Industry now rewards intelligence over toughness

Some careers are meticulously planned, while others are a providential accident. Meera Kumar’s entry into shipping, maritime, and logistics falls into the latter category. With a submariner Commodore for a father and a Royal Indian Army officer for a grandfather, she was raised on stories of strategy, tactics, and the crucial role of logistics in war. It turned out that her upbringing had been a perfect—albeit unintentional—preparation for the world of shipping. Her first exposure to the world of shipping came when she joined Maersk’s sub-agency sales in Goa.

There was no looking back since then. Meera Kumar is now the president and CEO of Diabos Global, driving the company’s port cost optimization services. With her visionary leadership, she has successfully transformed the company, introducing lucrative SAAS models and entrenching digital tools for revenue diversification and a stronger global presence. She became a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS). After more than 20 years as a port and shipping agent, a stevedore for containers and bulk, and a freight forwarder, she then made an unconventional leap— into the world of maritime technology.

Joining an IT product company as a domain expert and global business development lead, she sought to understand digitalization, the great equalizer, and how technology could revolutionize an industry often resistant to change. Over the past decade, she has been working on software solutions for container carriers, global leasing companies, port community systems, and private digital maritime ecosystems—helping to make shipping more transparent, efficient, and ethical. Today, as President and CEO of Diabos, part of the JM Baxi Group, she leads a team delivering a worldclass maritime digitization platform. It empowers shipowners and operators with data-driven decision-making, audit-ready voyages, and transparency at every stage.

Reflecting on her journey, she feels deeply grateful for the support she received from the shipping ecosystem, especially from her mentors, who taught her how to navigate the complex web of stakeholders with diplomacy. In the initial days, she had to face a challenging work environment marked by male prejudices and cultural biases. Thankfully, the industry is changing now. At Diabos, women account for over 27 per cent of the total workforce— compared to the industry’s overall 12 per cent—with a goal of reaching 30-40 per cent.

Meera Kumar is convinced that the opportunities for women in maritime sector are vast, particularly with AI, EVs, and digitalization redefining the game. The industry now rewards intelligence over toughness, adaptability over rigidity, and lifelong learning over static expertise.