\u201d the California native said. \u201cThey\u2019re powerful. Much of it aligns with business. And being out there in truly God\u2019s country where we\u2019re just surrounded by just the wide open sea \u2014 it\u2019s beautiful. It\u2019s hard work, but I have a renewed appreciation for what my husband and so many others do. I knew it was hard work. But I knew unless I experienced it, I wouldn\u2019t fully understand why he has this passion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ireland also reflected on what she has learned since launching her commercial fishing journey and how it correlates to her experience in the corporate sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recognize the intentionality that is needed,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd this is something that translates to the world of business.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still literally learning the ropes,\u201d Ireland continued. \u201cWhen you\u2019re tying those ropes \u2014 we\u2019ve got 360-pound traps \u2014 it\u2019s critical that they\u2019re tied correctly, or else you can lose those traps. And the work that goes into it, the precision, is absolutely excellent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first few days, I was struggling, as typically first mate or crew works the rails while the captain is driving,\u201d she explained. \u201cAnd working the rails, you\u2019re pulling up the traps when you identify your buoy, you\u2019re pulling up the trap, you\u2019re scraping off the kelp and then you\u2019re rolling it onto the rails. And it was so heavy and it was so hard. I mean, everything on my body, it was hurting and I recognized it\u2019s like, \u2018Wait a minute.\u2019 It\u2019s with many other sports and elements of life in business. When you make a minor adjustment, a lot of things don\u2019t need to be as difficult as they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland explained that her time at sea gave her a new perspective, drawing a wry comparison between the challenges of nature and those of the boardroom.<\/p>\n