In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Mr. Bernard van Haeringen, Commercial Manager, GoodFuels, who strongly believes in the power of collective to work towards a better world. He also describes how he joined the maritime industry, noting that his passion about sustainability and his overall lifestyle and mindset have led him into this career path, for which is really excited.
However, he would love to see the availability of biofuels in more locations around the world; becoming more accessible, with a growth in demand and, in turn, supply.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Bernard van Haeringen: Well, you can say it was aligned a bit in the stars. My father and grandfather both worked in the shipping industry, and even though I studied history, I ended up working in the marine salvage industry straight out of university. I was immediately hooked. The high adrenaline, offshore trips and traveling for 1-2 months at a time was a really fun and exciting experience. Eventually the job took me to Houston, Texas where I worked for three years in emergency preparedness and emergency response. The wide-open Texan spaces and distance from city life lent me an unobstructed view of the night sky that I didn’t get to appreciate too often while living in the Netherlands. And one day it all clicked: we’re just a small piece of this universe and there’s so much we don’t know, but I do know we’re on this beautiful planet and we need to take care of it. Living near NASA made me think about worlds beyond my own and impassioned me to find a career that valued our planet and its precious resources. Soon after, I moved back to Amsterdam and started searching for a mission-driven, high-impact company with high-growth potential. I found GoodFuels and haven’t looked back since!
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
BvH.: I would have to say it’s the potential to really forge connections with people that come from a different background, with a different agenda, and find a common ground that unites us. Especially when finding that common ground means we can do something good for the planet. The shipping industry can be quite conservative and slow to change, which presents some unique challenges. But overcoming these challenges means that we’ve broken down barriers and are closer to making a positive environmental impact. On the flip side, it’s also a pleasure to work alongside the more progressive people in the shipping industry. There’s a lot of change to be made so it’s incredibly exciting to be pioneering together for a better world.
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
BvH.: Well, as a massive basketball fan my mind immediately goes to Michael Jordan. But I guess when I think about everything he’s accomplished I have to really appreciate his coach, Phil Jackson. And I think their dynamic is a really great example of success. It’s not only just about achieving your goals, but also encouraging others to achieve theirs as well. Kind of like being this Zen master in knowing how to motivate people to be their best selves while working together and accomplishing what many would think is impossible. Whether that’s winning 6 championships or decarbonizing an industry.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
BvH.: This is definitely a hard question and I don’t think there’s just one person. In my day to day, I would say it’s more about the energy that someone or a team brings that can really influence and motivate me. I feed off great energy, passion and positivity and I think in a career setting these qualities can take you very far. I’ve been particularly motivated by managers and leaders who embed these characteristics. It’s shown me where I thrive and for that I am very grateful.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
BvH.: One piece of advice that has stuck with me is to try to be better than you were yesterday. It reminds me that my biggest competitor is just myself, and to always try and be my best version. It’s a lifelong journey and at the heart of it is self-reflection and personal growth. Honestly, I can’t even really think about the “worst” advice someone gave me. I always listen to advice and make my own assessment. So, for me, everything is a learning experience in the end. And that’s positive.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
BvH.: Last year our company provided us with an incredible opportunity to go an off-grid hiking trip in Switzerland. I thought it would just be a beautiful time in nature but it turned out to be a deep-dive into ourselves. It’s amazing what being alone in nature, cut off from the noise of modern society, can bring up. I would advise anyone who is forming business relationships to invest time into the most important relationship of their life – themselves. I came back feeling so refreshed, having learned more about myself, and was able to extend this understanding and compassion to others. It undoubtedly improved my relationships with my coworkers, clients, and communication with others.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why?
BvH.: A few years ago I came across Gaur Gopal Das’ way of approaching problems and worries in your life and the simple logic of it made a lot of sense to me. When faced with a problem, he encourages you to ask yourself “Can you do something about it? If not, then why worry? If yes, then why worry?” It made me realise how much time we can waste worrying about things that are out of our control, and if we can do something about it, then it’s great that we can take action and therefore shouldn’t worry. It’s shaped the way I handle stress and problems and I would have loved to learn this philosophy at an earlier stage.
S4S: What piece of advice should you ignore?
BvH.: “Do it because it’s good for your career. Do it because the money is good.” I’ve learned to not do something that doesn’t feel right just to “further your career”. Find what you love and make a career out of that. The rest will follow.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
BvH.: Certainly, becoming more environmentally aware and passionate about sustainability has led me into this career path, which I love. Every day I learn more about the wider challenges we are facing as humans and how important it is that we try and understand each other in order to combat climate change. Growing up, my father always encouraged me to be open minded and recognize what made people tick. This is invaluable when working in a mission-driven company like GoodFuels, where finding a common ground between cultures and backgrounds is essential to working together to enact real, positive change for our planet.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
BvH.: Considering the current state of our climate, I would love to see things move quicker and not get bogged down by legislature and regulations. I’d love to see the availability of biofuels in more locations around the world. I’d love it to be more accessible, with a growth in demand and, in turn, supply.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
BvH.: We’re in this together. I strongly believe in the power of the collective. We might think we’re all very different, coming from different cultures, ethnicities and regions of the world. But the truth is, we’re all humans and the things we think set us apart are actually just myths made up to divide us. With compassion and understanding we can work towards a better world.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
