Bridging Continents and Cultures: Seren Sapmaz’s Journey at Friday & Co. Shipbrokers
In the world of shipbroking, relationships are everything, and few understand this better than Seren, who has spent three years connecting the Turkish and Mediterranean markets with Western Europe from her base in Rotterdam at Friday & Co. Shipbrokers.
Born and raised in Turkey, Seren brings a distinctive perspective to the shipping world. ”I think Turkey and Turkish people are more used to uncertainty,” she explains. ”We’ve lived through it, and that’s shaped who I am and how I work.” This mindset has proven to be an asset, especially in today’s unpredictable market. ”Turkish buyers are still moving. They’re rejuvenating their fleet, signing contracts, and expanding. You see everything from fourth-generation shipowners to first-time buyers, from coasters to tankers and offshore vessels.”
The test
But how did Seren become the bridge between these two regions?
Growing up, Seren had always been drawn to sailboats, shipping and maritime as a whole and sailed around Turkish, Greek, Italian and Adriatic coasts. She built a legal career in maritime law in Turkey and even holds a sailing licence. She moved to Amsterdam to pursue a Master’s in shipping law. Her transition into broking came through her network at WISTA (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association), where she is a member of both the Netherlands and Turkey branches. A connection introduced her to Friday & Co., and an informal first meeting at Café Bar Loos in Rotterdam served as a playful test of her social mettle.
”They wanted to see if I could hold my drink,” she laughs. ”Then Rod called me and invited me to lunch with the rest of the team and soon after, I was in.”
The beginning
Seren started with three months of intensive training. ”I had experience on the post-fixture side and had relationships with several shipowners, but the technical and commercial side was new to me. I was eager to develop the Turkish market and build my skills on both sides of the deal.”
She travels back to Turkey every couple of months, visiting clients in person. ”You can’t replace face-to-face meetings with phone calls. Trust in Turkey is built differently. It’s more personal. That’s why I make the effort to go there regularly.”
Even as the market softened after its peak, Seren saw opportunity. ”People were hesitant to buy, but I used the time to build relationships, gather intel, and share knowledge. Once you’ve done your first deals and the trust is there, things move faster.”
Progress on all fronts
Now firmly established, Seren handles general cargo ships and bulkers up to 60,000 tonnes, with a particular focus on the European coaster fleet.
Not all her clients are Turkish, but her cultural fluency gives her an edge. ”There’s no right or wrong way to be a broker,” she says, ”but you need to know how to balance different cultures. Some are more emotional or energetic in deals and some more analytical; my role is to connect those mindsets.”
Her goal is long-term success for her clients. ”I’m not chasing short-term wins. No one knows the exact peak or dip of the market. I follow the reports, analysis, and trends and I create my own broker guidelines. I want my clients to get the best deal, honestly and transparently. They know I won’t play games with them.”
When asked about her very first deal at Friday, she smiles: ”It was with a Turkish buyer, and it had taken some time to get to that point. That’s why it felt so good - relief and happiness all at once.”
One of her proudest moments came when she closed a direct deal between Dutch owners and Turkish buyers for a modern coaster. ”Everyone was cooperative. We even ended up having dinner together in Rotterdam. That doesn’t happen often, so you remember it.”
On diversity in shipping, Seren says progress is happening, often without fanfare. ”A recent deal I worked on involved all women - the brokers and the clients. None of us even noticed until someone pointed it out. That’s the way forward.”
Fun & bubbles!
When reflecting on her time at Friday & Co., she describes it as ”inspiring, liberating, full of fun and bubbles!”
”I came in with a legal background, and combining that with a commercial mindset has worked well. You need an entrepreneurial spirit in shipbroking, no one else is going to gift you a deal. I’ve enjoyed proving myself to myself and adding value to the team and clients. I also believe in teamwork. It’s an ongoing learning process and we need to train each other. Thinking you know everything is a big mistake.”
As for what’s next, Seren is optimistic. ”We have a promising team of brokers with diverse backgrounds that are creating real meaningful opportunities and cultivating relationships. I’m happy to be part of the Friday team, representing my clients’ best interests, which is what I will keep doing. I also take pride and joy in developing new talents for this industry that I am truly passionate about.”
”It cannot go without saying that I am lucky to have a team, experienced shipbrokers, friends, clients and lawyer colleagues that supported my learning process all the way. What these three years have taught me is that perseverance pays off. If you keep going, your day, your time will come.”
