Developing Her Own Course: Sangeeta Singh on Building a Career in Global Shipbroking

Operating across both tanker and dry cargo markets, Sangeeta has built valuable experience working with shipowners, charterers, traders, and industry stakeholders across major international trade routes, including Southeast Asia (SEA), Far East Asia (FEAST), the Persian Gulf (PG), and the United States. Her ability to understand market dynamics, facilitate seamless negotiations, and identify the right opportunities has enabled her to create meaningful value for clients in a highly competitive and fast-moving sector. Driven by a passion for excellence and continuous learning, Sangeeta believes that successful ship broking extends beyond transactions-it is about building trust, nurturing long-term partnerships, and creating solutions that benefit every stakeholder involved. Her strong communication skills, market awareness, and commitment to professionalism have helped her establish a growing presence in the global maritime ecosystem. In this exclusive conversation, Sangeeta shares her journey in the shipping industry, the evolving opportunities for women in maritime, the importance of resilience…

Operating across both tanker and dry cargo markets, Sangeeta has built valuable experience working with shipowners, charterers, traders, and industry stakeholders across major international trade routes, including Southeast Asia (SEA), Far East Asia (FEAST), the Persian Gulf (PG), and the United States. Her ability to understand market dynamics, facilitate seamless negotiations, and identify the right opportunities has enabled her to create meaningful value for clients in a highly competitive and fast-moving sector.

Driven by a passion for excellence and continuous learning, Sangeeta believes that successful ship broking extends beyond transactions-it is about building trust, nurturing long-term partnerships, and creating solutions that benefit every stakeholder involved. Her strong communication skills, market awareness, and commitment to professionalism have helped her establish a growing presence in the global maritime ecosystem.

In this exclusive conversation, Sangeeta shares her journey in the shipping industry, the evolving opportunities for women in maritime, the importance of resilience and adaptability, and her vision for building a successful career in one of the world’s most dynamic and globally connected industries.

Join us as we explore the inspiring story of a professional who is charting her own course while contributing to the future of global shipping and maritime trade.

1- What inspired you to begin your journey in Startup shipbroking?

Starting my journey in a startup shipbroking company has been a challenging but rewarding experience. From learning the tanker market and understanding cargo requirements to communicating with owners, charterers, and traders, every day has brought something new. Working in a startup has taught me to take ownership, learn quickly, build relationships, and stay resilient when things don’t go as planned. It’s not just about fixing ships or cargoes-it’s about building trust, knowledge, relationships, and a reputation in the shipping industry. Still learning, still growing, and excited for what lies ahead.

2- What has your experience been like as a woman in shipbroking?

Working in the traditionally male-dominated shipping and broking industry has been both challenging and rewarding. One of the biggest challenges has been establishing credibility, especially in the early stages, and learning to confidently make my voice heard in a fast-paced environment. These experiences have shaped my leadership approach. I believe leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room, it is about knowledge, confidence, integrity, communication, and consistency. They have also made me more conscious of the importance of mentorship. I want to encourage other women entering shipping to believe that they belong at the table, ask questions, keep learning, and never hesitate to take on responsibility. The industry is evolving, and I’m proud to be part of that change-one relationship, one deal, and one lesson at a time.

3- What skills will define the next generation of shipping leaders?

Today’s shipbroking is no longer just about relationships and market knowledge. The next generation of shipping leaders will need to combine commercial thinking, technology, analytics, communication, and creativity.

I believe the most indispensable skills will be:

Strong market knowledge – understanding freight markets, cargo flows, vessels and global trade.
Data & analytical thinking – using data to make faster and smarter commercial decisions.
Technology & AI awareness – embracing new tools while knowing how to apply them practically.
Relationship building – trust and long-term relationships will remain at the heart of broking.
Negotiation & communication – being able to create value for both owners and charterers.
Adaptability – shipping changes constantly, so the ability to learn and adapt is essential.
Leadership & emotional intelligence – building teams, mentoring people and making decisions with confidence.

4- How is AI transforming the shipping and shipbroking business?

AI is rapidly reshaping the shipping business, and I believe the real opportunity is not to replace human expertise, but to enhance it.

For shipbrokers, AI can help analyze market data, track vessel movements, identify opportunities, improve decision-making, and save valuable time. But shipping will always depend on relationships, negotiation, trust, and human judgement. The shipbrokers of tomorrow will be those who can combine industry experience with technology and data-driven thinking. AI is not replacing the broker-it is changing what a great broker can achieve.