MANILA — As it celebrated the second She Beyond Conference in the Philippine capital, the Columbia Group has issued a passionate call to action for the global maritime industry, urging stakeholders to move beyond initial recruitment and actively build a future where women can thrive, progress, and lead at sea.
The high-profile event, held alongside Crew Connect Global in Manila, brought together a diverse group of female seafarers, industry executives, and maritime professionals. The gathering served as a vital platform for participants to share personal experiences, forge professional connections, and explore strategic ways the sector can foster greater opportunities for women across the entirety of their maritime careers.
While the maritime industry has increasingly turned its attention toward gender diversity in recent years, leadership within the Columbia Group emphasized that simply getting women through the door is no longer enough. The core message resonating from the Manila conference was that the industry must place equal emphasis on retention, career development, and leadership pathways if gender equality is to become a reality on the world’s oceans.
Refining the Focus: From Recruitment to Long-Term Career Sustainability
Addressing the attendees in Manila, Claudia Paschkewitz, director of sustainability, inclusion, and diversity at the Columbia Group, underscored the evolution that must take place within maritime human resources and corporate boardrooms. She pointed out that while attracting talent remains an important early step, it represents only the beginning of a much larger journey toward true workplace equity.
"We have spent years talking about attracting more women into maritime, but recruitment is only the beginning," Paschkewitz stated during the conference. She elaborated that the true benchmark for measuring genuine progress within the sector is not merely headcount statistics at the entry level, but rather whether female professionals are being provided with genuinely equal opportunities to stay, progress, and build long-term, sustainable careers.
Paschkewitz noted that the industry must look far beyond the initial hiring phase to examine whether women are actively supported, systematically promoted, and given unhindered access to senior leadership roles. According to her perspective, if maritime organizations are truly serious about achieving meaningful gender equality, retention and upward career progression must receive the exact same level of institutional attention, investment, and strategic planning that is currently dedicated to recruitment campaigns.
The urgency of this shift is underscored by broader industry data regarding female representation at sea. According to the latest IMO–WISTA Women in Maritime Survey, which was published in May 2025, women currently account for a starkly low one percent of seafarers employed by the organizations surveyed. This sobering statistic highlights the persistent, structural challenges facing women in the sector and reinforces the ongoing, critical need for comprehensive strategies that encompass robust recruitment, dedicated retention efforts, and accelerated career development opportunities.
Fostering Community and Mentorship at Sea
To combat the isolation that female seafarers can sometimes experience in a historically male-dominated industry, the Columbia Group has actively developed targeted initiatives designed to support women from the moment they step onto a vessel. A cornerstone of this approach is the company’s Female Cadet Mentorship Program.
The mentorship initiative works by systematically pairing women who are newly entering the profession with seasoned, experienced mentors. These mentors provide vital practical advice, daily encouragement, and steady emotional support as the cadets navigate the steep learning curve of adjusting to life at sea. By bridging the gap between shore-side preparation and real-world shipboard operations, the program helps build resilience and confidence among female newcomers.
Through the broader framework of the She Beyond initiative, the Columbia Group aims to cultivate an enduring community of women seafarers. This network is designed to empower women to support one another, openly share their unique lived experiences, and learn continuously from each other’s professional journeys throughout their maritime careers.
Simona Toma, chief of maritime HR at the Columbia Group, emphasized the immense value of listening directly to the workforce to shape future policies. She noted that the She Beyond conference provides an essential, dedicated opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from female seafarers and gain a clearer understanding of what maritime organizations can and must do to better support them.
"Our responsibility does not end when a female cadet joins her first vessel," Toma asserted. "We must ensure she has the support, encouragement, and opportunities to develop into an experienced officer and, ultimately, a maritime leader."
Addressing Everyday Needs Onboard
Beyond mentorship and high-level career planning, the Columbia Group highlighted the importance of addressing the everyday practical needs and realities that women face while working onboard commercial vessels. Ensuring the health, safety, and comfort of female crew members remains a fundamental pillar of creating an inclusive shipboard culture.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the group pointed to practical initiatives such as its specialized iCare Packs for Women Seafarers. These care packages are thoughtfully designed to provide essential medical readiness items and personal care products tailored specifically to women. By addressing these foundational everyday needs onboard, the initiative demonstrates a holistic understanding of what it takes to create a comfortable, respectful, and equitable working environment on ships navigating the world’s shipping lanes.
