Charting her own course: Heleen Kornet on leadership, legacy and navigating a male dominated maritime world

A childhood spent around ships

Heleen’s connection to the maritime world is personal and lifelong. She was born on a barge, grew up around ship deliveries and open days and watched her father build Concordia Damen from the ground up. “I always knew I would end up here,” she says. “It just happened a little sooner than I expected.”

After studying office management and later shipbuilding fundamentals at the STC, she worked elsewhere before joining the company. She started at Concordia Damen in an administrative role, helping colleagues, supporting clients and learning the full rhythm of the business. Marketing followed when she realised the company needed more structure and visibility in that area.

Today she manages the marketing department, building on a broad understanding of the company gained through years of hands-on involvement.

Working in a male dominated industry

Heleen is often one of the few women in the room, but she rarely notices it. “I have always worked well with men,” she says. “And at our company the culture is so open and collaborative that you do not feel a difference.” “Here, the culture does not allow unnecessary tension. It is direct, supportive and focused on getting things done.”

For women entering a technical or operational field, she believes authenticity is key. “You need to be able to hold your ground,” she says. “But you do not need to imitate anyone. Women bring different qualities and those qualities matter.”

Leadership shaped by experience and family

As the daughter of the founder, she could have faced assumptions or expectations, but within the company this has never defined her position. Her role has developed through practical involvement and familiarity with the organisation.

Concordia Damen actively encourages diversity and recognises the added value of different perspectives within the maritime industry. Women contribute their own qualities to the organisation, and their visibility is seen as important. This was reflected when the company won the Ship of the Year award and Heleen represented the team on stage. Her father wanted women in the maritime sector to be visible. “That meant a lot.”

Balancing work, leadership and family life

With two young children, Heleen is realistic about the challenge of balancing ambition and family. “You basically live two full days,” she says. “A day before work and a day after work.”

Her guiding principle is clarity about priorities. “If I ignore what matters most, I am not happy. I choose consciously and I try not to let expectations push me into being everything at once.”