In this episode of The Wavemakers Podcast, we sit down with Amel Rigneau, innovation leader, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder, to unpack what really makes innovation work in maritime and beyond!

From her early career in consulting and entrepreneurship, to orchestrating open innovation in global shipping, Amel shares why innovation so often fails—not because of technology, but because of people, culture, and misaligned ecosystems.

- Why maritime has zero patience for “innovation theatre”
- How to design pilots that are actually built to scale
- The hidden role of procurement, leadership, and P&L alignment
- Why trust, communication, and quick wins matter more than big visions
- What startups misunderstand about working with large shipping companies
- How geopolitics, energy, and shipping are inseparably linked

This is a candid, experience-driven conversation about making innovation tangible, navigating fear and resistance inside large organizations, and building ecosystems that allow real transformation to happen.

If you care about maritime decarbonisation, digital transformation, or corporate–startup collaboration, this episode is for you.

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📩 Have questions or comments? Feel free to reach out via email at gordana.ilic@bettersea.tech