Recent Stories
How to Stay Energized While Working Offshore: Tips for Women at Sea
As your hitch offshore goes on your energy level slowly depletes. The shifts, the demands of your job, the socializing aspects, and the lack of days off duty, they all take their toll on your sleep. It’s hard to stay focused and energized. Thankfully, there are ways...
Deepwater Dames: For the Love of 2nd Base
The 3-day, 60-mile, Susan G. Komen walk is grueling. Two crews competed to complete the walk first. From building gingerbread houses with the crew to epic custom birthday cakes, Aramark Camp Boss Michelle Yelovina always brings something special to the ships she...
Building Strong Relationships with Mentors Offshore: How to Overcome Conflicts
I have hit roadblocks and stalemates this past year, not just in my career, but in life, each affecting the other immensely. I had reached a point in my personal life where I was asking family and friends all the time to be a sounding board for my maritime queries,...
Organization of Black Maritime Graduates
Get to know an organization making a HUGE impact in the maritime industry, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates. Founded in 1994, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates (OBMG) has improved education opportunities for underserved students seeking careers...
2021 Women in Maritime Leadership Conference
March 4-5, 2021, attend Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference virtually! Now in its tenth year, California Maritime Academy's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2021 virtual conference will deliver a...
The Secret to Successful Mentoring in Maritime: Insights from Captain Jessie Shifalo
To reduce the gender gap, Women Offshore connects women seeking mentoring with experienced seafarers. Our mentor program, the Women Offshore MentorSHIP, virtually connects both mentors and mentees working in maritime, both onshore and offshore. This program is open to...
Featured Sea Stories
FROM OFFSHORE TO THE TRADE FLOOR, BROOK BALDASSARI AT BP, EPISODE 174
In today's episode, Ally spoke with Brooke Baldassari who is a Senior Products Scheduler at bp. She is a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Logistics and Intermodal Transportation. She has worked as a Ship...
WAVE MAKER MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN JEANNE FERRER, EPISODE 173
In today's episode, we talk with Captain Jeanne Ferrer, a lifelong native of St. Bernard Parish, who graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2006, as a Logistics and Intermodal Transportation major. She is also the recipient of last year's Women...
MANDY CULBREATH – OVERCOMING TRAUMA, EPISODE 169
In today’s episode, Christine MacMillan speaks with Mandy Maude Culbreath who is an Emergency Room Social Worker within a large Louisiana non-profit, academic hospital system. Mandy evaluates patients’ initial emergencies and implements a plan of care with the medical...
FROM SAILING TO CAPTAIN TO HEAD OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS AT MM-SEAS, ALLY SPEAKS WITH SARAH HIRSCH, EPISODE 167
In today's episode, Ally speaks with Sarah Hirsch, the newly appointed Head of Customer Success at MM-SEAS, the go-to provider for the Coast Guard licensing software. From sailing roots to becoming a Captain, she shares her sea stories and how she is trying to make...
CHRISTINE SHARES HER STORY OF FINDING HER VOICE THROUGH NON-CONSENT, EPISODE 166
In today’s episode, Christine speaks about finding her voice while experiencing non-consent when she was younger. She shares how important it is to find your voice and how you can achieve this. Unfortunately for most women+ working offshore some sort of unwanted...
SNEAK PEEK OF THE WOMEN OFFSHORE INCLUSION SUMMIT 2023, EPISODE 165
With the Inclusion Summit 1 week away, we wanted to give you a sneak peek of our Inclusion Summit. Inclusion refers to the practice of creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, identity, abilities, or characteristics, are treated...
Navigate Your Career
Anonymous Email Service for Emotional Support at Safer Waves
Sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender discrimination can be difficult to navigate. Saver Waves was set up in 2019 to provide support to merchant seafarers who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender discrimination on board. These experiences...
Raising Daughters to Pursue Maritime Careers: Empowering the Next Generation
Perspective from a Mother Growing up on the water, I had quite the nautical skill set for a young lady. Anything a boy could do, so could I. But one day my cousin and I were on our great uncle’s powerboat, and that perspective changed. Our great uncle invited my...
Save the Date: Maritime Career Day 2021
SAVE THE DATE FOR WOMEN OFFSHORE'S MARITIME CAREER DAY, MAY 21ST, 2021! The Women Offshore Foundation will host a virtual career day, Friday, May 21st, 2021. Attend panel discussions and exhibitor booths. Network with companies, hear from recruiting experts, and learn...
