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Episode 250 of the Women Offshore Podcast marks a major milestone — not just in episode count, but in the evolution of Women Offshore itself. In this special episode, Executive Director Liz Schmidt and Director of Career Development Christine MacMillan reflect on the podcast’s origins, its role in documenting the organization’s journey, and how far the maritime industry has come in addressing topics once rarely discussed. When the Women Offshore Podcast launched, it was one of the very first initiatives of the organization — a simple but powerful way to amplify women’s voices, share lived experiences offshore, and create connection across a global, often-isolated workforce. What began as a platform for storytelling quickly became an archive of leadership, career pathways, challenges, and change. Over 250 episodes, the podcast has captured milestones both big and small: firsts in leadership roles, career pivots, hard conversations about inclusion and safety, and moments of celebration and reflection. It has chronicled not only individual journeys, but the collective progress of an industry learning to listen, adapt, and grow. In this milestone episode, Liz and Christine reflect on how conversations that once felt niche — around representation, mentorship, mental health, leadership styles, and workplace culture — are now more widely embraced across maritime and offshore sectors. The podcast stands as a time capsule of that evolution, showing how far the industry has come and where it still has room to grow. They also discuss why storytelling remains central to Women Offshore’s mission. While policies, programs, and initiatives matter, it is often through shared experiences that real understanding and momentum are built. Episode 250 is both a celebration and a recommitment — to continue elevating voices, documenting progress, and creating space for honest conversation offshore.  Tune in to Episode 250 to reflect on the journey, celebrate the milestones, and look ahead to what’s next for Women Offshore.

In Episode 249 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Women Offshore Executive Director Liz Schmidt sits down live at METSTRADE in Amsterdam with Meg Reilly. She is a circumnavigator, sustainability leader, and global change-maker for an inspiring conversation at the intersection of sailing, leadership, and impact. Meg’s journey began far from the sea. After building a successful career on Madison Avenue, she made the bold decision to step away and pursue a lifelong dream: sailing around the world. In 2013–14, she competed in — and won — the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, an experience that reshaped her understanding of teamwork, resilience, and global interconnectedness. Today, Meg blends her offshore experience with her background in communications, leadership, and diplomacy to help international brands, governments, NGOs, and events develop sustainable strategies and inclusive communities. She holds an MBA from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she deepened her focus on sustainability, governance, and global systems. Meg currently serves as Marketing Chair for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and leads sustainability initiatives across the maritime and sporting industries. Her work emphasizes collaboration, cultural understanding, and the role sport and sailing can play in advancing environmental and social progress. Recorded live on the show floor at METSTRADE, this episode captures the energy of a global maritime gathering and highlights how leadership on the water translates into leadership on the world stage.  Tune in to Episode 249 to hear Meg share how winning an around-the-world race changed her career, why sustainability requires diplomacy, and how the maritime industry can lead by example.

In Episode 248 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Captain Rima Fe Lumangtad, Tidewater’s first Filipino female Master, to talk about her remarkable journey to the bridge — and the leadership values guiding her command today. Rima’s love for the sea began in childhood along the coastlines of the Philippines, where watching vessels pass sparked a dream that never faded. After college, she began her maritime career in 2005 working on a ferry, earning onboard promotions before becoming Chief Officer in the local shipping industry. In 2010, she joined Tidewater as a trainee Second Officer and continued to rise through the ranks, promoted to Chief Officer in 2013. In 2019, Rima made the difficult decision to step away from sailing to focus on family. But the call of the sea remained strong. With the support of her husband and family, she returned to Tidewater in 2022 — and in 2025, while working in Ghana, she received an unexpected email that would change her career: she had been promoted to Master. In July 2025, Captain Rima took command of her first vessel, Pacific Gull, in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Today, she leads a diverse, multinational crew with humility, professionalism, and a strong commitment to equality, safety, and respect onboard. As a leader, Captain Rima is clear about her priorities: zero tolerance for bullying or harassment, open communication with her crew, and leading without privilege. She believes trust is built through consistency, fairness, and presence — not rank alone. In this episode, Captain Rima reflects on navigating a male-dominated industry, balancing motherhood and sea life, and the mentors who shaped her along the way. Her story is one of quiet determination, deep integrity, and the power of staying true to your calling.  Tune in to Episode 248 to hear Captain Rima’s story in her own words — and be inspired by a leader who proves that strength and kindness can coexist on the bridge.

