In Episode 245 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan speaks with Gladys DeClouet, author of A Layered Life: Breaking Barriers as a Trailblazing Black Woman in Corporate America, about her incredible journey across two male-dominated industries—offshore oil and gas, and the restaurant business.

Gladys began her career at Conoco Oil as the first female engineer in offshore exploration and production, blazing a trail for women in energy long before diversity initiatives were standard practice. Over the next 30 years, she rose through the ranks at BP, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, leading multi-billion-dollar divisions, building diverse, high-performing teams, and setting new standards for operational excellence.

Her story is one of grit, grace, and growth—from breaking barriers as both a woman and a person of color to mentoring the next generation of leaders. Gladys brings warmth and wisdom to her reflections, sharing insights from her memoir A Layered Life, which dives into the complexities of identity, perseverance, and purpose.

 Tune in to Episode 245 to hear Gladys discuss how she turned adversity into opportunity, what leadership truly means, and why mentoring is one of the most powerful legacies we can leave behind. Learn more about A Layered Life at gladysdeclouet.com.

In Episode 244 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Executive Director Liz Schmidt and Director of Career Development Christine MacMillan sit down for an open and honest conversation about resiliency—and why it may be time to rethink how we talk about it.

Resilience is often celebrated as the hallmark of success, especially for women working offshore in a male-dominated industry. But what happens when “being resilient” becomes an expectation rather than an empowering choice?

Liz and Christine explore the fine line between healthy resilience—the ability to adapt and recover—and resilience fatigue, where constant endurance starts to take a toll on mental health, identity, and joy in the work itself.

They share their own perspectives from years of working in maritime, discussing how women often feel the need to prove themselves over and over again, showing strength in every situation. But the truth is, resilience shouldn’t have to mean running on empty.

This candid conversation dives into: The myth of endless toughness The cost of resilience without support How we can redefine strength as authenticity, balance, and connection

 Tune in to Episode 244 to hear Liz and Christine’s honest reflections—and join us as we reshape what it truly means to thrive offshore.

In Episode 243 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Phoebe Rogers—a sailor, educator, and adventurer whose life is defined by courage, curiosity, and the call of the ocean.

Phoebe calls herself a mountain girl at heart with a sailing problem. Her love for sailing began at age 14 on Lake Tahoe, racing with her stepfather aboard a Melges 24. But that early spark evolved into something much bigger: a calling to live fully, challenge limits, and connect people to themselves and the sea.

In 2020, Phoebe made a life-changing decision. She left her job as a legal assistant to pursue sailing full-time, chasing her passion for adventure and teaching. Today, she holds both a USCG Master’s MMC and a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification, and has worked on vessels ranging from 72-foot adventure yachts to quick little dinghies used for sail training.

For Phoebe, sailing is far more than a skill or a job—it’s a medium for personal transformation. Whether navigating through remote stretches of ocean or leading crews through challenging conditions, she finds fulfillment in helping others safely live out their wildest sailing dreams.

Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that crew work, selective adversity, and adventure have the power to connect us—to the environment, to each other, and to ourselves.

 Tune in to Episode 243 to hear Phoebe’s story of courage, transformation, and the pursuit of a life truly lived offshore.

In Episode 242 of the Women Offshore Podcast, I sit down with Andrea Tagliaferro, founder of Yacht Femme, a platform born from her desire to amplify women’s voices in the yachting industry. With more than 10 years in yachting—spanning yacht design, marketing, and content—Andrea has transformed Yacht Femme into a multimedia community hub of networking, recognition, and empowerment.

Andrea’s story began with Yacht Dame, created in 2018 after she attended the Monaco Yacht Show. Within a week, she launched a social media project to connect women around her. That project evolved into Yacht Femme, which now includes podcasts, awards, events, and community-driven storytelling.

In our conversation, Andrea shares:

• Her early days designing yachts and navigating a male-dominated sector
• How she merged her skills in marketing and storytelling to create a women-led platform
• The motivations behind launching the Women’s Yachting Awards and expanding Yacht Femme’s offerings
• Her vision for the future: more equity in visibility, more women at the table, and deeper narratives for the industry

 Tune in to Episode 242 to hear Andrea’s journey firsthand, and discover how giving women space, voice, and connection can change the way yachting is seen and led.

In Episode 241 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Samantha Cibelli, Sales Director at Kongsberg Maritime, to explore her 15-year career across sea service, commercial operations, and maritime technology.

Samantha’s path began in the U.S. Coast Guard, where she served on active duty as a Marine Inspector in Houston, TX, leading teams through Flag State and Port State Control examinations. From there, she moved into sailing commercially as a deck officer aboard U.S. Flag vessels, including tankers, passenger ships, and research vessels.

In 2015, Samantha transitioned shoreside, taking on operations and commercial management roles with Siem Car Carriers and later Maersk, where she held multiple leadership positions in trade and product management. In 2024, she joined Kongsberg Maritime, where she now leads new construction sales for the North American passenger vessel segment.

With a B.S. in Marine Transportation from Texas A&M and an MBA from Northeastern University, Samantha brings both technical expertise and business acumen to her work. She is passionate about the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and international trade—and about mentoring and coaching high-functioning teams to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.

 Tune in to Episode 241 to hear Samantha’s insights on career growth, leadership, and the future of maritime technology.

