Spokesperson: Captain Aakaar Jain, EMBA alumni, SP Jain School of Global Management.
A Seafarer’s Voyage Through Leadership, Learning, and Change
As a 17-year-old standing on the deck of my first vessel as a Deck Cadet, joining my maiden ship in Amsterdam in the fateful August of year 2000, with the salty wind carrying the scent of metal and smoke, I could not have imagined where this maritime journey would ultimately lead me. That moment, equal parts exhilaration and uncertainty, marked the beginning of what would become a defining voyage in more ways than one.
Today, over two decades later, I sit in my office in Dubai, leading Marine, Commercial, Operations, and Business Development. The transformation from navigating ocean routes to navigating boardrooms was not simply a career pivot. It was a profound personal evolution shaped by continuous learning, calculated risk-taking, and a firm commitment to growth in an ever-evolving global marine oil and gas industry.
A Legacy at Sea:
As a third-generation seafarer, my entry into the maritime world felt almost destined. It was a calling soaked in tradition and technical mastery. Yet, even early in my career, I noticed that the maritime industry was slow to evolve. Maritime operations remained conservative and resistant to technological adoption. That began to change with the introduction of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the rise of digital navigation systems.
These early signals of disruption, digital transformation, remote monitoring, automation, were not mere trends. They represented a seismic shift in how the industry would operate. With autonomous vessels on the horizon and AI beginning to influence logistics and predictive maintenance, I found myself at a pivotal crossroads. Would I remain anchored to the comfort of my existing expertise, or would I chart a new course?
Returning to the Classroom:
Choosing reinvention was not an easy decision. It meant embracing discomfort, acknowledging knowledge gaps, and becoming a student once more. But I knew that to thrive, not just survive in this new business landscape, I needed to retool. That conviction led me to enroll in the Executive MBA program at SP Jain School of Global Management.
Working in the offshore marine industry meant my days were unpredictable filled with travels, time zone differences, remote field visits, and constant stakeholder engagement. SP Jain’s EMBA, with its Engaged Learning Online (ELO) platform, offered me a lifeline.
Despite being 100% online, the program delivered a rich classroom experience: live
discussions, group projects, leadership simulations, and global peer interactions. It was not just accessible, it was immersive.
From Vessel’s Bridge to Boardroom
One of the most surprising realizations during the EMBA was that leadership, as I had known it on ships, was not so different from leadership in business. What changed was the language, the context, and the framework. Years spent navigating difficult waters, managing crises in real time, and building cohesive crews across diverse nationalities had quietly shaped me into a leader.
The EMBA gave me the tools to articulate and refine these instincts, turning experience into strategic assets. Modules in organizational behavior, strategic leadership, and change management taught me how to guide teams, not just through emergencies, but through market shifts, corporate restructuring, and innovation cycles. It allowed me to see how my maritime training could powerfully contribute to corporate performance.
The Power of Visibility and Voice
A particularly transformative experience came during an intensive session on personal branding. Like many technically trained professionals, I had always believed that doing good work spoke for itself. But the truth is, in today’s interconnected world, your voice is your value. Updating my LinkedIn profile started as a classroom exercise, but quickly became a turning point in my journey.
For the first time, I was forced to define my professional identity beyond job titles and onboard officer’s ranks. I crafted a narrative that reflected not only my operational experience but also my strategic ambitions. The results were immediate and far-reaching. I began receiving invitations to speak at industry panels, lead training sessions, and contribute thought leadership on the future of offshore operations, sustainability, and digital transformation.
It was more than visibility it was validation. I had stepped into a new arena where I could contribute not only as a marine expert but as a business leader with cross-functional visions.
Theory into Action
Midway through my EMBA, I transitioned into a new company. Almost immediately, I identified two glaring gaps: there was no formal marketing plan, and no standardized project costing framework. These were not minor oversights they were barriers to scale and efficiency.
Drawing on the strategic models, financial templates, and case-based learning from the EMBA, I created and implemented a tailored solution within a few weeks. What started as a personal initiative quickly gained traction and was adopted company wide. Senior management recognized the effort, and the process became a best practice template for future operations.
This was a defining moment: it proved that education is not meant to stay in books. When applied effectively, it becomes a catalyst for immediate, measurable change.
At the Intersection of Heritage and Innovation
Today, I find myself at a unique juncture. My maritime heritage continues to guide my thinking, while my business education allows me to translate that wisdom into growth strategies. The research I conducted during my EMBA on the future of autonomous vessels and their impact on seafaring careers remains close to my heart. It is a subject that touches not only on operations but on the human element—how we prepare today’s workforce for tomorrow’s technology.
It is clear to me that our industry does not need fewer seafarers; it needs professionals equipped with new capabilities, data literacy, systems thinking, cross-functional fluency. This applies not just to maritime but to every legacy industry in transition.
Advice to the Next Generation.
To young professionals considering an EMBA or any advanced education, I offer this: “Technical expertise will take you far, but strategic understanding will take you further.” Do not wait for comfort or convenience. Growth demands discomfort. It will stretch you, challenge your assumptions, and consume your evenings,but the return on investment is exponential.
This journey has not just advanced my career; it has renewed my confidence, clarified my purpose, and unlocked doors I never knew existed.
Sailing Forward
The open ocean taught me to trust celestial signs, to navigate through darkness with nothing but the stars. The EMBA taught me to chart my own course, with data, insight, and adaptability as my compass. Today, whether I am making decisions in a boardroom or mentoring the next generation of maritime leaders, I am reminded that reinvention is not a phase. It is a mindset.
The vigilance I developed scanning the horizon for danger now helps me identify strategic opportunities. The discipline that kept my crews safe during tempests now helps steer
commercial decisions. And the humility I learned from the sea’s unpredictability reminds me to remain grounded, even as the winds of innovation push us forward.
That is what true growth looks like, not discarding what made you good at your job, but evolving those strengths to meet new challenges. For those willing to learn, to lead, and to leap, the future holds limitless horizons.
About the Author
Captain Aakaar Jain is a seasoned maritime professional with over 25 years of experience spanning main ffeet, offshore, and shore-based operations, with a strong focus on commercial strategy and business development. A third-generation seafarer, he currently Heads Operations, Commercial, and Business Development at Shipworkz in Dubai.
Captain Jain holds an Executive MBA from SP Jain School of Global Management (2022– 2024) and is a passionate advocate for leadership development, maritime innovation, and the evolving role of seafarers in the digital age.
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