Leading the shift: Karin Ebbinghaus on breaking barriers in a male-dominated Industry

2025 is Rotterdam’s Year of the Woman, a moment to highlight the women shaping the maritime industry. Karin Ebbinghaus, CEO of Swedish electric road company Elonroad, is one of them. With a background in maritime law, corporate finance, and climate tech, she now leads a company challenging both the status quo in charging infrastructure and the norms around leadership. In 2025, Elonroad was a candidate for PortXL's programme, a Rotterdam-based maritime accelerator, making Karin’s story a fitting one to highlight this year.

On her own terms

Karin started her career in law, working as in-house counsel at a shipping company before moving into international M&A. “I realised that law wasn’t my passion, but doing business is,” she says. After completing an MBA while raising three young children and working full-time, she moved into venture capital, investing in CO₂-focused startups.

That’s where she first encountered Elonroad. “The founder came looking for funding, and I completely fell in love with the potential of Elonroad,” she recalls. “After two years, I couldn’t let go of the thought of Elonroad and the potential. So I said, I’m willing to join, but if I’m doing this, I want to be the CEO. Because I’m tired of doing all the hard work and having a man take the credit.”

A company with a mission

For Karin, the decision to join Elonroad wasn’t just a career move; it was a question of meaning. “When you have kids, it feels like you need to do something that could make the world better,” she says. “Instead of just being in the normal corporate world, I wanted to be part of this impact company with a purpose.”

She joined when the company had just a handful of employees. Since then, it has grown rapidly, with nearly 30 employees, operations in several countries, and a fast-growing international profile. “I love working,” she says. “But if I’m taking time away from my kids, it has to be worthwhile.”

Being the only woman in the Room

Karin is clear-eyed about what it’s like to lead in a male-heavy sector. “I was quite often the only woman in the room,” she says, thinking back to her years in law and finance. “I don’t think men think about it, but I always do. You notice it.” That said, she doesn’t believe in generalising. “The differences between the genders are not as big as the differences within the genders. You meet people you resonate with, they can be women or men.”

What matters to her is how people work, not what title they have. “At Elonroad, it’s about the impact we can make. There’s no prestige in titles. A good idea should stand, it doesn’t matter who brings it up.”

"If you're a mum, you’ll make a great CEO"

Her advice to women? Be pragmatic. “Unfortunately, women hold themselves back sometimes, because they want to be perfect and have control. But in this position, you just have to live with uncertainty,” she says.

She also stresses the importance of accepting help. “You should not be afraid of getting help and thinking you can do everything on your own. That is the biggest trap.” At home, she says, perfection is overrated. “Sometimes you just need to have home delivery pizza and that’s fine.”

And being a mother, she believes, is the best leadership training there is. “As a CEO, you have to think many steps ahead, juggle many things, and keep different perspectives in mind. That’s exactly what you do as a mum. I’m so surprised that not more mums are CEOs.”

Reframing the sector

Karin believes the maritime sector needs to tell its story better, to women and the world. “Shipping is the backbone of global trade. Ninety percent of what we wear, eat, or consume has been transported in a container,” she says. “But the sector hasn’t talked about its impact on society. I think that story could attract both men and women.”

And she’s not interested in abstract debates about what makes an industry ‘special’. “Every industry says they are so unique, but they’re often very similar to something else. It’s about people. And it’s about purpose.”

In a year that celebrates the women shaping the Port of Rotterdam, Karin Ebbinghaus shows she is ready to be one of them. She is challenging the old rules and showing what leadership in a male-dominated industry can look like today.