I have had a successful career with more than 40 years of professional experience in shipping, both commercial and maritime. I have an extensive and broad experience within international shipping.
When I was a little girl, I was inspired by grandmother who was sailing on tankers in worldwide trade. I wanted to become a telegraphist on board one of those ships, the operator onboard who communicated with the world. The career became obsolete as the telegraphs was replaced by other communication methods including radio and satellite. I made this commitment to myself that I really wanted to work with tankers.
I got the opportunity to both live and work in London, Stockholm and Stamford, CT (USA).
I was the first female on the shipping desk in Stockholm and the first ever shipping person working in the USA for Equinor.
After I did my Master of Management I got the role as Fleet Manager in Teekay. Reporting via Glasgow to Vancouver. Later I was heading up Procurement and my team was in Stavanger, Glasgow, and Rio de Janeiro. One of the toughest and most emotional projects I was involved in was replacing more than 200 Norwegian Seafarers with Filipinos in the Shuttle Tanker Fleet. As a procurement manager I had to move the purchasing function to the Philippines. Change management involving letting people go was tough, however I was leading from the heart and followed up in a way which I later had much positive feedback for.
Being a part of Talent Board in Teekay gave me the opportunity to support high achievers and be part of a board where the focus was on people and development.
I hold a Master of Management and a Bachelor´s degree in International Marketing.
Org.no.
NO 933064042 MVA
Eli Gjesdal
post@elii.no
+47 952 50 875