Building Strong Relationships with Mentors Offshore: How to Overcome Conflicts
I have hit roadblocks and stalemates this past year, not just in my career, but in life, each affecting the other immensely. I had reached a point in my personal life where I was asking family and friends all the time to be a sounding board for my maritime queries,...
Organization of Black Maritime Graduates
Get to know an organization making a HUGE impact in the maritime industry, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates. Founded in 1994, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates (OBMG) has improved education opportunities for underserved students seeking careers...
2021 Women in Maritime Leadership Conference
March 4-5, 2021, attend Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference virtually! Now in its tenth year, California Maritime Academy's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2021 virtual conference will deliver a...
Podcast
LEADING THE LARGEST FERRY SYSTEM: BETH STOWELL ON MARITIME INNOVATION AT WSF, EPISODE 208
In this episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine sits down with Beth Stowell, the Director of Marine Operations at Washington State Ferry System (WSF) – the largest ferry system in the US. Under Beth's visionary leadership, WSF is undergoing a transformational...
Navigating Success with the Women Offshore MentorSHIP Program, Episode 207
In this episode of the Women Offshore podcast, we dive into the transformative journey of our MentorSHIP program, designed to connect and empower women in the maritime industry. Key Highlights: Connecting through Software: Discover how our innovative software...
7 QUESTIONS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE WITH CHRISTINE MACMILLIAN
In this episode, Christine reveals 7 powerful questions that have transformed her perspective on life. She explores how asking the right questions can provide a broader view of our lives and guide us toward a more fulfilling existence. Tune in as we discuss: The lies...
FROM YACHTS TO NON-PROFITS: LIZ SCHMIDT’S JOURNEY TO WOMEN OFFSHORE, EPISODE 205
On today's podcast, we welcome a special guest—Women Offshore's new Executive Director, Liz Schmidt! With over 15 years of experience, Liz brings a wealth of experience both on and off the water, with a robust background in non-profits and captivating sea stories. We...
PROS AND CONS OF MARITIME UNIONS WITH MIRIAM AND CHRISTINE, EPISODE 204
Join Miriam Anthony and Christine MacMillan they dive into a comprehensive discussion about maritime unions, exploring the pros and cons of joining a union versus sailing non-union. They share insights into how unions have evolved over time and the significant impact...
UNVEILING THE DEPTHS: LARKIN BOHN’S PASSION FOR THE JOIDES RESOLUTION, EPISODE 203
Her dedication led her to create YouTube shorts about women offshore and scientific research, turning her hobby into a career. In February 2024, she joined the JOIDES Resolution Research Vessel as a Science Outreach Officer, connecting science with the public. In this...
WOMEN OFFSHORE MENTORSHIP!
Offshore Lifestyle
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in the Maritime Industry
Don’t Despair! Imposter syndrome offshore, have you ever felt that? “Apart from serial narcissists, super low achievers, and outright crazies, no one is immune to the self-doubt that feeds the Impostor Syndrome.” Well, thank goodness that Forbes’ Contributor,...
A Call to Action: How to Advocate for Women in the Maritime Industry
If you've been around our site, you probably recognize this statistic: women make up less than 4% of the offshore workforce. Women Offshore is here to change that and advocating for women offshore As a team of contributors, with a combined total of 65 years working on...
Why Diversity in Maritime Matters: Benefits of an Inclusive Industry
We all probably know at least one person who becomes irate at the idea of companies making an active effort to diversify. This is due to the idea that diversification has a tendency to be demonized as a threat to job security or personal progress to those in the...
Setting Boundaries Offshore: How Women Can Maintain Work-Life Balance
“The word boundaries is scary,” mused the executive consultant sitting next to me. “Perhaps there’s a less emotional word you can use.” We were chatting about how best to frame the workshop that I had developed for women in masculine professional environments. Sitting...
Challenges Faced by Women in the Maritime Industry: Overcoming Obstacles
This article was published in BP's July 2016 issue of Horizon Magazine. I’ve been with BP since 2002. Since then, I’ve held field-based roles in Colorado, New Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico and Angola, and spent extensive time in the field in West Texas, Republic of...
Step Up and Stand In – How to Advocate for Your Development
Sometimes moving your development forward can be a bit like jumping on a moving sidewalk or a ski lift. You have to line yourself up and pick up the pace before you can jump on board, and for many of us, those moments can be a bit jarring. We’ve all heard that our...
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