Women's leadership in shipping must increase

We interviewed Özge Tunç, General Manager of Gold Marine, one of the successful female managers of the maritime sector, about being a woman in maritime. In our conversation, we both got to know Özge Tunç and evaluated the place of women in Turkish maritime. "I do not give up in the face of difficulties, I walk towards the goal with determination. When necessary, I am not afraid to take risks to utilize opportunities," says Tunç, adding that women should be more involved in leadership positions in the sector.

Can you tell us about Özge Tunç?

I started my career at Sadıkoğlu Shipyard in 2005. I have been working professionally in companies for 14 years. Gold Marine was established in 2019, where I am the general manager. I am talented in creating collaborations, team building, and effective communication. I am a person who can motivate a team, create a vision, establish good relationships with my colleagues, have high empathy, be flexible to change and adapt quickly to changing conditions. I do not give up in the face of difficulties, I walk towards the goal without giving up. When necessary, I am not afraid to take risks to seize opportunities. I am a dreamer. I dream a lot, believe it will come true, and work as if it is. For me, success is not only the financial gain or the number of customers I have in my business life. If any of the areas such as happiness, health, family relationships, and personal development are missing, I don't consider myself very happy. The satisfaction and peace of mind I feel when I reach my goal is very important to me. I can say that I feed on customer satisfaction, not on financial gain.

What are the principles you never give up?

I always try to be transparent and fair in my work. I need to be reliable in my business relationships. I pay attention to doing my work on time and with care. I keep my promises and I am responsible towards my work and my colleagues. I strive to be open to innovations and constantly strive to improve myself. In business life, it is important to be customer-oriented, to ensure customer satisfaction and to meet customer needs. I know the importance of cooperation and teamwork in the business environment. I adopt the principle of being flexible and open to change to adapt to rapidly changing business environments. I take care that my work not only provides financial gain but also benefits people and other living beings in our world. Customer satisfaction and employee welfare are important to me. After doing my work properly, I add my rituals on top of it. If I were to criticize myself, I would say this: I am not very professional. It is very difficult for me to separate personal feelings from work. I act by listening to my heart rather than my logic.

How do you evaluate being a woman in business life?

When evaluating women in business life, it is important to focus on their skills, experience, and performance without gender discrimination. Recruitment processes should be fair and impartial. There should be equal opportunities between men and women in the workplace. Women should have the same opportunities as their male colleagues when they have the same skills and performance. Women often have to balance work and family life. More widespread supportive policies, such as flexible working schedules and childcare facilities, can help women pursue their careers.

So, what do you think about the role of women in the maritime industry?

The maritime sector is traditionally a male-dominated field, but in recent years the presence of women in this sector has been increasing. However, there are still fewer women than men in this sector and it is still rare for women to hold senior positions. In Turkey, various steps are being taken to strengthen the position of women in the maritime industry. These include increasing women's access to education and employment opportunities, strengthening gender equality policies, and encouraging women to take leadership positions. The role of women in the maritime sector starts as ship crew or working in maritime-related services. However, it is still less common for women to occupy leadership roles in the maritime sector and rise to positions such as ship captains, engineers, or managers.

In your opinion, what should be done in the maritime industry to ensure equal opportunities?

Women should be offered maritime training and professional improvement opportunities. In addition, women should be given opportunities to pursue careers in ship crewing, port work, and other maritime positions. Maritime companies and organizations should adopt recruitment policies that promote gender equality. I think it is important to reduce the responsibilities that often fall on women in their working conditions, such as flexible working schemes and childcare facilities.

Do you model yourself after successful women?

Of course, successful women are sources of inspiration for both women and society with their courage, determination, and success. There are women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who are successful, especially in business life, whom I also follow and admire. Prof. Dr. Türkan Saylan has made a great impact in Turkey and around the world with her work on equal opportunities in education and women's rights. Her determination and courage are a great source of inspiration for me. Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ has a successful career in the business world and plays an active role not only in business life but also in the fields of culture, arts, and education. Her leadership style and social contributions are exemplary for me.

Do you think women appreciate their fellow women so openly and comfortably?

Social and cultural factors play a major role in the emergence of competition and jealousy among women. In society, women are thought to compete. The perception of success and beauty is socially defined. All these factors strengthen competition.

In reality, many women appreciate and are inspired by other women who are successful in their respective fields. Solidarity, support, and mentoring relationships between women are becoming increasingly important. Solidarity and empathy are common, especially among women who experience the same challenges.

For example, WISTA Turkey, of which I am a member, aims to bring together women working and aspiring to work in the maritime industry to create a network, provide opportunities for collaboration, and support women's career progression. It promotes knowledge sharing among women professionals in the maritime industry, organizes training and mentoring programs, and supports the promotion of women's leadership.

Finally, what advice would you give to women in business following in your footsteps?

An important way to succeed in the maritime industry is to network with other professionals in the industry. You should expand your contacts by attending conferences, seminars, and events. It is important to maintain self-confidence and trust in your abilities, be flexible, have resilience, and stress management skills, and be able to adapt quickly to changing situations.