Spotlight Feature - Adélaïde Aubriot

My name is Adélaïde, I’m 25 and I graduated from a Masters degree in Naval architecture 3 years ago with a specialization in naval hydrodynamics. This school followed a 2-year preschool in mathematics and physics. I always have been attracted to sciences and how the world works, so it seemed like the right path for me. After my graduation, I worked at a shipyard for two and a half years. I had quite a big team (approximately 10 people), and a scope that started from the beginning of the shipbuilding to the delivery. As it was my first job, I learned a lot about working in a company, managing people and leading a project to its end. I am now looking for new opportunities, but still in the maritime field.

What attracted you to the Maritime world?

My entire family has a special attachment to the maritime world, especially my father who was in the French navy for more than 30 years. I’ve been practicing sailing for 15 years and always loved being on the seaside. It was obvious for me to choose this path for my professional life.

In your maritime career, what is your proudest moment/achievement?

Definitely when we (my colleagues, my team, my company) delivered the biggest cruise ship in the world last November, the « Wonder of the Seas ». It was the achievement of 2 years of work, and it was really exciting seeing her leave the yard filling all the client’s requirements.

What guided you towards this path?

I wanted to work in a shipyard to see the ships and not only work on models. I need to be able to see the product I’m working on. This was a good compromise as I was at the same time following works onboard and planning in the office.

What is the biggest misconception about your job?

The biggest misconception is that this is a men’s job. Actually, there are quite a lot of women working there, mostly in the leading team. Once you are working, there is no difference between men and women, except the ones you think there are.

What is the most exciting part of your day-to-day job? 

Seeing that it’s evolving every day so quickly. One day the floor is the ship hull, the next day there is a carpet. In a year, the ship goes from a huge metallic piece to a floating hotel with thousands of passengers.

What would you say to young females thinking about any career across the maritime industry?

Do not hesitate to give it a try, you are as legitimate as a man. What matters is how you are passionate and involved in your job. As long as you have the technical knowledge and the will to grow a career in this area, it will be the place you should be at.