Happy Wednesday!
The Greater Houston Port Bureau’s (GHPB)Women
in Maritime Happy Hour was held a few times a year in the evening at
different locations around the Houston-Galveston region to give women in the
maritime industry a chance to mix and mingle and learn about the industry, however
last night was the last one under the Women in Maritime Happy Hour. We’re hoping it gets rebranded, since it was
a great way to learn about the maritime industry in a more relaxed setting.
Last night, we went to the GHPB’s
Women in Maritime Happy Hour which was held at East River Studio’s #1 on
Clinton Drive in Houston. GHPB’s Women
in Maritime had a guest speaker, Barbara Pickering, President, Chevron
Shipping. Barbara Pickering is the newly
promoted President of Chevron Shipping, and she is the first female in the
history of this 130-year-old company. Ms.
Pickering was the vice president of Chevron Shipping Operations prior to her
new position. She began her career with
Chevron in London in 1991. This path had
her live all around the world holding various positions including boat and
fleet manager, and she worked with dry cargo (which she said was some of the
hardest work she every did). She worked with the Royal Navy for 2 years where
she did charges. She has been with
Chevron for 35 years and she never thought she would become president of the shipping
company. She didn’t set out to reach this position in the company, nonetheless
through hard work and exceling in every position she held her abilities and
willingness to learn moved her higher and higher up the corporate ladder. She said she had 3 words of advice for us:
1. 1. Be
resilient and keep going.
2. 2. Take
some risks.
3. 3. Get
out of your comfort zone.
Ms. Pickering believed these
three things and good mentors helped her reach the position she is in now. Ms. Pickering encouraged us to build off our
experiences, take the hits and learn the lessons but keep moving forward and
certainly never give up. Every once in a
while, take a risk; she found she succeeded more than she failed, nonetheless a
lesson was learned no matter the outcome. She encouraged us to excel in every position
we hold and be a leader. Use the skills we
learn to help us move into our next position.
Ms. Pickering was quite the motivational speaker!
Ms. Pickering spoke highly of the
GHPB and the work they accomplish.
The GHPB brings all the industries together not just the shipping
but anyone who works in or around the Gulf Coast Texas Ports. GHPB bring people together for common goal
to bring success to the area. Ms. Pickering
pointed out Port Houston is Number One for waterborne tonnage which happens
when industries work together. Ms.
Pickering believes groups like GHPB and their Women in Maritime
group help women realize they are not alone in the maritime and its corresponding
industries especially since the many of the industries are dominated by men. It is a place to make connections. Ms. Pickering encouraged us to go to
networking events, so we could connect the dots; for example, for her operations
and shipping worked together and she met many people in both. Through networking many connections may be
made to help us to succeed as well as a place to find comradery and
encouragement by meeting and knowing others in the industry.
Ms. Pickering spoke of the
Imposter Syndrome which is where one feels like a phony. She too felt like this nonetheless her
previous boss told her she earned her position through her hard work! She didn’t let her negative self-talk slow
her forward progression. She now believes
the Imposter Syndrome is a way of thinking, and one needs to stop negative self-talk. Remind yourself of all the things you
accomplished along the way, and you earned your next position and don’t forget
that! Push the phony aside!
Ms. Pickering was an interesting,
informative, and very encouraging to the people in the room. We would like to thank her for her encouraging
words, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in her new position.
Unfortunately, this was the last GHPB’s
Women in Maritime Happy Hour, if and when they come up with
more opportunities to network and learn afterhours we will try and let you
know. Until then the next GHPB’s Commerce
Club Luncheon is March 27, 2025, at 11 a.m.
The guest speaker at the next luncheon is Jesse Thompson, Senior
Business Economist at the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Dallas. He should give us a good talk on
issues affecting the Houston and Gulf Coast economy including the energy and
the maritime industry. Please check out the website, if you would
like to learn more. March 2025 Commerce Club Luncheon - Greater Houston Port Bureau.
If you would
like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely,
and with less of a carbon footprint or just find out what is underneath your
feet to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the
blog and check out our ESC's website!
We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of
your week! Keep warm!