UNICORN of Maritime Sector-
Sailing Beyond Leadership To A New ‘Shapership’ Spectrum
Dr. Abhijit Singh, is a pioneer in shaping new realities, opening up new paths to the future and bringing significant beneficial transformation to the Maritime Industry.
An Accomplished ChangeAgent, Charismatic Visionary Leader, Researcher, Philanthropist, Author & Mentor with a dynamic career in Logistics, Maritime, and Supply-Chain Sectors with a focus on Strategic Planning, High-Impact business process optimisation, and Complex Issue Resolution. Dr. Abhijit has served at the level of CXO, Board Member of reputed Organizations and Chairman/ Member Expert in various national level committees formed by the Government of India. Hailed as a young pathbreaker, Dr. Abhijit has created an immaculate background in creating and implementing practices that streamline operations and workflow. Graduated from BITS-Pilani in Marine Engineering, MBA in Maritime from London and PG in Marine Law from London and Doctorate in Maritime Management.
He is married to Dr. Aparna Shree Singh, who’s a Life Science Researcher & Scientist by profession and is a founder of Shree Yoga, promoting wellness through the Vedic method of yoga. Dr Kamla Singh, his mother and wife’s vision of philanthropic humanitarian actions and purpose-driven life keep him motivated. The positive thoughts of being honest, doing good, finding happiness and giving one’s best motivate him in all walks of life.
Much like Shri Krishna as an advisor to Arjun and Pandavas, there are in the present time many unsung heroes and intelligent workhorses who work incessantly, spiritedly and silently in the background and are instrumental in creating and executing ideas for the welfare of the country. Dr Abhijit is a result-oriented decisive leader with proven success in conceptualizing ideas and strategic planning. He has held senior positions like Ast Vice President (InvestIndia) and Executive Director (Indian Ports Association (IPA)), in an apex body and think-tank of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
He attained the distinction of becoming the youngest senior officer equivalent to the Deputy Chairman of Major Port aged 34 and was inducted into the government system to infuse professionalism by inducting domain experts. He had sailed on board ships with UK based oil shipping company but felt the guilt of not serving his own nation and so he left his high-paying job and started taking lectures in premier institutions and business schools as this was where he found his passion and joy. He is involved with the government since 2014 but after 2017 he got the privilege of assisting the Indian Government in IPA and continuing his endeavour with InvestIndia, as a role of a change agent. He is now involved in policy decisionmaking and bringing sectoral reforms by making ports drivers of economic change, saving logistic cost & time, enhancing employability, capacity building and digitalizing & modernizing ports.
The ups-downs and challenges in Abhijit Singh’s life were tackled by the love and empathy of the great souls he met in different phases of life. Showing grace, being thankful and displaying empathy whilst connecting and communicating are key, he believes. An empathetic connection with loved ones, friends and family helps him balance his professional and personal lives.
Currently, serving the nation and working relentlessly for greater purposes, Dr. Singh remains open to business ventures and related challenges in future. He exclaims “it’s important to keep an open mind and challenge our perceptions, opinions and – often subconscious – biases.” Living with a purpose changes everything, so he believes in a philosophy of changing the world through strong determination. Always striving for excellence, setting high standards, vigorously pursuing them and nurturing enthusiasm for the challenge and learning is his driving passion.
Focus, Clarity of Thought and Speed are the three best expressions which describe Dr Singh. He believes in living a purpose-driven life, taking responsibility whilst having courage and humility! “Be a leader, and author of your life and fill it with experiences instead of things” he states. His rigidity regarding values and principles is his own weakness, he admits A man of great achievements, Dr. Abhijit has been awarded with The Maritime ‘Hall of Fame’ International Leadership Award 2020, Conferred by the Indian Achievers Forum in 2020 with the ‘Man of Excellence’, National Award by Honorable President of India and countless more. He has represented India’s Maritime Interests in many national and international forums including UN agency for maritime affairs (IMO). He has authored the wide accolade book ‘World-Class Ship Manager – In 4 Weeks’
Lastly, he parts with the wisdom that each individual must be a captain of their own life, just like a sailor. Sailing in the ocean of uncertainties with no favourable wind and not knowing the port of destination, one must keep adjusting their sail without being tempted to drift away. Look for new horizons because, in the waves of change, one finds his true destiny
