Sailing the World with No Tech with Isabelle Andrieu
Isabelle Andrieu is no ordinary CEO. She co-founded Translated, runs an AI venture fund, and still found time to sail around the world with no GPS, no internet, and no modern tech.
In this special episode of Merging Minds, Javi Diaz reconnects with Isabelle to talk about adventure, leadership, and what it means to be human in an AI-driven world.
Sailing to Disconnect and Reconnect
A year ago, Isabelle and her husband entered the Ocean Globe Race, a 160-day global sailing competition with one major rule: no modern technology.
“It was a gift,” Isabelle says. “Just humans and nature. No GPS, no radio. We navigated using the stars and the sun.”
They had no sailing experience. Most of their crew didn’t either. But they had curiosity and a message.
In an age where AI and automation dominate, Isabelle wanted to remind the world what humans are capable of without tech.
Running Companies, Investing in the Future
Isabelle isn’t just a sailor. She’s also building the future. She co-leads:
- Translated, her core translation business.
- PiCampus, an AI-focused startup incubator.
- PiSchool, where real companies solve real problems using applied AI.
To date, she’s invested in over 70 startups in industries like medicine, transportation, and even supersonic aviation with Boom Supersonic.
“We invest in good ideas, but most importantly, in good people,” she explains.
She recently took on a leading role in a European Commission AI project, developing new multimodal AI that combines language, video, and sound.
Culture Comes First
Despite her many ventures, Isabelle’s core focus is always on people.
“I trust by default. I assume best intentions,” she says. “Even when things go wrong.”
She believes company culture must be intentional. That’s why she celebrates every employee’s birthday.
That’s why she trains her team to listen. And that’s why she insists culture isn’t a one-time task it’s daily work.
“Culture isn’t a checklist. It’s a living thing,” she adds.
Advice for Women in Leadership
Through her new newsletter, Women of Today, Isabelle shares interviews with female leaders.
Her goal? Help women see what’s possible by hearing real stories.
To any young woman starting, her advice is clear:
“Trust yourself. Trust your inner voice. Even when it’s hard.”
Leading Through Chaos
Isabelle says her life looks like chaos from the outside. But she’s “living her best life.”
From boats to boardrooms, her journey shows that embracing uncertainty often leads to the most meaningful growth.
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