| Three years ago, I was one of the fortunate souls who was able to get tickets to the Broadway show “Hamilton”. I didn’t know much about it aside from an article I had read, and didn’t think I would enjoy it as I am not a natural fan of hip hop music. I was very wrong! It was transformational and remains the best Broadway show I have ever seen. One of the songs was pivotal to the story, and relevant in everyday life: The Room Where It Happens. In this case, Aaron Burr recounts how the framework for the United States was agreed upon amongst a very few: No one else was in
The room where it happened
The room where it happened
The room where it happened
No one really knows how the game is played
The art of the trade
How the sausage gets made
We just assume that it happens
But no one else is in
The room where it happens How does this relate to shipping? Opportunities to be involved in decision making, solution providing and investing surround us every day. We just need to enter. At the decision-making level, we all have the opportunity, should we choose to access it, to attend IMO meetings in London. That is “The Room Where It Happens”. We also have the opportunity to input to solution providing, where we can express our challenges and needs, and look to subject matter experts to meet our criteria. Finally, we have an opportunity to invest in future solutions. It has been my honor and privilege over the past few months to be involved in two groups that are working to bring new technologies to the marine industry: SeaAhead Ventures located in Providence, Rhode Is a benefit corporation whose mission is to catalyze the intersection of sustainability, oceans and innovation. They work with entrepreneurs, researchers and corporations to accelerate bluetech innovation, ocean and coastal sustainability and resiliency, and the reduction of man’s environmental footprint. The Maritime Global Technology Innovation Center (MGTIC), located at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, New York, presents a neutral ground for entrepreneurs focused within a thriving maritime ecosystem. MGTIC will spur development of solutions and serve as a bridge among the tech, maritime, logistics, and finance communities to connect startups to maritime interests globally. Many times, maritime takes technologies from other sources, such as land-based, and adapts them to seaborn applications. Perhaps the timing is right to invest upfront in technologies that are created FOR the marine industry. To be part of that discussion, you need to be “In the room where it happens.” On the final day of SHIPPINGInsight, we will be running two breakout “Shark Tank” sessions offered by SeaVenture and MGTIC. Be sure YOU are “In the room where it happens”!! Keep optimizing, Carleen | 
