Maritime veteran turned leadership coach, an inspiring story for industry women
- Founder and managing director, Empowered Leadership Institute AS
- Co-founder and first president of Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Norway
- TEDx Stavanger, Speakers Coach
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and a member of International Coaching Federation (ICF)
When I was a little girl, I was inspired by my grandmother. She was sailing on tankers in worldwide trade. I wanted to become a telegraphist on board one of those ships, the operator onboard that communicated with the world. The career became obsolete as the telegraphs were replaced by other communication methods including radio and satellite. I made this commitment to myself that I really wanted to work with tankers.
In my first job, I went sailing on a tanker for almost two weeks in stormy weather and heavy seas in the early ’80s.
I have had a successful career with more than 40 years of professional experience in shipping, both commercial and maritime. I have extensive and broad experience within international shipping. Leadership and teamwork, business development, strategic planning, marketing strategy and negotiations, organizational development, coaching and talent management, improvement and change processes, contract, project and performance management, and building customer relations. I am the result: solution-oriented, structured and analytical, inspiring and enthusiastic, a people person; a connector and relator, with an extensive network, high integrity, and loyalty.
I started to work in Statoil as part of the maritime transportation department. I quickly went from operation to chartering of vessels and learned so much. I was one of the very few females working in shipping, and I was introduced to WISTA in the mid-80s. In just a year, I and a few women established WISTA Norway, and I became the chair of the organization. We set up the first WISTA conference in Norway in 1987.
Later I got the opportunity to work both in London, Stockholm, and Stamford, Connecticut. As a charterer, I was the first female on the shipping desk in Stockholm and the first shipping person working in the U.S. for Statoil.
After I did my Master of Management, I got the role of fleet manager in Teekay, reporting via Glasgow to Vancouver. Later I was heading up procurement and my team was in Stavanger, Glasgow and Rio de Janeiro. As a procurement manager, I had to move the purchasing function to the Philippines. Change management involving letting people go was tough, however, I was leading from the heart and followed up in a way which I later had much positive feedback for.
One of the biggest and toughest projects I was involved in was project Tradewind
We replaced 200 Norwegian seafarers with Filipinos. I decided to be part of this project because I believed I could make a difference. When the project was completed and we had a reflection and learning session all the seafarers who wanted a new job had got one. These were huge transformations for both the individuals and the organization.
Being a part of the Talent Board in Teekay gave me the opportunity to support high achievers and be part of a board where the focus was on people and development.
I have brought all of my skills and experience together, successfully pursued coaching certifications and now founded Empower Leadership Institute. Designed to set people and organizations up for success based on value-based leadership and culture.
Eli will be the lead speaker for the Women in Breakbulk Europe 2024 program:
Women in Breakbulk Brunch
Tuesday, 21 May from noon until 14:30
Rotterdam Ahoy
Women in Breakbulk Main Stage Session
Wednesday, 22 May from 15:45 to 16:30
