Marie Gleeson : Be like the sea

​Topics covered : life in the Irish Navy, leadership, being a woman in a male-dominated environment, drug interdiction operations, UN peacekeeping missions, traumatic pregnancy, child loss, grief, motherhood, mental health and emotional wellbeing.

​(Please take care while listening, particularly if any of these topics feel sensitive or close to home.​)

This week, I speak to former Navy Captain Marie Gleeson.

Marie lives in Tipperary with her husband John and their two daughters, Laoise and Muireann. Raised on a dairy farm as the eldest of six children, she went on to become one of the first women commissioned into the Irish Navy at a time when women had only recently been allowed into the service.

Over a 21-year career, Marie served at sea and ashore in senior leadership roles and eventually became Commanding Officer of the LE Aoife. She was involved in major operations including a UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, the rescue of a Canadian submarine and a seven hundred and fifty million euro cocaine seizure during a high-stakes drug interdiction mission at sea.

But behind the extraordinary career was profound personal heartbreak.

In this conversation, Marie speaks openly and honestly about the devastating loss of her baby son Ciarán​ and how grief completely altered her understanding of strength and leadership.

Marie’s memoir, ​'Be Like the Sea​ - Life, Learnings and Leadership from an Irish Navy Captain', is out now​ and it's fantastic.

Helplines​ :

​Ireland helplines and hotlines

Support Links – Pregnancy & Infant Loss Ireland

You can ​connect with Marie ​on LinkedIn, Instagram or you can email her :

marie@navmarleadership.ie

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