Celebrating International Day for Women in Maritime
Celebrating the brilliant women of Castrol who continue to inspire with their leadership and success.
Voices from across the team
This year's International Women in Maritime Day encourages us to move beyond words on a page and turn gender equality into genuine, everyday practice. At Castrol, we believe that starts with hearing from the women living it.
So we did exactly that: we asked some of the brilliant women across our business, from technical specialists to managers, to share their stories in their own words. Real change doesn't come from strategy and ambition alone; it comes from the day-to-day experiences, the hard-won lessons, and the voices of the women doing the work. We asked them:
- What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
Their answers are honest, warm and full of wisdom. We hope you find them as inspiring as we do.
Efstathia Birrou
GME Distributor Account Manager
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
They will have to build strong commercial and operational expertise, to always seek opportunities for learning, and build a strong network among people of the industry. In the maritime sector a woman needs to have adaptability and confidence especially since its traditionally a male‑dominated industry.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would advise myself to defend more my opinion and speak up with confidence and embrace challenges without fear of imperfection. Every role, even support ones, can become a foundation for leadership and impact.
Katherine Colvin
Senior Environmental Toxicologist
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
You lead your career, create your own space. Actively seek out, and take, every opportunity. Always interview your interviewers, don’t be afraid to walk away if a role or team doesn’t feel ‘right’. Build a work community of people that both challenge and bring you joy.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
The same advice given by a mentor, ‘you know what you are doing, trust your gut!’. Stay passionate and persistent. Protect your work life balance: rest, and perspective, is needed for accurate decision making.
Susana Costa
Global Marine & Energy Product Manager
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
Maritime reflects what I love the most: cultures, geography, and people. Maritime allows you to work across geographies and time zones, connecting and collaborating with different cultures and learning from them every day. Maritime builds the respect for a diverse and integrated world, while contributing to safe navigation and care for others and the environment.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Ground every decision in real understanding—know your customers, listen deeply to the market, and never lose sight of impact. Success isn’t just about high‑performing products or perfect operations; it’s about creating value that truly matters.
Nikoleta Delagrammatika
Global Business Development Manager
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
Follow your dreams and don’t let others limit you. Keep learning, stay strong, and believe in yourself. Ask for support when you need it and don’t be afraid to speak up. The maritime world needs more women - your voice and perspective truly matter.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
When I first entered the maritime world, many implied some roles weren’t for women. I would tell my younger self: believe in yourself, ignore limitations, and focus on your dreams. As Elytis’ spirit suggests, keep your course toward your own horizon - the sea rewards those who dare.
Eda Gokay
Global Marine and Energy Marketing Director
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
Maritime industry is a world for those with resilience, curiosity and passion for global connection. My advice is: never accept “no” as a final answer. Be determined and understand the entire ecosystem. The more diverse the experiences you integrate to your toolkit today, the more indispensable you become for leadership roles of tomorrow. Seek our mentors that value competence over gender. And most importantly, remember that your unique perspective is exactly what the industry needs to innovate and navigate through the decarbonised, digitalised future.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her that every experience is a deposit into your future leadership. At the start, you might feel impatient but every challenge and different role is preparing you for a seat that you cant’ yet see. Stay relentlessly open to learning and consciously collect varied experiences, even those that seem outside your direct path. Integrating these different perspectives is what will eventually allow you to make the right moves with confidence. Trust the dots will connect; being determined and staying curious won’t just move you forward; it will ensure to make you ready for your next moves.
Shalini Kashyap
CEO, Castrol Global Marine and Energy
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
The industry still has a long way to go to overcome the barriers we face across the sector. But the maritime sector is literally an ocean of opportunity, with amazing people and an industry that is rewarding from the very beginning. From my personal journey from consultancy to the CEO role today, you have to have confidence in yourself, resilience and clarity of what this sector demands and how you can contribute to unlock the best in this industry. If you are considering a career in maritime, then you should go for it with confidence.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
There a few pieces of advice I would give my younger self: Trust your instincts about the choices you make, be kind to yourself and enjoy the little wins that form part of your bigger story. In my own life, I often focus on the areas where I could have been better or on what could have been. But don’t let these moments cloud your story. Be proud of what you have achieved and what you will go on to achieve. This is about striking a balance between being reflective but also celebrating the wins.
Carmen Ferreiro Lorenzo
Area Sales Manager for Europe and Africa
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
I would encourage them to step forward as a catalyst for positive transformation. The marine industry needs women who are eager to champion inclusivity and foster a welcoming space where everyone, regardless of gender, background, or viewpoint, can thrive and advance together. I would also urge them to embrace what makes them unique, because their distinct talents and perspective are their greatest assets!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay true to who you are and have confidence in your own abilities. Trust your instincts, no matter how uncertain things might seem. And remember that seeking support is not a weakness, but a sign of strength. After all, we are all human, and leaning on others is the bravest thing you can do!
Eleni Peppa
Marine Technical Service Manager
What advice would you give to women considering a career in maritime today?
Maritime is indeed a sector where Women can thrive. No two days are the same and to cope with constant change, imagination, creativity, quick thinking but also empathy and resilience are qualities strongly needed. So yes, go ahead either onboard or ashore in engineering or navigation, banking or sales there are brilliant opportunities for Women today.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
During the time of my studies and early career stages, we used to give emphasis on academic excellence on the one hand and the quality of our work on the other. While this is important, we often neglect to acquire a portfolio of skills necessary in today's working environment such as communication of goals, selling among departments, giving feedback: positive and negative, stress management and many others.
