We love bringing new faces into the world of shipping here at Wake Media. There’s always something special about seeing our industry through a fresh pair of eyes. This quarter, we had the pleasure of hosting a new team member who’s getting their first taste of what maritime is all about.
Monday: The First Day on Deck
Walking into Wake Media, everything was new. I found my desk, settled in, and tried to remember everyone’s name. I sent an email out to the whole Wake team, telling them a bit about myself and asking for a quick chat. Everyone seemed happy to help, which made things a lot less nerve-racking.
Wake Media gave me a presentation on what they do, it turns out, their work touches every part of the shipping world, from marketing in maritime to running platforms like The Maritime Calendar. I hadn’t realised before just how much goes on behind the scenes. Andy, the Managing Director, took time to chat about his role and what he’s building next. I joined a live client pitch as Steve and Jo made their case to a potential new partner. Watching that, I saw how teamwork really matters here.
Tuesday: Getting Hands-On
Meeting Richard (campaign management) and Lily (graphic design) put faces to some of the job titles. They walked me through how a campaign takes shape, from the first creative idea to getting it out to sea (well, out to clients!). There was a full team meeting, too, about a platform called Active Campaign. Everyone seemed keen to learn how it will make marketing and sales smoother.
Later, Jo shared what marketing communications really means in shipping, turns out, it’s more layered than I expected. I got to talk with Steve about the industry as a whole, making sense of the big picture, and took a first look at the Tradewinds website to prepare for my next step.
Wednesday: On Board with TradeWinds
I moved over to DN Media, where TradeWinds lives, for the middle of my week. Eva and Jose showed me around their office. It was busy but welcoming. Eva explained how DN Media Group works and how TradeWinds fits in. What stood out to me was how many different teams work together, each focused on a slice of the maritime world, from energy to seafood to renewables.
I learned about sales from Jose, especially a technique called PCMC: probe, confirm, match, and close. (Honestly, it’s just as much about listening as it is about selling.)
Thursday: Stories and Events
Eva and I talked about content. I learned it’s not all the same, some is sponsored, some fully independent. It matters to make this clear so readers can trust what they’re reading. The TradeWinds team really cares about being honest with their audience.
Jade, a content producer, let me try writing a headline and introduction for a real article, it was scary, but fun. I also spent time talking events with Alex, Nicky, and Jack. Turns out, events are a huge piece of the industry.
Five Things That Surprised Me
- Shipping is everywhere: I learned that 90% of all goods travel by ship at some point. It puts the world in perspective.
- Going into London feels special: There’s energy in the city; starting my day there set a different tone.
- So many jobs: Shipping isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every person I met had a different job and story.
- Questions matter: The more I asked, the more I understood. It’s okay not to know everything straight away.
- TradeWinds stands out: Unlike many news sites, their audience pays to subscribe, so quality and trust are everything.
New beginnings are rarely easy, but this week showed me just how open and varied the world of maritime really is. From the first pitch to the last headline, it’s all about the people and how each story fits into something bigger.
If you’re new, nervous, or just starting out, keep asking questions. It’s the best way to find your place, whatever industry you’re in.