Episode Title:
Empowering Seafarers: Building Trust and Connection in Maritime with Josephine Le of The Hood
Guest: Josephine Le, Founder of The Hood
Episode Overview:
In this powerful and human-centered conversation, Josephine Le, founder of The Hood, shares her journey from crewing superintendent to tech founder.
The Hood is a digital platform reshaping how seafarers connect, build careers, and find trusted resources in a fragmented maritime industry.
We unpack the origins of her idea, the mental health crisis at sea, and why digital connection and transparency must be a top priority across the global shipping workforce.
Key Points:
- The Birth of The Hood:
Josephine shares how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep flaws in crew change logistics and inspired her to build a platform rooted in empathy and real-world challenges. - Not Just LinkedIn for Seafarers:
The Hood isn’t a corporate social network—it’s designed for the most inexperienced maritime workers, offering safer access to jobs, community, and resources. - Smart Tools for a Safer Industry:
Features like auto-CV generation, live document sharing, recruiter transparency, and candidate-controlled access are changing the game for job seekers and crewing teams alike. - Fighting Fraud and Exploitation:
The Hood only works with certified manning agencies and empowers users to report scams and misconduct—bringing accountability where it’s desperately needed. - Mental Health and Support:
Josephine discusses The Hood’s “We Care” section and partnerships with organizations like ISWAN and Sailors’ Society to support vulnerable workers. - AI with Caution:
Josephine explains why The Hood hasn’t rushed into AI, preferring to build something meaningful and data-backed over gimmicks. - Books at 35,000 Feet:
A lover of founder biographies, Josephine shares her current favorite—Man of This Land, about the rise of Hyundai’s shipbuilding empire.
Learn More: Check out Episode 109 with Pam Kern on maritime mental health, and Episode 80 with Carl King on seafarer welfare and advocacy.
Tune in Now:
Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube
Music by: Peg and The Rejected “King of SKA”
Art Work By: GA Design
Produced by: Chris Aversano
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