Recent Stories
American Maritime Unions: Who Says it’s a Man’s World?
There are three maritime officer unions in the American maritime industry; American Maritime Officers (AMO), Marine Engineers Benevolent Association (MEBA), and Master Mates and Pilots (MM&P). Of these three unions, only MEBA has a woman currently in office. Unlimited...
Navigating Pregnancy While Working Offshore: What Women Need to Know
A list of considerations before becoming pregnant offshore or in the maritime industry. First of all, I didn't ask my company ANY questions until I was pregnant. If I had to do it all again, I would have gathered information from my company before starting a family...
Save the Dates! Women Offshore Conference, November 5 & 12, 2021!
Save the dates! Join us Live Online November 5th and 12th! Our 4th-annual conference to be held virtually November 5th and 12th. Join us LIVE online for this virtual event! For the past 4 years, we have united women from around the globe to support one another in...
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...
Featured Sea Stories
ENHANCING LEADERSHIP WITH GRATITUDE FEATURING SHACKLETON’S STORY, EPISODE 179
As Thanksgiving approaches, we're exploring the power of gratitude in leadership. In this episode, we'll also delve into the inspiring story of Ernest Shackleton, a remarkable example of leadership in extreme circumstances. Gratitude is more than just saying 'thank...
THE DARK SIDE OF MERMAID MYTHS, EPISODE 176
In today's episode, with today being Halloween, Ally Cedeno wanted to share some interesting stories about the dark side of mermaids. In this gripping second part, she will venture into the shadowy realms of mermaid lore, shedding light on the dark and mysterious...
THE HISTORY OF MERMAIDS, EPISODE 175
In today's episode, Ally Cedeno is speaking about mermaids and dives into the rich history surrounding these mythical creatures. Join us for part 1 of this special podcast on a journey through time as we unravel the mystery and allure of mermaids. She delves deep into...
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...
Podcast
FROM ISOLATION TO INSPIRATION: CHIEF MATE MADELEINE WOLCZKO’S JOURNEY, EPISODE 210
In this episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine chats with Madeleine Wolczko, a US Merchant Mariner Chief Mate and YouTube content creator. Madeleine reflects on her challenging experience of being stranded in a Shanghai shipyard during the pandemic, sharing...
UNLOCKING SUCCESS: THE POWER OF ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, EPISODE 209
In this heartfelt and insightful episode of the Women Offshore podcast, Christine dives deep into the art of asking the right questions at the right time, depending on your familiarity with someone and the stage of your relationship. Christine explains the 4 types of...
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...
Offshore Lifestyle
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...
From Disney to Drillships: What I learned about Public Speaking
If you are 0.001% of the human population, you absolutely love public speaking. For the rest of us humans, we tolerate it ONLY if necessary. 'Use what you've got.' But for those of us who want to go places and for those who are ready and willing to stand out, we must...




























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