Esmeralda Arkesteijn -Director of Business Development
On this website, women from the maritime sector share their stories. This is the story of Nuvara Uslu Erdonmez.
What kind of work do you do?
The maritime world is kind of in my blood. My father is an inland waterway skipper, and as a family we were often on board. My grandfather and uncle were also sailors. When I started working as a management assistant, a maritime employer appealed to me the most, even if I wasn’t fully aware of it at the time. I then moved into sales, and two years ago I started a maritime maintenance company with two colleagues.
We realized that maintenance could be handled much more efficiently than is often the case today. Which spare parts do you have in stock, and which don’t? When do you fly someone in to perform specialized repairs? If you take a strategic approach to maintenance, you can make much smarter decisions. For example, you also factor in risks, operational considerations, and the condition of the equipment on board. We also analyze data, which allows us to provide highly targeted and efficient maintenance.
My two male business partners know the most about the technical side and the day-to-day operations; I mainly focus on the business side. I work on raising the company’s profile, handle marketing, and meet with clients and potential clients. I’m also involved in operations, specifically in maintenance concepts and life cycle management. That’s incredibly rewarding: working with a client to see how we can optimize maintenance so that operations run more smoothly. I really see that it makes a difference, and I love that.
Does being a woman play a role in your work?
Early in my career, I often felt like I had to prove myself by making it clear that I knew what I was talking about. But I didn’t really feel any different from men, although I think I did subconsciously adapt to be “one of the guys.” When I board a ship, I’m more often aware of being a woman. You can tell that the crew is watching and finds it interesting.
I feel like an equal partner. Sometimes my business partners tell me that I bring things to the table they hadn’t thought of—things you might call “feminine.” I add a personal touch to client interactions; for example, I keep track of anniversaries. Although I do have quite a bit of technical knowledge, it’s clear that my business partners can go into much greater depth. Very occasionally I think, “Oh dear, can I keep up?” but that’s always because I lack technical knowledge, not because I’m a woman.
What do you like most about your job?
Dat stuk staal vind ik gewoon heel mooi. En de hele maritieme wereld is groots en tegelijk klein: iedereen kent elkaar, al leer ik nog steeds nieuwe mensen kennen. Heel mooi vind ik dat er een grote gunfactor in de branche heerst. Als startend bedrijf merken we dat mensen zien dat we echt iets bieden en ons ook gunnen dat we floreren.
Ik kom minder vaak op schepen, soms mis ik dat. De geuren en geluiden van vroeger vind ik fantastisch, en dan denk ik soms ‘waarom ben ik eigenlijk niet gaan varen?’
When I get on board a ship, I’m often more aware of being a woman. You can tell that the crew is looking at me and finds it interesting