I loved seeing our business right in front of me every morning. It gave me a completely different perspective on global shipping.
The low hum of the SeaBus, water churning beneath the ferry, the occasional cry of a seagull – and, somewhere beyond the windows, the silhouettes of Vancouver’s North Shore mountains. For Emilie Christiaensen, this was the soundtrack to the working day.
After moving from the Benelux to Vancouver to work as Coordinator Business Development, Emilie’s commute became a small daily adventure. A 15-minute walk from her home in North Vancouver took her down towards the waterfront and the SeaBus. From there, it was a short crossing of Burrard Inlet before another walk through downtown to the Hapag-Lloyd office.
Especially in the morning, the journey could feel almost cinematic. The sun rising over the water, cool sea air outside and Vancouver’s skyline slowly drawing closer. Yet this is also very much a working harbor. The SeaBus passes Centerm, where Hapag-Lloyd vessels call Vancouver, and nearby rail yards are filled with containers waiting for the next stage of their journey.
“I loved seeing our business right in front of me every morning,” the 27-year old says. “It gave me a completely different perspective on global shipping. You suddenly see how all these pieces – vessel, terminal, rail and people – connect.”
Step aboard with Emilie – watch the video for a glimpse of her commute across Vancouver’s harbor:
Finding a new rhythm
Emilie made the commute her own. Sometimes she would call her parents in Europe or reply to friends’ voice messages. Other mornings, she would read or knit, watching the harbor slip past outside.
And Vancouver itself quickly became part of the experience: a city where glass towers meet ocean and mountains, and where nature never seems very far away. A coffee near the office became an occasional morning treat – while Vancouver favorites such as Pacific salmon, sushi and Nanaimo bars offered a taste of the West Coast.
Living and working abroad also meant leaving familiar routines behind.
“Moving to Vancouver made me more independent and confident,” Emilie says. “You learn to adapt to another culture and different ways of working and communicating. That can be challenging at first, but it’s also what makes the experience so valuable.”
For her, that international perspective was also part of what made working at Hapag-Lloyd special.
“You realise how global our company really is. I learned a lot from working with people with different backgrounds and perspectives – and I think I returned with a much broader view than I had when I arrived.”
And on some mornings, there was no need for a phone call, book or knitting needles. Just a window seat on the ferry and a few quiet minutes watching mountains, vessels and containers pass by.
Editor’s note: Emilie Christiaensen has since left Hapag-Lloyd. This story and video were produced during her time with the company.
Text by: Lisa Wagner
Video by: Burning Heart Productions
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