Stephanie Sjöblad, Loss Prevention Executive at Alandia, shares a valuable piece of advice: “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” This highlights the importance of carefully choosing the company we keep, as those around us significantly influence our lives. Sjöblad emphasizes the crucial role of networking and education in advancing one’s career. She recommends steering clear of people-pleasing tendencies and establishing boundaries, both professionally and personally.
In the context of the maritime industry, Sjöblad advocates for a greater focus on safeguarding the rights of seafarers and enhancing their working conditions. As she concludes the interview, she shares her favorite motto, which urges us always to seek solutions in any situation.
S4S: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Stephanie Sjöblad: As a young teen I raced dinghies competitively and then sailed as a watch leader on tall ships which is where I heard about the UK Merchant Navy. I trained at Warsash Maritime Academy to become an Officer, serving on platform supply vessels in the North Sea before moving to other vessel types in further-flung locations. After almost 10 years seagoing I decided it was time to pursue a shore-based career, so I returned to education and (after moving country and starting a family) found that marine insurance is far more interesting than it is given credit for and that a role in loss prevention is a great fit for me!
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
S.S.: I get to look at a wide variety of issues and connect with a lot of interesting people. There are infinite learning opportunities in my role and working to lower the frequency and severity of maritime incidents involves a huge scope of analysis, planning, and solution implementation. There is no silver bullet – every case requires a unique problem-solving approach adapted to the customer. No two days are the same, meaning I never get bored!
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
S.S.: To be honest there is not a specific person who jumps to mind because the word successful triggers more of a notion in my head that I try to hold onto. I think that happiness is a good measure of success. Many people would consider success being a high-flying job earning the big bucks, but I believe that regardless of your position, if you are living a well-balanced happy life then you are successful. Success to me is multifaceted and not just about paving out a career path to the top.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
S.S.: A Captain that I previously sailed with was a very influential mentor to me. Instead of taking over in a difficult situation, he would stand calmly at my shoulder and encourage me to make a decision and take action under his watchful supervision. Sometimes, rather than correcting me when my plan had an oversight, he gave room for me to make mistakes, but safely, so that I could learn from them. Thanks to his approach, I was able build experience that led to me trusting my own assessment and having good confidence in my own decision-making capabilities.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
S.S.: Best: Someone once told me that if you are the smartest person in the room then you are in the wrong room. It is important to surround yourself with people who you can learn from and who influence you positively. The people you spend time with help to shape who you are, so choose them wisely.
Worst: “Good things come to those who wait”. Whilst patience is important, this advice is unlikely to get you anywhere. You need to go after what you want with determination. Things don’t land in your lap, opportunities are not served to you on a plate, you must make an effort.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
S.S.: Investing time to connect with other professionals is a powerful tool for career growth. By doing this you gain new ideas and inspiration, valuable information, build trust and discover opportunities. Networking improves your creative intellect. Education I also strongly believe in as an investment in your own development that translates into the business world through specific skills & knowledge. You are not only bettering your career but pushing and expanding your intellectual abilities in a way that shows you what your own mind is capable of.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
S.S.: Don’t be a people pleaser! It is an impossible task to make everyone happy & have everyone like you. It is important to respect yourself and to focus on seeking out the right course of action for the desired result rather than becoming entangled in trying to meet all opposing demands and opinions. I would ignore the advice to “never give up”. Whilst being solution orientated and having some grit to overcome challenges is crucial, it is actually very important to be able to recognise where you are wasting energy and know when to quit. Sometimes, not stopping something that isn’t working simply because you should never give up can be counter-productive.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your business life?
S.S.: Keeping stricter boundaries. I tend to be a ‘yes’ person which can lead to me biting off more than I can chew at times. I have gotten better at understanding of where to put boundaries in place to ensure that I can fully handle the priorities within my business remit without sacrificing work quality or my own wellbeing.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
S.S.: I am shocked that we still see all too frequently human rights violations of seafarers. Issues such as crew abandonment and poor working conditions on badly maintained dangerous vessels (often linked to certain flags) still needs battling. Although it is not something that I work with directly, I care about it greatly and see it is a safety concern that infects the maritime landscape causing all kinds of far-reaching repercussions.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
S.S.: Find a way, not an excuse.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
