Stefana Sopco

“I am Stefana and I work as the Head of Content Marketing at Smartflow, a SaaS solution aimed at the digitalization of inspections in the tank storage, petrochemical and maritime industry. The marketing career I built in the last eleven years has taught me that to get places you need to open doors for yourself and not wait for others to invite you in. I followed this road and it took me to rooms full of CEOs, innovation managers, product directors, field workers, and they all said the same thing with different words – people first.

As a digital minded professional I use my knowledge and experience to enable this kind of mindset where people are at the core of decision making either at terminals, ports, plants or other work sites. Through my work I embed digitalization, technology, inclusion and diversity into businesses’ mission  to empower their people to become their best selves.

But when I go to an event, a conference, or a training session, I want to be part of the diversity efforts the industry is taking. Shaping, encouraging, empowering, and creating a platform for women professionals in the field that are still shy to speak their minds is one big mission I want to be part of. Industries such as tank storage, petrochemicals, or maritime hide inspiring female professionals behind the curtains while young talent needs representation; otherwise, they won’t find their call, and industries will struggle to attract and nurture talent.

In my day-to-day activity at Smartflow, I work closely with terminals worldwide. I believe in their importance to the nation’s supply chain continuance and development, but one thing is certain. Ports, terminals, facilities, and plants are all connectors to the world.

As part of their transformation, diversity should become a key component, especially in a society struggling with movements like great resignation. There should no longer be a men’s world but an everyone’s world. In the end, it’s indeed all about people. No matter the gender.“