In this episode, we’re bringing you a replay of one of our most popular live events—Ask an Ambassador! Liz Schmidt hosts an honest and uplifting conversation with several of our Ambassadors, answering questions directly from the Women Offshore community. Whether you’re new to the industry or navigating your next steps, you’ll find encouragement and takeaways you can use today. We’d love to hear what stood out to you—reach out on social and share your thoughts!  

In Episode 246 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Deb Ryan, CEO and Founder of Swan Mountain Advisory, and one of the newest members of the Women Offshore Board. With nearly 20 years of experience across emissions management, carbon markets, and the upstream oil and gas industry, Deb brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic insight, and global perspective. Deb has built her career at the intersection of engineering, energy, and climate. A licensed Professional Engineer in both Colorado and Texas, she holds degrees in Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and an MBA — a foundation that has enabled her to lead across operators, consulting, and analytics firms such as S&P Global. Today, Deb runs Swan Mountain Advisory, where she helps organizations navigate the rapidly changing world of carbon management, including emissions reduction, financed emissions, transition risk, and the evolving carbon markets landscape. Her voice is widely sought after, and she has addressed international audiences at CERAWeek, International Energy Week, APPEC, and more. Her leadership extends into board service as well — with positions at AlphaX Decision Sciences, Geofinancial Analytics, and 1089.inc, where she advises on AI integration, methane data analysis, and carbon market methodologies. She is also faculty at the University of Colorado Denver, teaching “Carbon Markets for Business.” In this episode, Deb shares her journey from petroleum engineer to carbon strategy expert, what companies often misunderstand about emissions, and how the energy transition is reshaping opportunities across the maritime and offshore workforce. She also reflects on what it means to join the Women Offshore Board and why representation and mentorship are essential for the future.  Tune in to Episode 246 to gain a deeper understanding of carbon markets, climate risk, and the real-world decisions shaping tomorrow’s energy landscape.

In Episode 245 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan speaks with Gladys DeClouet, author of A Layered Life: Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Black Woman in Corporate America, about her incredible journey across two male-dominated industries—offshore oil and gas, and the restaurant business. Gladys began her career at Conoco Oil as the first female engineer in offshore exploration and production, blazing a trail for women in energy long before diversity initiatives were standard practice. Over the next 30 years, she rose through the ranks at BP, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, leading multi-billion-dollar divisions, building diverse, high-performing teams, and setting new standards for operational excellence. Her story is one of grit, grace, and growth—from breaking barriers as both a woman and a person of color to mentoring the next generation of leaders. Gladys brings warmth and wisdom to her reflections, sharing insights from her memoir A Layered Life, which dives into the complexities of identity, perseverance, and purpose.  Tune in to Episode 245 to hear Gladys discuss how she turned adversity into opportunity, what leadership truly means, and why mentoring is one of the most powerful legacies we can leave behind. Learn more about A Layered Life at gladysdeclouet.com.

In Episode 244 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Executive Director Liz Schmidt and Director of Career Development Christine MacMillan sit down for an open and honest conversation about resiliency—and why it may be time to rethink how we talk about it. Resilience is often celebrated as the hallmark of success, especially for women working offshore in a male-dominated industry. But what happens when “being resilient” becomes an expectation rather than an empowering choice? Liz and Christine explore the fine line between healthy resilience—the ability to adapt and recover—and resilience fatigue, where constant endurance starts to take a toll on mental health, identity, and joy in the work itself. They share their own perspectives from years of working in maritime, discussing how women often feel the need to prove themselves over and over again, showing strength in every situation. But the truth is, resilience shouldn’t have to mean running on empty. This candid conversation dives into: The myth of endless toughness The cost of resilience without support How we can redefine strength as authenticity, balance, and connection  Tune in to Episode 244 to hear Liz and Christine’s honest reflections—and join us as we reshape what it truly means to thrive offshore.

In Episode 243 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Phoebe Rogers—a sailor, educator, and adventurer whose life is defined by courage, curiosity, and the call of the ocean. Phoebe calls herself a mountain girl at heart with a sailing problem. Her love for sailing began at age 14 on Lake Tahoe, racing with her stepfather aboard a Melges 24. But that early spark evolved into something much bigger: a calling to live fully, challenge limits, and connect people to themselves and the sea. In 2020, Phoebe made a life-changing decision. She left her job as a legal assistant to pursue sailing full-time, chasing her passion for adventure and teaching. Today, she holds both a USCG Master’s MMC and a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification, and has worked on vessels ranging from 72-foot adventure yachts to quick little dinghies used for sail training. For Phoebe, sailing is far more than a skill or a job—it’s a medium for personal transformation. Whether navigating through remote stretches of ocean or leading crews through challenging conditions, she finds fulfillment in helping others safely live out their wildest sailing dreams. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that crew work, selective adversity, and adventure have the power to connect us—to the environment, to each other, and to ourselves.  Tune in to Episode 243 to hear Phoebe’s story of courage, transformation, and the pursuit of a life truly lived offshore.

