Cruise Ship Spirit, Terminal Tenacity: The Leadership Story of Sarah Haidar

In this episode of The Wavemakers Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Haidar—a dynamic maritime leader with over 20 years of experience in port operations, terminal management, and digital transformation.

From running terminals in Beirut to developing IT strategies for NEOM, Sarah shares what it takes to lead in a traditionally male-dominated industry while raising a family, mentoring women, and advocating for digital innovation.

🔍 We explore:
- How a finance graduate ended up running ports
- The emotional and operational realities of 24/7 terminal work
- Juggling leadership, motherhood, and midnight crane calls
- The rise of smart ports, AI, and digital transformation in maritime
- Why women need support systems—not just strength—to thrive
- The role of WISTA and what they're building for the next generation

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the port gates—or how to thrive as a leader balancing resilience, tech, and teamwork—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen in and join us in celebrating the women moving the maritime world forward.

#TheWavemakersPodcast  #SmartPorts #MaritimeWomen #WISTA #Leadership #PortOperations #DigitalTransformation #WorkLifeBalance #ShippingIndustry #TerminalManagement

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🔗 Related Resources and Links:
• Follow Gordana Ilic on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordanailicphd/
• Follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterSea

📩 Have questions or comments? Feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]