Woman Can Sea – Supporting women's entrepreneurship in the maritime industry

By project DEBUTING

Published on 08 January 2025

Poland

Pomorskie

About this good practice

Women Can Sea is a project supporting entrepreneurship and activation of women in the maritime industry. It is a space created for women associated with the maritime industry, thanks to which they will be able to share their passion for their work, inspire each other and transfer knowledge and experience.

The primary aim of the project was to create an open and supportive space for women, providing an opportunity to discuss everyday challenges in their professional lives, focus on personal growth, and exchange best practices.

The initiative was implemented through a variety of activities, including hands-on workshops, study visits to local companies, and both an opening and a closing conference. Each meeting offered participants the chance to build new relationships and expand their professional networks. Additionally, the events featured inspiring keynote speeches and panel discussions, where our speakers shared their maritime journeys, reflected on the challenges specific to the industry, and explored emerging trends.

This combination of networking, knowledge-sharing, and inspiration helped create a vibrant environment that fostered growth and collaboration among participants.

Expert opinion

This is an example worth highlighting as it focuses specifically on a specific, predominantly male-associated, industry. The Women Can Sea Initiative was set up to create an open and supportive space for women working in the maritime industry, providing them an opportunity to discuss everyday challenges in their professional lives, focus on personal growth, and exchange best practices. While there is nothing particularly novel in the programme structure (study visits, workshops, inspirational speakers) it has been well-established that such empowering women-only initiatives can have positive impacts for the participants, including building new business relationships and growing their confidence, perseverance and growth perspectives in their careers.

Mart Veliste

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

The project was financed from local funds by the City of Gdańsk.

Evidence of success

Thanks to the engagement of participants and experts, we have created a space for knowledge exchange, mutual support, and inspiring action.

What have we achieved?

• Over 100 participants in mastermind meetings and study visits.
• Inspiring panels featuring women leaders in science, business, and local government.
• Development of communication, leadership, and substantive skills.
• Building solidarity and a strong network of connections within the maritime industry.

Potential for learning or transfer

This practice offers significant potential for learning and transfer to other regions due to its comprehensive and flexible approach to addressing challenges faced by women in profesjonalny settings, particularly in traditionally male-dominated sectors like the maritime industry.

Key success factors include the combination of diverse activities—workshops, study visits, and conferences—tailored to build both individual skills (e.g., leadership and communication) and collective networks.

The inclusion of inspiring panels and storytelling sessions fosters a sense of solidarity and provides real-world insights into overcoming industry-specific challenges.