The Key to Thriving in Times of Uncertainty

By Alex Keimig

How can industry leaders transform challenges into opportunities? That was a central question raised by speakers during a panel discussion at the Women in Breakbulk networking event, held on the first day of Breakbulk Americas 2024 in Houston.

Moderator Kasey Eckstein, founder and executive director of non-profit group Women in Maritime Operations (WIMOs) and president of Eckstein Trade and Transport, opened the panel with remarks on the importance of self-assurance and pushing through uncertainty and adversity to succeed.

“Men [in the industry] don’t feel like they have to explain their resume the minute they sit down in a board room. I’m sure we’re all too familiar with having to prove why we’re in a room,” she said.

Victoria Malbrough, process specialist and compliance leader for Shell Oil and Trading, told listeners that self-advocacy had been a crucial part of her professional success, allowing her to navigate the unexpected with ease while maintaining excellent results. She recounted an experience where her enthusiasm to contribute to her team ultimately led her to develop a stronger commitment to herself.

“I was scared but excited to bring up this concern, and I will never forget what happened,” she said. “The leader tried to make me feel like the inadequacies and the issues I saw with the process were my inadequacies and my issues. I decided at that moment that I would never allow anyone to make me feel that way moving forward. You are valuable, and what you bring to the table is valuable. It’s okay to stand your ground.”

Stephanie Esparza, Galveston terminal manager for Ports America, recounted similar experiences. “Nobody is going to vouch for you harder than you should for yourself,” she said. She recalled transitioning to a new role: “I had to fight for my worth and show that I had industry experience that translated to my new position. Ultimately, they accepted my requested salary. Hold the line – you have to fight for yourself.”

Taylor Dickerson, vice president of project management for Kirby Corporation, recounted similar experiences, citing others’ expectations for women’s workplace performance and for their involvement in workplace extracurricular activities as some of the obstacles she has had to overcome in her career.

“We tend to have to work harder, sometimes, than our male counterparts. Whether that’s getting in early and being the last to leave, or having to perform above and beyond your counterparts, you’re taking on more responsibility. What I have realized is that you can turn that work ethic that women inherently have – because we tend to have to prove ourselves a little harder than the rest of the people in the room – and use it to your advantage,” Dickerson said.

She further expounded upon the positive effect that going above and beyond for her clients and contacts has had on her intra-office relationships: When clients began questioning her absence at sponsored activities like golf outings (to which she had not received an invitation), her colleagues got a firsthand look at the positive impact her work has had on their organization.

Relationships remain a critical resource for women in the industry, whether intra- or extra-organizational. Emily Carruth, business development manager at Gebrüder Weiss, cited networking and diversification of contacts as two areas of focus that had served her well, especially in the tumult of recent years.

“I decided that I needed to network across all industries, and I’m glad that I did that because there was a time in my industry where our market took a dip, and we needed to diversify. Because I had been networking and building those relationships in other industries, I was able to pivot a lot more easily and begin selling into other markets,” Carruth said.

“People say that it’s hard [to be a woman in this industry], but hard is relative. Use it to your advantage. Just don’t pigeonhole yourself into one industry – go everywhere, because you never know where you’re going to find or close that next deal.”

Jessica Nguyen, trade development manager for Port Houston, echoed Carruth’s words. “How many Aggies are there here in the room? I’m an Aggie myself. Use that network,” she said. “Take as much advantage as you can.”

Relationships and networking contacts can be worth their weight in gold, but individual wellness cannot be ignored. Lt. Savanna L. Vandehei, port state control officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, emphasized the importance of prioritizing one’s own mental health and overall well-being even in the greater context of thriving in times of uncertainty, sharing her story of taking time away from work to receive inpatient mental health care after a particularly difficult set of experiences earlier this year.

“I really want to express how important it is to take care of yourself,” Vandehei said. “There is always somebody who is going to help you out. I can’t think of a single time that I have asked for help, and somebody looked at me and said, ‘What are you doing?’ You all are so important, and you’re all so worth that time and care. The work will get done.”


Breakbulk Americas is taking place on Oct. 15-17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston.