Irene Rosberg advocates for women's merit-based evaluation in maritime leadership, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities and support.
Irene Rosberg, Director of the Blue MBA and Blue Board Leadership Program at the Copenhagen Business School, made striking evaluations regarding the representation of women in the maritime sector in an article she penned for International Women's Day in Maritime.
Rosberg noted that the maritime sector has been discussing gender equality for many years; yet, women are still not adequately represented, especially at sea and in high-level decision-making mechanisms. She emphasized that the main issue is not merely supporting women in principle, but rather questioning whether the sector is creating conditions under which women's competencies can thrive.
Stating that she is against women being placed in positions solely because they are women, Rosberg remarked, 'No woman wants to question whether her presence on a board or in a leadership position is due to merit or the company’s desire to showcase diversity.'
Rosberg pointed out that true equality comes not from symbolic representation but from equal opportunity. She stressed that women must have equal access to education, technical knowledge, operational experience, mentoring, and career development processes as men.
Highlighting that the maritime sector is undergoing a significant transformation due to digitalization, decarbonization, automation, and new regulations, Rosberg expressed that the skilled labor gap is widening and that the underutilization of women's potential represents a strategic loss for the sector.
According to Rosberg, the sector needs to invest in women for leadership positions at an earlier stage. She emphasized the critical importance of creating stronger career paths that extend from technical training and professional development to participation in decision-making processes and upward mobility to senior management.
Rosberg stated that women must also be an active part of the process, saying, 'It is not enough to just want to be included. Women should develop their expertise, strengthen their networks, and invest in their leadership skills.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
