From " Chief Marine Engineer to Chief Data Officer": A Transformation story

Life has a simple rule. You are either moving forward and taking control or you are falling behind.

This means you need to be proactive and take charge of your life. If you don’t, you might get left behind.

Trust the timing of events- it has a reason.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and that’s okay. Life unfolds at its own pace, with each moment leading you closer to where you are meant to be.

What seems like delay or setback might actually be preparation for something greater. Trust the timing. Let go of what you can’t control and welcome the unknown, allowing life’s surprises to shape you in ways you never thought possible.

After graduating from college and completing my pre-sea training, I spent 28 years as a seafarer. Life at sea molded me into a resilient and adaptable individual, equipping me to handle any challenge that came my way.

Serving as a Chief Engineer for nearly 15 years was immensely rewarding, yet over time, I felt a growing desire to pursue something more—something that would fuel my passion for continuous learning while allowing me to apply my knowledge to real-world situations.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world in profound ways, accelerating remote and hybrid work models while creating new shore-based opportunities. In 2021, I seized one such opportunity when Captain Gaurav Rana from Seaandbeyond reached out to me for a Vessel Performance role.

Like any seafarer, I had my doubts—especially about the financial implications of transitioning ashore. Yet, without overthinking, I took the leap. It didn’t take long to realize the challenges ahead. My existing expertise was sufficient for advisory roles, but this position demanded more. I had to rapidly upskill and adapt to thrive in this new domain.

I began by mastering advanced Excel and statistics, using these skills to analyze vessel data and uncover valuable insights. However, as the complexity of the computations grew, I realized I needed more—so I dove into Python. What started as a necessity soon became a passion. I found the language both fascinating and intellectually stimulating. The thrill of applying new skills to extract meaningful patterns from raw data was incredibly rewarding.

Determined to keep growing, I made a commitment: learn something new every day, even if just for five minutes. Four years later, I’ve stayed true to that promise. Through consistent, incremental progress, I’ve transformed into a Data Science Practitioner—a new identity that has earned me recognition among peers, deep job satisfaction, and the ability to apply my skills daily to real-world challenges. This journey has been transformative, and I haven’t looked back since.

I no longer fixate on earnings because I’ve realized that money is merely a byproduct of value. When you cultivate expertise and demonstrate your worth, rewards follow—regardless of where you are or what you do.

Looking back, I’m grateful I took that leap of faith without overanalyzing the opportunity. By embracing the challenge, acquiring new skills, and applying them to real-world data, I unlocked a path I hadn’t imagined.

Success is subjective. For me, it means finding joy in my work—welcoming each day’s challenges, striving to overcome them, and, above all, ending the day with fulfillment, knowing my contributions make a tangible difference in the industry I serve.

The formula for transformation is simple:

Be determined—do not defer and trust in your capabilities.

Be bold—experiment without fear.

Reject excuses—they only hold you back.

Learn relentlessly—knowledge is your greatest tool.

Self-motivation—push forward even when it’s tough.

Persevere—quitting is never an option.

Embrace growth—every challenge is an opportunity.

No matter what choices you make or paths you take, there will always be someone with an opinion.

Never let fear of judgement hold you back. Keep moving forward, despite the noise and let your success be the loudest response.

Trust me, the journey to becoming a knowledge-driven professional is incredibly rewarding. I’ve walked this path myself—and the transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Carpe Diem, which means ‘Seize the day’!