She says her career path was paved with prejudices and refusals based on being the only woman in a club of many men – a phenomenon often seen in the global shipping industry. She learned to cope with it – by sheer engineering competence and the will to reach her goals.

She was faced with structural obstacles in the male dominated industry, which did not see women in jobs that are directly connected with on-hand shipyard tasks: “But I managed it, and I became the only Quality Control Inspector woman within Hull Quality Control group, together with 14 guys.“

She got used to becoming “the only and first one”. “My two best female friends, who were both working in the same Yard at Piping Design and Hull Outfitting Design, started becoming inspired by me and my professional achievement adventure. I seriously considered transferring from Design Department to Quality Management Department.”