Women International Shipping and Trading Association, India has successfully completed its eight constructive and successful years. The association for women in managerial roles in the maritime sector was launched in India in 2012 by Founder Members Sanjam Sahi Gupta and Sumi Sahi Dutt, Directors of Sitara Shipping. WISTA India has achieved many milestones by focusing on providing a platform for networking, sharing of knowledge, education through workshops/seminars and mentoring of young members to enhance their competence and empower their career success. To encourage and recognize its’ members’ achievements, WISTA India holds the ‘WISTA Personality of the Year Award’ each year. Over the years, WISTA has held events for its members that include visits to ports and container freight stations, opportunities to attend overseas conferences, seminars on current industry topics, and training programs for members’ professional development.
Commenting on the 8th Anniversary, Summiit Cheema, President, WISTA India says, “We at WISTA, India have consistently kept member care as our ethos and post pandemic we feel the need to further strengthen this quality about the association.
She also mentioned that bearing in mind the pandemic situation, WISTA, India had a lot of events and initiatives around wellness, be it physical fitness or mental health. She further added that “our founder member Sanjam Sahi Gupta delivered a very successful Maritime SheEO conference on “Diversity and Sustainability” on 23rd November 2020 that surpassed all barriers of geography, time zones and cultures”.
WISTA is driven by the core values of Gender Diversity and Equality and looking ahead WISTA India with the support of Maritime SheEO plans on making this a reality.
Founder Member and President Emeritus Sanjam has been a driving force for gender equality in the maritime industry not just in India but also overseas. Her vision was to make WISTA India a platform for women in the Indian Maritime Industry and quotes “A big thank you to each of our members and the Indian maritime industry for always being there for us. With Summiit Cheema at the helm, we will continue to grow leaps and bounds.”