In Episode 242 of the Women Offshore Podcast, I sit down with Andrea Tagliaferro, founder of Yacht Femme, a platform born from her desire to amplify women’s voices in the yachting industry. With more than 10 years in yachting—spanning yacht design, marketing, and content—Andrea has transformed Yacht Femme into a multimedia community hub of networking, recognition, and empowerment. Andrea’s story began with Yacht Dame, created in 2018 after she attended the Monaco Yacht Show. Within a week, she launched a social media project to connect women around her. That project evolved into Yacht Femme, which now includes podcasts, awards, events, and community-driven storytelling. In our conversation, Andrea shares: Her early days designing yachts and navigating a male-dominated sectorHow she merged her skills in marketing and storytelling to create a women-led platformThe motivations behind launching the Women’s Yachting Awards and expanding Yacht Femme’s offeringsHer vision for the future: more equity in visibility, more women at the table, and deeper narratives for the industry Tune in to Episode 242 to hear Andrea’s journey firsthand, and discover how giving women space, voice, and connection can change the way yachting is seen and led.

In Episode 241 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Samantha Cibelli, Sales Director at Kongsberg Maritime, to explore her 15-year career across sea service, commercial operations, and maritime technology. Samantha’s path began in the U.S. Coast Guard, where she served on active duty as a Marine Inspector in Houston, TX, leading teams through Flag State and Port State Control examinations. From there, she moved into sailing commercially as a deck officer aboard U.S. Flag vessels, including tankers, passenger ships, and research vessels. In 2015, Samantha transitioned shoreside, taking on operations and commercial management roles with Siem Car Carriers and later Maersk, where she held multiple leadership positions in trade and product management. In 2024, she joined Kongsberg Maritime, where she now leads new construction sales for the North American passenger vessel segment. With a B.S. in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M and an MBA from Northeastern University, Samantha brings both technical expertise and business acumen to her work. She is passionate about the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and international trade—and about mentoring and coaching high-functioning teams to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.  Tune in to Episode 241 to hear Samantha’s insights on career growth, leadership, and the future of maritime technology.

In Episode 240 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Andrew Bruhl, mariner-turned-entrepreneur and founder of ShipShape Health, to explore the importance of physical and mental wellbeing in the maritime industry.Andrew’s journey began with a chance encounter on a ship passing through the Pascagoula Channel—a moment that inspired him to enroll at Texas Maritime Academy. After three years sailing tankers and container ships, he experienced firsthand how demanding life at sea could be. Long hours, stress, and limited food and fitness options made staying healthy nearly impossible.“I quickly realized how essential fitness was to both performance and safety at sea,” Andrew shares. “But I also saw a gap—crews lacked the tools and accountability they needed to thrive offshore.”That realization became the foundation of ShipShape Health, a wellness company designed by mariners, for mariners. ShipShape provides custom workouts, nutrition strategies, and accountability systems tailored to vessel life. To date, the program has logged over 10,000 workouts, lifted millions of pounds, and helped hundreds of mariners lose weight, gain strength, and reclaim their energy.But Andrew’s vision goes beyond individual fitness. ShipShape is working with mariners, companies, and insurers to raise health standards across the maritime industry—making wellness as integral as safety training. With a growing team of coaches, videographers, and partners, Andrew is leading a movement to ensure mariners can sail strong, safe, and healthy for years to come. Tune in to Episode 240  to hear Andrew’s story, the inspiration behind ShipShape, and practical strategies you can use to improve your own health offshore.

In Episode 239 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Ana Čalić—a dynamic leader in the boating industry, and a passionate advocate for sustainability, diversity, and innovation. With a Master’s in Science, Business, and Innovation from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Energy and Sustainability, Ana’s mission is clear: to drive meaningful change at the intersection of technology, environment, and community. Ana serves as Business and Marketing Development lead at her family company, Navela, elevating the boating experience for boatbuilders, dealers, charter companies, and individual customers through seamless service and cutting-edge propulsion systems. Her work ensures that clients not only get world-class equipment, but also forward-thinking solutions for the future of boating. Beyond Navela, Ana is the founder of Women in Nautica, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to empowering women across the global boating industry. The platform includes an international conference, a magazine, and a podcast. The inaugural conference will take place on November 19th, 2025, followed by the next on December 3rd, 2026, and promises to unveil three exciting new project tiers. In this episode, Ana shares her vision for creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative industry—and the pivotal role women will play in shaping the future.  Listen now to Episode 239 to hear Ana’s story, her insights on sustainability in boating, and her mission to create space for women in every corner of the maritime world.

