Tamara Lowe grew up in Zickak, a little community in Portsmouth on the northern side of the Commonwealth of Dominica. As a child, the Portsmouth Public Library was her favorite place and she spent most of her time reading. Lowe was also an avid athlete and she enjoyed netball and athletics, running the 400m in her teenage years. Multitalented as she was, her parents could not afford to send her to a university so she had to improvise.
Lowe participated in a beauty pageant and won a scholarship to continue her education. She attended the University of Holguin in Cuba, where she became bilingual (in English and Spanish) and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Her goal at the time was to work with the United Nations in poverty alleviation. Upon completion of her degree, she returned to her island in 2006 and started as a Sales Representative for Tropical Shipping in 2007. For Lowe, this job “opened a whole new world of microeconomics – working with businesses of all sizes, establishing strong relationships, and understanding their challenges and the nature of their businesses to provide transportation solutions.” Six years later, she took on the position of Island Manager.
Now tasked with managing all shipping to and from the island for Tropical Shipping, she reflects on her unlikely career in an industry that was never on her radar and the woman she has become because of it. Tamara’s “roles involve aligning efforts toward promoting an awareness among young women of the career opportunities available within the Maritime sector with the hope of addressing the under-representation of women in the industry.”
Although it seemed too good to be true at first, Tamara Lowe grew to love how her Management Team had created a space where people are a ‘priority,’ where innovation and creativity are embraced, and where diversity and inclusivity are highly encouraged. She considers herself an introvert and notes that her job has forced her to evolve and grow in a highly competitive industry. “Working in shipping is exciting, and there is never a dull moment. Under the supportive umbrella of Tropical Shipping, I have developed some amazing skills over the years, which include problem-solving, decisiveness, conflict management, self-management, emotional intelligence, and teamwork, among others, and I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge of the industry.”
Since her appointment as Island Manager, Lowe has earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and recently completed a master’s degree in Strategic Management. She remains interested in pursuing additional studies in Maritime Management. In addition, Lowe champions the cause of women’s empowerment in shipping, considering the under-representation of women in the industry. She currently serves as the President of the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean’s (WiMAC) Dominica Chapter and played an integral part in its establishment in 2019. In March of 2021, she was appointed the Vice President of Membership and Administration for the Caribbean Association overall.
When asked about her most challenging professional encounter, Tamara Lowe is often moved to tears when she describes the destruction caused by Category 5 – Hurricane Maria which ravaged Dominica and several other Caribbean islands, including Saint Croix and Puerto Rico, in September 2017. “There were so many critical areas to focus on: my wellbeing and that my family, the wellbeing of my team and that of our customers, and getting the company – which was completely destroyed – back on its feet as the country needed Tropical Shipping to be up and running since food and supplies would be brought in on our vessels. I had to be a strong, focused leader, more so than usual.”
Tamara Lowe is convinced that her future is aligned with Tropical Shipping, a company she believes goes above and beyond to encourage women to take on leadership positions. She has grown to appreciate the complexity of the shipping industry, which she believes is, in one way or another, embedded in the very fabric of our everyday lives.
Congratulations to Tamara Lowe for continuing to set her footprint in the maritime industry, creating more opportunities for women like herself in this field.
Full credit is given to Saltchuk for conducting the original interview which can be found HERE.
