On International Women in Maritime Day, Sakura Kuma, senior advisor at Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), outlines how the maritime industry could more effectively make use of its innate diversity. Shipping is a truly international business and I was drawn to a career in the industry as the result of the opportunity it offered to deal with different nationalities and cultures. However, while maritime offers this innate diversity, it’s not always been the case that people from different backgrounds have been empowered to fully realise their potential. With a smarter approach, maritime could more effectively engage a broader cross-section of society and deliver improved business results. Understanding the current picture can help us move to a better way of working. Challenging gender myths Over 20 some years ago, at the early stages of my career I was based in a male-dominated organisation with a conservative culture, but was also given a lot of opportunities to progress my career. Quite frankly, expectations from my colleagues were very low due to my gender, yet I surpassed them every time. I was very fearless in my willingness to do my best and succeed. This eventually led to me being sent as chief representative to NYK’s Los Angeles terminal and I remember on my first day in post my new US colleagues could not believe that the Tokyo office had ‘sent a girl’ as I was the first female representative that NYK had ever sent there. Yet I have never considered my gender to be a barrier in business, as I believe that it only becomes one if you accept other peoples’ perspectives. Opportunities and obstacles always come in a package, which is why I have been trying to focus on the areas where I can make a difference and avoid what I can’t change, such as people’s preconceived notions. You know what is funny about those blinkered perceptions? They swing as they recognize your success. After Los Angeles, I was seconded to go and work at the Yokohama port which at that time was going through a major development backed by funding from the central Japanese government. My role was to market and sell the port to major shipping lines and grow the business to help justify the huge costs of the development work. During my time at Yokohama port I enjoyed establishing and enhancing business relationships with partners including APM Terminals. I felt I gained their respect for my fair deal-making approach and tough negotiation. More than lip service While I don’t believe that navigating life expecting to be discriminated against is helpful, it is also important that we acknowledge some realities within our industry. For instance, many companies pay lip service to diversity but only ever make space for one or two women on their boards. Even then, the roles of these female directors do not tend to be central to the company’s core strategies so their influence is limited. Ensuring there is sufficient room for women in senior leadership positions and that they are empowered to drive the strategic direction of the business will deliver powerful results for maritime. Fortunately, I found a rare opportunity to do just this during my next career move, when I was invited to be CEO at APM Terminals Japan. However, yet again I was operating in a male-dominated environment, often being the only female at major events with over 200 people in attendance. Broadening opportunities It’s because of these formative experiences that I understand the importance of choosing people from dif