In our special column, we are delighted to feature an interview with Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-founder of Orca AI, who shares his journey into the shipping industry and the evolution of his company, which aims to make autonomous commercial shipping a reality. He emphasizes his passion for leading an innovative company within a traditionally conservative industry that is undergoing a historical transformation.
Yarden advises focusing on long-term planning to help maintain purpose and direction. He also encourages embracing the application of AI, as it can deliver widespread operational efficiency across various marine operations. Concluding the interview, Yarden shares his favorite motto: “Hiring the right people to do the right job,” underscoring the importance of teamwork.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Yarden Gross: My journey into shipping began with a deep-seated passion for the sea. My family’s tourist resort by Lake Galilee gave me ample opportunities to play around on boats. I then worked with cutting-edge technology during my military service in the navy, so establishing Orca AI was a natural progression and embodies my goal to help make shipping smarter and safer.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
Y.Gr.: Leading an innovative company in a conservative industry that is going through a historical transformation. On one side you have the huge leap in connectivity, with ships set to become data powerhouses linked to the cloud, and on the other you have the quantum leap in AI. With Orca AI we’re sitting right in the middle building a connected platform that will help change how ships operate and navigate. It’s incredibly exciting and we’re just at the beginning!
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
Y.Gr.: Both my father and grandfather, who were both driven entrepreneurs. My grandfather built a solid business using tourist boats to take visitors on trips around Lake Galilee. My father built on that foundation to become a restauranteur, establishing the first Thai restaurant in Israel which was a roaring success.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
Y.Gr.: One individual I have tremendous respect for is Uri Livnie, whose litany of achievements includes being co-founder of the Waze app later acquired by Google. He served as chairman of my first start-up prior to Orca AI and has had a deep influence on me personally and professionally.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
Y.Gr.: I don’t want to reveal the worst piece of advice, no one will gain anything by knowing what it was. The best piece of advice, on the other hand, has been hugely useful: Always plan long term, not for the next week or months but like two, three, five years ahead. That together with resoluteness of purpose will keep you on track.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
Y.Gr.: Co-founding Orca AI of course and keeping the ball rolling!
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?
Y.Gr.: Do your utmost to find the right business partner(s). You can have very different personalities but that person(s) must have skills that complement your own and be someone you can trust through thick and thin. Any piece of advice you should ignore isn’t worth wasting ink on.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
Y.Gr.: Perseverance and robust belief in our mission.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
Y.Gr.: There are today inefficiencies in the industry we are determined to help eliminate through the application of AI and automation, for example empowering crews to perform their job more easily, reducing the work burden and improving their skills –basically transforming how ships operate.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
Y.Gr.: Hiring the right people to do the right job. You can’t get anywhere alone. It’s a team effort.
The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
