Interview of Maria Angelidou, Group Marketing Manager Gulf Agency Company Limited.
Mrs. Angelidou, could you tell us what made you love the sea and led you to want to be involved in its industry?
Although I am not from a family with a maritime tradition, I was born and raised in Piraeus so the draw of the sea and an awareness of the importance of the shipping industry was always there.
My love for the sea has grown throughout my working life. The challenges and the unexpected twists and turns of shipping are an intrinsic part of my daily life, and the fact that I am able – as a professional – to offer assistance from the shore to those onboard vessels, helping to find solutions to any problems they may have, has made me love the shipping business all the more.
You have 30 years of experience in shipping. Would you like to tell us about it?
It hardly seems possible that I will celebrate my 30th anniversary in GAC this year!
I remember my first day like it was yesterday, initially as a secretary of our Marketing Department. I was studying Marketing and Business Administration, but that did not cover shipping. In the demanding marine sector, shipping studies are a must, so I devoted many hours of studies and made many sacrifices to learn and gain my qualifications.
After a few years and a lot of hard work, I was promoted to Group Marketing Manager of our company – part of a dynamic Group Marketing Team of thirteen – and [I was] the first woman in GAC to serve that role since its establishment in 1956. That was a great personal success for me, as it was my work, my professional approach, potential and willingness to strive for more that broke the ‘glass ceiling.’
Since then, every day has been unique, and cooperating with dynamic and fascinating people has led me to get more and more involved in the sector.
Throughout my 30-year career, I have been an active member of many engaging and thought-provoking organizations involved in shipping, which has helped keep my passion and interest alive.
One of the organizations I am involved with – including four years as a board member – is WISTA Hellas, a non-profit association, established in Greece in 1993 to promote diversity and the empowerment of women at management level in the maritime, trade and logistics sectors. My experience has given me a means of supporting women in the industry and gave me the faith and strength that by cooperating, we can achieve much more. Team spirit is one of my strongest beliefs.
How did you manage your operations during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic was a huge challenge that had to be confronted efficiently. More than ever, and despite the restrictions, operations and the provision of solutions for our customers around the world had to be done effectively by any means.
We were dealing with human lives and public health, so our goal was to support mariners on board ships and the operators at the offices.
Shipping is a 24/7 operation, so we had to be flexible and adapt to new ways of successfully conducting effective operations.
My motto is to deal with every problem like it is my own. Further, transparency and honesty have always been pillars of my personal and professional life journey. Applying a personal touch and adhering to every single requirement helped me through this tough period for all of us.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which started in February of 2022 and continues on until today with no signs of ending, has had significant geopolitical consequences. In your opinion, what long-term effects will the invasion have on the international maritime industry?
For more than a year now, this conflict has had a significant impact on maritime trade. We have seen voyages we would have never considered before the invasion. The trade has certainly changed.
Every conflict affects the shipping environment and offers challenges as well as opportunities.
And it is important to carefully select voyages and support legitimate cargo and operations while hoping to see an end to the fighting.
The global maritime industry has the know-how to adapt to meet the challenges and even thrive amid changing conditions brought about by geopolitical events. The greatest challenge is faced by the people who have to survive such difficult times.
Mrs. Angelidou, what do you believe holds the future for the Greek Maritime Industry?
Shipping has long been one of the major forces of our national economy, along with tourism. Our rich maritime heritage means that Greek maritime expertise is strongly followed and imitated globally.
Our industry is now facing new trends and challenges related to technology. International regulations must be applied, and Greek ship owners must follow them to ensure a safe and sustainable marine environment.
Although nobody can give any guarantees, I believe there is a promising future for our national shipping sector with more Greek vessels sailing with a focus on eco-friendly operations.
Competition has always been there, but our shipping tradition combined with a willingness to meet the challenges of changing trends and conditions should ensure that Greece continues as one of the world’s leading maritime economies.