 Tune in to Episode 240 

In Episode 239 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Ana Čalić—a dynamic leader in the boating industry, and a passionate advocate for sustainability, diversity, and innovation.

With a Master’s in Science, Business, and Innovation from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Energy and Sustainability, Ana’s mission is clear: to drive meaningful change at the intersection of technology, environment, and community.

Ana serves as Business and Marketing Development lead at her family company, Navela, elevating the boating experience for boatbuilders, dealers, charter companies, and individual customers through seamless service and cutting-edge propulsion systems. Her work ensures that clients not only get world-class equipment, but also forward-thinking solutions for the future of boating.

Beyond Navela, Ana is the founder of Women in Nautica, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to empowering women across the global boating industry. The platform includes an international conference, a magazine, and a podcast. The inaugural conference will take place on November 19th, 2025, followed by the next on December 3rd, 2026, and promises to unveil three exciting new project tiers.

In this episode, Ana shares her vision for creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative industry—and the pivotal role women will play in shaping the future.

 Listen now to Episode 239 to hear Ana’s story, her insights on sustainability in boating, and her mission to create space for women in every corner of the maritime world.

In this week’s episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, I sit down with Hayley Adlam, a woman whose career spans the world’s oceans and crosses industry boundaries. Hayley, now the Fleet Services Technical Interface Manager and Marine Environment UK Deputy at ASN, shares a compelling journey marked by technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and a deep-rooted commitment to mentorship.

Hayley's offshore career began with a spark—her first trip with Gardline as a Marine Mammal Observer in 2006—which ignited a passion for the marine environment. Since then, she’s charted a path through the complex world of offshore wind farm construction, submarine telecommunications, and even Antarctic scientific observation. From working on Greenpeace's Esperanza, to supporting the British Antarctic Survey in the remote South Georgia islands, Hayley's experience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Her story is not only technical—it’s personal. In our conversation, Hayley reflects on how early exposure to STEM (think sandcastles, boat rides, and her first PC) laid the groundwork for a life connecting people across oceans. She also opens up about her time as a freelance surveyor and offshore site manager, navigating a male-dominated field with tenacity and grace.

Now, with over a decade of offshore work behind her, Hayley is leveraging her experience to advocate for sustainability, playing a pivotal role in global initiatives such as the UN Corporate Data Group and ASN’s fish aggregating device mitigation strategy. She’s also a fierce supporter of Women Offshore, encouraging others to join as mentors or mentees to help shape the next generation of seafaring women.

This episode is a celebration of how resilience, curiosity, and technical skill can lead to unexpected places—from the North Sea to Antarctica—and how one woman’s journey can help inspire many more.

 Tune in to hear Hayley’s story—and don’t forget to check out the Women Offshore MentorSHIP program to get involved.

Welcome to the Women Offshore Podcast! This is Episode 237. Christine first catches up with Liz Schmidt, Executive Director of Women Offshore. Then Christine has the chance to interview Fraser Flight about his bid to race in the Global Solo Challenge in 2027. This event is solo, nonstop, and unsupported. It's known as one of the most grueling races on the water, and Fraser has spent his life mentally preparing for this. 

Fraser Flight, a Zimbabwean-born Sailor, is on his way to become the first person from this small landlocked country to sail around the world, alone, with no outside assistance and without stopping. With 11 years in the professional maritime industry and a lifetime of sailing and racing, he is well-positioned to compete in the Global Solo Challenge in 2027. Join us as we hear more about his preparations for his landmark voyage and the charities he is supporting on his way around the world. 

Check out his website for more information: https://flightaroundtheworld.co.uk/ 

Don’t Miss an Episode!

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Women Offshore Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode! Did you know that every episode of our podcast is created and managed entirely in-house? Our dedicated team at Women Offshore pours their hearts into bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from the maritime industry. This work is made possible through the generous support of our community. Every donation—big or small—helps us amplify voices, create meaningful change, and support the maritime industry.

If you’d like to be part of this mission, click here to contribute: https://womenoffshore.org/donation/

Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. 

Thank you for being part of the Women Offshore community!

What looks like steady successes compounding over time can feel like a long, slow climb during the process. Christalove Agyin-Ayetse is a proud Ghanaian from the Fante tribe who helped fulfill her father's dream of becoming a merchant mariner. 

During this interview, Christine MacMillan and Christalove discuss what life is like in Ghana, what loyalty and community mean to her, and the struggles of making her way in the industry that hasn't always been inviting. 

She shares her belief that technical competence can be trained, BUT behavioral competence is the values learned in the home. She thinks more emphasis should be placed on finding quality individuals with strong behavioral competence and then training them to be technically competent. 

She also shares a personal story about how generalizations hurt. Many Western cultures lump all African nations into a single category, and this has detrimental consequences when seeking quality mariners in the untapped reserves of the world. 

Don’t Miss an Episode!

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Women Offshore Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode! Did you know that every episode of our podcast is created and managed entirely in-house? Our dedicated team at Women Offshore pours their hearts into bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from the maritime industry. This work is made possible through the generous support of our community. Every donation—big or small—helps us amplify voices, create meaningful change, and support the maritime industry.

If you’d like to be part of this mission, click here to contribute: https://womenoffshore.org/donation/

Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. 

Thank you for being part of the Women Offshore community!