Navigating Rotterdam’s port sector with care and collaboration: Elisa Alonso on women, work and circular change
“I do not see myself as a symbol,” she says. “I am learning every day, and simply doing my job with care. There are many women in this industry with longer careers than mine. What matters to me is showing the reality of what it feels like to build a path here.”
A family start up, a collective culture
Elisa grew up in Bilbao, Spain, in a household where maritime conversations were part of daily life. Her parents founded CLCircular in 2020, pivoting from single use to reusable sensors to reduce waste in supply chains. After gaining experience in Colombia’s coffee sector, Elisa moved to Rotterdam in 2023 to establish the company’s Northern European presence.
Her own experience, however, is not a solo journey. At CLCircular, many of the leadership positions in finance, logistics, hardware and software development, operations and commercial management are held by women. “That culture makes a big difference,” Elisa explains. “It shows that it is possible to have women leading across all areas when the structure allows for it. I am not the exception in my company, I am one of many.”
The reality of being the only woman in the room
Despite this internal culture, Elisa’s external work often brings her into very different spaces. Meetings with CEOs, importers and quality control managers across the maritime and food logistics chain are still overwhelmingly male.
“Easily 90 percent of the people I meet are men,” she says. “Sometimes the atmosphere is paternalistic, people explain things as if you are unfamiliar, or they overshare details you did not ask for. It is rarely malicious, but it does highlight the imbalance. Being young adds another layer, because you feel the need to constantly prove that you know what you are talking about.”
This is why, she notes, the responsibility cannot be placed only on individual women. “It should not just be about telling women to be brave or to claim your seat at the table. Structures shape who ends up in these roles. From the toys we are given as children to the sports we are encouraged to play, there are subtle messages about what is considered natural for boys and girls. That carries through into career choices and professional confidence.”
Where women are and where they are missing
After visiting dozens of logistics hubs and quality control offices, Elisa observes a clear pattern. “Women are present in marketing, administration, communications and finance. But when it comes to operations, technical leadership or logistics decision making, they are still rare. That is not about capability, it is about access, representation and the kinds of opportunities companies are willing to create.”
She believes companies and institutions need to take more responsibility. “Hiring practices matter. If we only see men as founders or in operations roles, the cycle continues. There are women who want to work in logistics, quality control and commercial positions, they just need the chance.”
Building networks, creating change
One of the ways forward, Elisa emphasises, is through networks. “What really helps is having other women around, whether through LinkedIn groups, associations or just informal chats. When you are the only woman in the room, those connections give you perspective and energy. You realise you are not alone.”
For CLCircular, being based in Rotterdam is also about creating connections. Through the PortXL accelerator programme, the company has been able to expand its network within the port community and explore collaborations, including projects linked to data, customs and supply chain security.
Sustainability as part of the bigger picture
Beyond gender, sustainability runs through everything Elisa does. CLCircular’s reusable sensors, rented, recovered and used multiple times over, are designed to reduce waste and emissions in global trade. For her, innovation and sustainability are inseparable.
“In Europe especially, you cannot separate innovation from sustainability anymore,” she says. “If the maritime sector wants to evolve, it has to think beyond short term cost and towards long term impact.”
A grounded perspective
Elisa resists being framed as an inspiring woman of the year. Instead, she hopes her story adds to a broader conversation about how the port sector can change. “I am just one example,” she concludes. “The real question is: how do we build systems that allow more women to thrive here, in logistics, operations and leadership? If we can shift the structures, the stories will follow.”
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