What if your childhood was a prison disguised as adventure?
In this gripping episode of Decidedly, Suzanne Heywood shares the shocking true story of growing up trapped on a sailboat for nearly a decade—with no friends, no school, and no way out. Her parents set off to “follow Captain Cook,” but what began as a three-year journey turned into a cult-like isolation across the oceans.
At just 16, Suzanne made a bold escape, taught herself through mail-order courses, and earned a place at Oxford University. Today, she’s the COO of Exor—one of Europe’s most powerful holding companies.
🎧 Suzanne reveals:
The psychological toll of her unconventional upbringing
What it took to escape and reinvent her life
How education became her lifeline
Her philosophy on decision-making and leadership
Why resilience—not privilege—is the ultimate advantage
If you’ve ever felt stuck in someone else’s story, this conversation will remind you: your life is yours to rewrite.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: Defeating Bad Decision-Making in Life andBusiness
00:50 When Sanger Lived on Ramen
03:13 Introducing Suzanne Heywood
04:21 Suzanne’s Family’s Decision to Sail Around theWorld
06:37 Early Childhood Questions About the Voyage
09:00 Suzanne’s Father’s Motivation for the Voyage
11:25 Questionable Parental Decisions
13:41 Dangers and Limited Food on the Boat
16:04 Life at Sea: Loneliness, Limited Friendships, andSchooling
18:28 Food Shortages
20:46 Stuck on the Boat
23:10 A Manipulated “Vote” to Keep Sailing
32:55 Education as Suzanne’s Escape from the Boat
40:01 Limited Communication and CorrespondenceChallenges
47:08 Sacrifices Made to Pursue Education
49:33 Struggles of University Life and Financial Hardships
51:56 Suzanne’s Reflections on Parental Choices andFinancial Strain
57:26 Suzanne Heywood’s Decision-Making Tip for Business Owners
57:48 Key Takeaways
59:47 Message from the Producer
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Sanger’s Instagram: @sangersmith
Thank you to Shelby Peterson of Transcend Media for editing and post-production of the Decidedly podcast.
SANGER’S BOOK: A Life Rich with Significance: Transforming Your Wealth to Meaningful Impact
SHAWN’S BOOK: Plateau Jumping: What to Change When Change Is What You Want
MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?
At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.
LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com
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CONNECT WITH SUZANNE HEYWOOD
Website: www.suzanneheywood.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanneheywood
Facebook: www.facebook.com/suzanne.heywood
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanneheywood1
Suzanne Heywood’s story is anything but typical. At just seven years old, she was pulled from her home and set adrift on a small yacht with her family, facing ten years of brutal storms, danger, and isolation on the world’s most unforgiving oceans. It’s a tale of grit and survival that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. Now a respected business leader, Suzanne is here to share her wild, unfiltered journey, captured in her memoir, Wavewalker.