“Be ambitious, have vision for yourself. Find what you love and want to do,” Maran Gas Maritime’s first female captain told the upcoming generation.
Speaking at the Gastech Virtual Summit, 34-year-old Captain Iro Gidakou urged young people coming into the energy industries to find mentors and train themselves.
“I believe that if you want to succeed with a lot of work the success will come,” she said.
Gidakou, who took the crown as Maran Gas’ first woman captain last year, was speaking as one of three “Rising star” finalists in ExxonMobil’s Power Play awards alongside Karpowership commercial officer Zeynep Harezi and Schlumberger product and service delivery manager Mervin Azeta.
The Cypriot-born master mariner, who has a degree in maritime transportation and an MSC in shipping and finance, is not done with study yet and hopes complete her MBA in shipping in 2022.
Former rising star category winner Eni external relations manager Jocelyne Machevo, who moderated the event, said the award had brought her many opportunities, amplified her voice and increased her network across the energy chain.
She asked the three women on the panel what they want to achieve.
Hints on Haiti
Harezi, who is 32 and from Turkey, studied economics and philosophy and completed an MBA in London before joining Karpowership in 2010 said her career objective is to find solutions to the challenging energy problems of developing countries and increase access to electricity in a clean and economic way
The Rising Star – presented to an outstanding female professional, age 35 or younger
The Vanguard – given to a male or female professional who displays outstanding leadership
The Rainmaker – awarded to a female professional who has delivered exceptional value and business results
The 2020 award winners will be announced on 16 September
“I believe LNG is the right complementary solution to renewables, especially as baseload,” she said, adding that there is a need to “think outside the box” to make it widely available.
Harezi’s first project with Karpowership was in Iraq and she has worked all over West Africa.
She spoke on camera to the session en route from Haiti where she reveals she hopes to be signing a 100-MW LNG-to-power project next week.
Gidakou pointed to the well-known fact that the LNG sector and shipping is a male dominated industry.
“If you have passion for something you have to follow it. I hope in the long term to be a leader inspiring person to assist other women and men to further develop their career and first steps," she said.
Recruitment and retention
Machevo tackled the question of recruitment and retention of young people.
Gidakou said young people are ambitious but companies have to be ready to train, mentor and invest in strategies that will increase the retention rate within the company.
Don’t be afraid to lead and don’t be afraid to shine. It’s a great time to be a working woman
Zeynap Harezi
Azeta, who is from Nigeria but is currently working in Congo, said it is important to have constructive conversations with young people early enough and take chances on them.
“Purpose is very important for the young generation ... and not just the money,” she said.
To retain them we must do away with some of the structures in the industry, she said.
“Sometimes we really need to take the unconventional approach to doing things” to allow young people to explore their curiosities, she said.
Harezi echoed this.
Speaking about the young people coming into the industry, she said: “What they really care about is making an impact and the environment. They all want to leave a mark and have their personal touch and see what their impact is. That really motivates them.”
Asked to give a final message to young talent coming into the energy industry, Azeta said there are many opportunities out there to make a difference.
But she said: “You need to be creating value. You can be anything you want to be,” she said, urged them to be team players.
Harezi told women they should not be afraid to lead.
“And don’t be afraid to shine,” she said.
She urged women to be more welcoming to challenging roles and not be afraid to fail to give better role models.
“It’s a great time to be a working woman,” Harezi said.
