Carolyn Köhler is the new president of WISTA Germany. In an interview with HANSA, she talks about how she would like to develop the network further, what role it can play in addressing the skills shortage and what needs to change so that more women take on leadership roles in the maritime industry.
You were recently elected President of WISTA Germany. What motivated you to stand for this position, and what priorities do you intend to focus on in the coming years?
Carolyn Köhler: Being elected President of WISTA Germany is a great honour for me, and I would like to thank our WISTA members for the trust they have placed in me. Standing for this role was a natural step for me, as I have been passionately involved in the maritime industry for many years and have repeatedly seen just how valuable personal encounters, dialogue and strong networks are.
My own journey in the maritime sector has shown me just how diverse and exciting this industry is. It combines technical expertise, international cooperation and economic significance in a unique way. At the same time, I have seen time and again that personal contacts and networks can be crucial – both for professional exchange and for personal development.
What particularly inspires me about WISTA is the way it brings together people with diverse experiences and perspectives. Together with our Board, I would like to help further develop this strong network and expand its role within the maritime sector.
In doing so, it is important to me to enhance the visibility of our members and their expertise, to foster dialogue both within and outside the sector, and to work together to develop solutions for the challenges of the future. I am convinced that diversity and differing perspectives are essential prerequisites for innovation and competitiveness.
WISTA Germany stands for networking, visibility and the advancement of women in the maritime sector. Where do you see the association today – and where would you like to take it in the future?
Köhler: WISTA Germany is now an established and respected network within the maritime industry. What I find particularly distinctive about the association is the combination of professional expertise, international networking and personal exchange.
I find it particularly valuable that WISTA brings together people from different sectors of the maritime industry. It is precisely this diversity of experiences and perspectives that enables open dialogue and creates a space where new ideas can emerge. At a time when our industry is undergoing such significant change, platforms like this are more important than ever.
I see great potential in further building on this strength: as a platform that brings people together, shares knowledge and facilitates new collaborations. Particularly in an industry with such a strong international character, exchange across company and national borders is a crucial factor for success.
It is also important to me to make even greater use of international cooperation within the WISTA family. Many of the challenges facing our sector are global – and together we can learn from one another and gain new perspectives.
My aim is to further develop WISTA Germany as a modern network that provides impetus and actively shapes the maritime economy.
The maritime industry is undergoing profound change – from decarbonisation and digitalisation to geopolitical challenges. In your view, which of these issues will have a particular impact on the work of WISTA Germany?
Köhler: The maritime economy is undergoing profound change. Decarbonisation, digitalisation and geopolitical shifts are closely interlinked and present the entire sector with new challenges.
I see WISTA Germany’s particular role as bringing people together, connecting knowledge and highlighting different perspectives. Networks, in particular, can provide guidance in times of change and foster dialogue between experts.
Another issue that is of particular concern to me is the shortage of skilled workers. The future of our sector depends on whether we succeed in attracting talent, retaining their enthusiasm in the long term and offering them attractive career development opportunities.
I am convinced that strong networks can make a significant contribution to overcoming these challenges together.
Despite much progress, women remain under-represented in leadership roles within the maritime sector. Where do you see the biggest obstacles – and what needs to change so that more women take on leadership roles?
Köhler: A lot has changed in recent years, but we have not yet reached our goal. In my view, the challenges lie less in a lack of potential and more in the wider conditions: transparent career paths, visible role models and a better work-life balance must be further strengthened.
I am convinced that diversity is a genuine factor for success. Different perspectives foster innovation, broaden horizons and help companies make better decisions.
Networks such as WISTA make an important contribution here. They raise visibility, facilitate dialogue and support women in taking on responsibility and actively shaping their own career paths.
Networks often play a crucial role, particularly at the start of a career. What advice would you give, in particular, to young women who wish to enter the maritime sector today?
Köhler: My advice is: be curious, build up networks and have the confidence to take on responsibility. The maritime sector offers diverse and exciting opportunities – and it needs people with different perspectives, ideas and experiences.
I’d like to encourage young women to actively seize opportunities, seek out role models and, at the same time, forge their own path. New opportunities often arise precisely through interacting with other people.
What is it about the maritime sector that still inspires you personally, even after all these years – and what are you most looking forward to in your new role as WISTA President?
Köhler: What continues to inspire me to this day is the diversity and dynamism of the maritime sector. It brings together people, countries and cultures, whilst also being a crucial part of our global economy.
In my new role as WISTA President, I am particularly looking forward to engaging with our members, making new connections and working together to develop ideas for the future of our sector.
I am particularly looking forward to getting to know many of our members personally and to bringing their diverse experiences and perspectives together even more effectively. After all, a network thrives not only on structures and events, but above all on the people who breathe life into it.
The maritime economy has always thrived on connections – between ports, people and continents. It is precisely these connections that I wish to further strengthen with WISTA and, together with our members, shape the future. Bringing people together and making a difference as a team is my greatest motivation.
About Carolyn Köhler
- President of WISTA Germany e. V. and an experienced executive in the international maritime industry.
- Many years’ expertise in the areas of HSSEQ, ship management, compliance, safety management and operational excellence.
- Extensive experience in leading, developing and supporting international teams, as well as in establishing a sustainable safety and corporate culture.
- Committed to networking, innovation, knowledge transfer and the recruitment and development of specialists and executives in the maritime industry
HANSA and WISTA empower women in the maritime industry
As part of an exclusive partnership with the German association of the Women’s International Shipping
& Trading Association, HANSA regularly profiles a member of WISTA Germany e.V.
