IntraFish: How did you begin working in the seafood industry?
Wannasiri Aramwattananont: I started working in seafood as soon as I graduated from University of Michigan in 2007. However, I feel as if I have been in the industry long before. Both my parents have been in seafood business for over 30 years and so you could imagine most of the stuff we talked about, the places we went and things we did, were all pretty much seafood related.
When I was a young girl I used to follow them to business meetings, attend trade shows and visit factory sites. Today I still do the same but with a much larger responsibility. I believe I kind of started very young.
IF: What attracted you about the seafood industry?
WA: Seafood is a very interesting industry. There are just so much to get into. Pick one seafood item and we can spend years and years learning about it. Let’s use shrimp as an example. We learn about the difference in species, the ways to farm and to grow them, the ways to process them, packaged package them and so on. Then we learn about how and where to buy or sell or trade them. There are many things and I find them challenging and fun.
The industry itself is also very dynamic. It requires those involved to be adaptable and flexible to changes. To meet such requirements, I always have to be fast moving and that means frequent travels. This has given me an opportunity to meet people of diverse cultures. I also get to visit places that I would never have been so that is a nice bonus. I get to meet new people and learn new things all the time.
IF: What obstacles have you faced in your career a man might not have encountered?
WA: As most of the people who work in the seafood industry are male, I feel that it is more difficult for women to create a network circle than our male counterparts. For example, in some particular cultures, business partners would usually participate in networking over dinner. However, women may find it harder to connect to their male counterparts over social events as they might have other commitments such as taking care of family after work.
IF: Would you encourage other women to seek a career in this industry? Why?
WA: I would highly encourage other women to seek a career in this industry. The seafood industry is a fast moving industry that requires flexibility to frequent changes. Women are usually open minded, detailed oriented, and creative. In fact, such attributes would help to promote better development to the world’s seafood industry as women seem to have good ideas and skills to contribute to the industry such as product innovation.
As I mentioned earlier, seafood is always everyone’s favorite, thus, I believe this industry will continue to grow in the future. Therefore, it should be a good career base for women who are looking to have a stable career path.
IF: What advice would you give aspiring female seafood executives?
WA: I would suggest female seafood executives to be strong both physically and mentally. They need to be strong because trading seafood products requires lots of traveling, long meeting hours and negotiation skills. Thus, they must rest well and keep healthy.
They also need to be strong mentally as there will always be pressure, obstacles and challenges are occurring each day and require solving. Therefore, it is very important to stay focused and do the best they can on any goals/objective they aim for.
IF: What are the biggest challenges facing female seafood executives in the industry?
WA: The biggest challenge is that female seafood executives must put in extra effort compared to male executives to prove and gain respect to their male counterpart or in the industry.
Based on the current situation, the number of female executive roles in the seafood industry are quite limited. Most of the roles set out for women are more involved in sales or on an administrative level. Therefore, women must work a lot harder to earn recognition from management and to be promoted into higher positions.
IF: How can the industry recruit more women into the sector?
WA: First, I think it would be good to set up scholarship fund for young women to study in the fields related to the seafood industry such as marine studies, food science/food engineering, or research development.
Then we can recruit these students to work in the seafood companies even before they finish school.
Secondly, the industry should provide more opportunities for women to speak up and present their real ability. If their abilities prove to be qualified, they should be allowed to get promoted into the management level.
The industry is losing out on a 50 percent chance to recruit the best people. These people could contribute to scale up production and to better develop the seafood business.
IF: Why are there so few women in executive roles in seafood?
WA: I think there are fewer women in executive roles in seafood because there are limited opportunities for women to present their skills. While men are quite dominating the higher positions in this industry, women are limited to be in processing, sales and supporting roles.
These jobs are typically lower paid and less recognized for their contribution to the seafood industry and the world economy.
IF: If there were one thing you could change about the industry to make it a better place for women workers, what would it be?
WA: I would suggest setting up an organization to bring female seafood executives from all around the world into one room every year. The organization can work together on social projects, such as raising funds to help get financial support for children education of women workers, or other kinds of projects that would improve the skills and living conditions of women workers in the seafood industry.
Having a female leader representing the organization could help to attract more women to work in the industry and inspire them to work harder to become female executives in the seafood industry.
IF: What was the dumbest advice a man in the seafood industry has ever given you?
WA: I couldn’t think of any. I believe I take every advice mindfully and utilize it for personal improvement.
