- A new Global Maritime Forum report highlights how outdated norms and exclusionary practices limit leadership diversity in the maritime sector.
- Findings reveal three main barriers: societal expectations, company culture, and professional relationships.
- Report emphasizes that mentorship, inclusive policies, and strong networks are essential to unlocking leadership potential.
The Global Maritime Forum has released a new report, Diversifying Maritime Leadership, which underscores how outdated practices and entrenched norms continue to restrict leadership opportunities across the maritime industry. Based on 108 in-depth interviews with professionals working both at sea and on shore, the study outlines areas of progress while also identifying persistent barriers to inclusive leadership pipelines.
Key Barriers
The research highlights three critical areas where diversity challenges remain:
- Societal norms and expectations that influence perceptions of who is considered “fit” to lead.
- Company culture and policies that inadvertently disadvantage underrepresented groups.
- Professional relationships that can empower some leaders while marginalising others.
- Real-world examples shared by interviewees include women engineers being asked to take notes instead of contributing technically, cadets restricted to cleaning duties, young parents leaving due to insufficient family support, and LGBTQ+ leaders concealing their identities out of safety concerns.
Industry Context
These barriers come at a time when the sector is grappling with a projected shortfall of 90,000 trained officers by 2026. At the same time, maritime workers are navigating major transitions driven by decarbonisation, digitalisation, and automation—developments that demand diverse skill sets and resilient leadership.
Pathways Forward
While the stories highlight the costs of exclusion, the report also points to solutions. It identifies three key “bridges” that enable talent from diverse backgrounds to succeed: mentorship, inclusive policies, and supportive professional networks.The report stresses that simply hiring diverse leaders is insufficient. To fully unlock untapped leadership potential, companies must create structures and everyday practices that ensure inclusion. By addressing barriers and strengthening these bridges, the maritime sector can not only expand its leadership pool but also boost workforce satisfaction and enhance long-term sustainability.
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Source: Global Maritime Forum