In this week’s episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, I sit down with Hayley Adlam, a woman whose career spans the world’s oceans and crosses industry boundaries. Hayley, now the Fleet Services Technical Interface Manager and Marine Environment UK Deputy at ASN, shares a compelling journey marked by technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and a deep-rooted commitment to mentorship. Hayley's offshore career began with a spark—her first trip with Gardline as a Marine Mammal Observer in 2006—which ignited a passion for the marine environment. Since then, she’s charted a path through the complex world of offshore wind farm construction, submarine telecommunications, and even Antarctic scientific observation. From working on Greenpeace's Esperanza, to supporting the British Antarctic Survey in the remote South Georgia islands, Hayley's experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Her story is not only technical—it’s personal. In our conversation, Hayley reflects on how early exposure to STEM (think sandcastles, boat rides, and her first PC) laid the groundwork for a life connecting people across oceans. She also opens up about her time as a freelance surveyor and offshore site manager, navigating a male-dominated field with tenacity and grace. Now, with over a decade of offshore work behind her, Hayley is leveraging her experience to advocate for sustainability, playing a pivotal role in global initiatives such as the UN Corporate Data Group and ASN’s fish aggregating device mitigation strategy. She’s also a fierce supporter of Women Offshore, encouraging others to join as mentors or mentees to help shape the next generation of seafaring women. This episode is a celebration of how resilience, curiosity, and technical skill can lead to unexpected places—from the North Sea to Antarctica—and how one woman’s journey can help inspire many more.  Tune in to hear Hayley’s story—and don’t forget to check out the Women Offshore MentorSHIP program to get involved.

Welcome to the Women Offshore Podcast! This is Episode 237. Christine first catches up with Liz Schmidt, Executive Director of Women Offshore. Then Christine has the chance to interview Fraser Flight about his bid to race in the Global Solo Challenge in 2027. This event is solo, nonstop, and unsupported. It's known as one of the most grueling races on the water, and Fraser has spent his life mentally preparing for this.  Fraser Flight, a Zimbabwean-born Sailor, is on his way to become the first person from this small landlocked country to sail around the world, alone, with no outside assistance and without stopping. With 11 years in the professional maritime industry and a lifetime of sailing and racing, he is well-positioned to compete in the Global Solo Challenge in 2027. Join us as we hear more about his preparations for his landmark voyage and the charities he is supporting on his way around the world.  Check out his website for more information: https://flightaroundtheworld.co.uk/  Don’t Miss an Episode! Make sure you’re subscribed to the Women Offshore Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode! Did you know that every episode of our podcast is created and managed entirely in-house? Our dedicated team at Women Offshore pours their hearts into bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from the maritime industry. This work is made possible through the generous support of our community. Every donation—big or small—helps us amplify voices, create meaningful change, and support the maritime industry. If you’d like to be part of this mission, click here to contribute: https://womenoffshore.org/donation/ Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.  Thank you for being part of the Women Offshore community!

What looks like steady successes compounding over time can feel like a long, slow climb during the process. Christalove Agyin-Ayetse is a proud Ghanaian from the Fante tribe who helped fulfill her father's dream of becoming a merchant mariner.  During this interview, Christine MacMillan and Christalove discuss what life is like in Ghana, what loyalty and community mean to her, and the struggles of making her way in the industry that hasn't always been inviting.  She shares her belief that technical competence can be trained, BUT behavioral competence is the values learned in the home. She thinks more emphasis should be placed on finding quality individuals with strong behavioral competence and then training them to be technically competent.  She also shares a personal story about how generalizations hurt. Many Western cultures lump all African nations into a single category, and this has detrimental consequences when seeking quality mariners in the untapped reserves of the world.  Don’t Miss an Episode! Make sure you’re subscribed to the Women Offshore Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode! Did you know that every episode of our podcast is created and managed entirely in-house? Our dedicated team at Women Offshore pours their hearts into bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from the maritime industry. This work is made possible through the generous support of our community. Every donation—big or small—helps us amplify voices, create meaningful change, and support the maritime industry. If you’d like to be part of this mission, click here to contribute: https://womenoffshore.org/donation/ Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.  Thank you for being part of the Women Offshore community!