In our special column this time, we are pleased to host an interview with Dana Jongens, Business Development Manager Maritime at Inmarsat, who says that although shipping is not the most progressive sector, there’s still room for improvement. Ms Jongens shares her inspiration to change the industry’s reputation and make it more appealing.
S4S: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry?
Dana Jongens: I grew up near Rotterdam and come from a seafaring family, shipping is in my blood and I am proud of it. Although it is not the most progressive industry, it is constantly changing with many new challenges and opportunities.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
D.J.: Connectivity is no longer just about communications, it is the enabler of the digital society. Inmarsat is at the forefront of this digital revolution and in my current role at Inmarsat, I can contribute to this, which is quite exciting.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
D.J.: There is always room to improve, and as such Inmarsat is currently implementing a High Performance Culture throughout the organization. It is improving my business life at Inmarsat, as all employees learned how to be more focused, more collaborative with colleagues, and more effective in the way they communicate and have meetings.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment you’ve ever made?
D.J.: The most worthwhile and fun investment is continuously investing in my network. Shipping is truly global industry with a great mix of different players and the common theme is that they share a passion for shipping. As younger person in the industry, and especially in an IMO setting, it can be a bit daunting, but you have to invest in your network, prove yourself and persevere.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
D.J.: It fascinates me that an industry that carries around 90% of world trade, an industry so important, has such an ‘unsexy’ reputation. I would like to change the reputation of the industry and inspire younger generations to see the emerging opportunities the industry has, like digitalization, cyber, and IoT applications. Our industry needs fresh minds and skill sets.
Dana Jongens is Safety Services Manager at Inmarsat Maritime, responsible for ensuring Inmarsat’s continued provision of consistently high quality satellite communication services for maritime safety of life at sea and maritime security taking advantage of new and innovative technical developments in these specific areas. As part of her role, Dana supported the successful application of Fleet Safety for GMDSS Recognition. Every single day, hundreds of thousands of seafarers place their trust in Inmarsat’s safety services, knowing that it will be there when it matters most. Dana has over 10 years of experience in the maritime industry and before joining Inmarsat, Dana held business development positions at various organizations within the port of Rotterdam and London. Dana has a Master degree in International Business from Tilburg University and studied at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. She resides in the United Kingdom and is based at Inmarsat’s London headquarters.
