WISTA Brazil

What WISTA Brazil does

WISTA Brazil is the Brazilian national chapter of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International), a global non-profit founded in 1974 that holds consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Founded in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the association serves women and non-binary professionals in decision-making and specialist roles across Brazil's shipping, trading, and logistics sectors. Its core offering is membership (called "Wisters"), which provides access to networking events, professional development forums, regional chapters, and the global WISTA International network spanning 60+ countries and 6,000+ professionals.

The organization operates without proprietary technology beyond a third-party membership portal (Associatec). Its product surface includes the membership program, 14 Regional Directorates across 13 Brazilian states, periodic forum events such as "Horizontes Femininos" co-hosted with Norsul, and policy artifacts such as the Guia de Enfrentamento ao Assédio no Setor Aquaviário (Anti-Harassment Guide for the Waterway Sector) developed with the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) and the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB). The association also signed the Pacto Nacional pela Equidade de Gênero no Setor de Energia in 2024, extending its mandate into the energy sector.

Its business model is subscription-recurring, monetized through annual membership dues, supplemented by corporate sponsorships (notably Norsul and Grupo Bravante). Distribution is community-led and event-driven, with growth executed through 14 regional directorates, social media channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook), and earned media. Governance is provided by an Executive Committee (co-presidents Ana Paula Costa and Tainá Magalhães for the 2024-2026 term), whose members largely hold senior roles at sponsoring employers including Norden, Vale, Norsul, TotalEnergies, Bravante, and LBH Brazil Shipping. WISTA Brazil has been selected to host the WISTA International AGM & Conference 2027 in Rio de Janeiro.

Name

WISTA Brazil

Legal name

WISTA Brazil

Website

https://wistabrazil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WISTA Brazil is a non-profit professional association, founded in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, serving women and non-binary professionals in decision-making roles across Brazil's shipping, trading, and logistics sectors. It operates 14 regional directorates, 270+ members, and connects to WISTA International's 6,000+ professional network across 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Maritime Industry Networking

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Economic & Trade Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Women maritime association
• Shipping trade networking
• Professional maritime membership
• Maritime industry leadership
• Gender equity maritime

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WISTA Brazil generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by associates ('Wisters'). The association is part of WISTA International, a global network founded in 1974 with consultative status at the IMO.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WISTA Brazil is a nonprofit professional association that provides membership services to women and non-binary professionals in the maritime, shipping, trading, and logistics sectors. Its core offering is annual "Wister" membership, which grants access to networking events, regional directorate programs, industry forums, professional development opportunities, and the global WISTA International network of 6,000+ professionals across 60+ countries. The organization also produces policy publications (such as the Anti-Harassment Guide for the Waterway Sector) and hosts conferences and forums to advance women's leadership in the Brazilian maritime industry.

Product overview

WISTA Brazil is a professional association (not a technology product company) that provides membership-based services to women and non-binary professionals in the maritime, trading, and logistics sectors. The organization's core offering is membership in the association itself, which provides access to networking opportunities, professional development events, and the global WISTA International network. Additional offerings include published guidance documents (such as the Harassment Prevention Guide), regional directorate programs for localized engagement, and periodic forum events. WISTA Brazil does not offer a software product or technology platform; its services are centered on professional community-building, networking events, and advocacy for gender equity in the maritime industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISTA Brazil Membership ("Wister" Membership)

Quantifiable outcome

• 270+ members nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• NorsulcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorsul is a major maritime company and key sponsor of WISTA Brazil. The partnership includes co-hosting the 'Horizontes Femininos' forum and employees serving on the Executive Committee (Aline Carvalho, Fabiana Durant).
• Grupo BravantecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGrupo Bravante is a sponsor of WISTA Brazil. Marcela Rocha (Chief Legal Officer) serves on the Executive Committee.
• WISTA InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISTA International is the global parent organization founded in 1974 with consultative status at IMO. WISTA Brazil is the Brazilian national branch, providing access to a network of 6,000+ professionals in 60+ countries.
• Campos Mello Advogados (in cooperation with DLA Piper)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm supported the WISTA Brazil AGO 2024 event, facilitating the meeting and providing a networking cocktail.
• Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos (MPor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPor collaborated with WISTA Brazil and OAB to launch the Guia de Enfrentamento ao Assédio no Setor Aquaviário (Anti-Harassment Guide for the Waterway Sector).
• Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (ANTAQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANTAQ hosted the launch of the Anti-Harassment Guide and Director Flavia Takahashi is a member of WISTA Brazil.
• Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAB collaborated with WISTA Brazil, MPor, and ANTAQ to develop and launch the Anti-Harassment Guide for the Waterway Sector.
• Sim, Elas ExistemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement organized the Pacto Nacional pela Equidade de Gênero na Energia. WISTA Brazil is one of 18 signatory organizations.
• Secretaria de Estado de Políticas para as Mulheres do Rio de JaneirominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body that supported the launch of the Pacto Nacional pela Equidade de Gênero na Energia.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sim, Elas Existem: Brazilian gender-equity movement that organized the Pacto Nacional pela Equidade de Gênero na Energia, of which WISTA Brazil is one of 18 signatories. Overlapping mission on women in industry, with a specific focus on energy; an emerging peer and policy partner for WISTA Brazil's expansion beyond maritime.

Direct peers

• WISTA UK: The UK national chapter of WISTA International, focused on women in UK shipping and trade. Closest direct peer to WISTA Brazil in structure: national women's maritime association operating under the WISTA International umbrella, hosting member events, forums, and corporate sponsorships.
• WISTA Singapore: Singapore national chapter of WISTA International, serving women in one of the world's largest maritime hubs. Comparable to WISTA Brazil in mandate and structure; provides a regional benchmark for membership scale and corporate engagement in Asia.
• WISTA USA: US national chapter of WISTA International, focused on women in US shipping, ports, and trade. Same operating model as WISTA Brazil — regional events, corporate sponsorships, and global WISTA network access — but in a much larger domestic market.
• WISTA Argentina: Argentine national chapter of WISTA International, the closest geographic and cultural peer to WISTA Brazil in Latin America. Comparable in mandate and member-base scale, useful for benchmarking regional growth dynamics.
• WISTA Netherlands: Dutch national chapter of WISTA International with one of the most established WISTA networks globally. Closely comparable operating model and a benchmark for WISTA Brazil's long-term institutional maturity in a major European maritime hub.
• WISTA International: Global parent organization of WISTA Brazil, founded in 1974 with consultative status at the IMO. WISTA Brazil is the Brazilian national chapter; WISTA International sets the global brand, network access (6,000+ professionals in 60+ countries), and policy positioning that WISTA Brazil leverages.

Regional players

• ASBA Women in Maritime (ABTRA): ABTRA is the Brazilian Association of Port and Waterway Terminal Operators. Comparable in scope (Brazilian maritime ecosystem) and overlapping member base with WISTA Brazil, though not gender-focused; useful as a benchmark for the Brazilian maritime industry community.

Broad incumbents

• Women in Maritime (IMO): International Maritime Organization's umbrella gender-equity program, which WISTA International has consultative status with. Overlapping mission on gender equity in maritime, but operates as a UN-body program rather than a member-funded association.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The UN specialized agency for maritime safety, security, and environmental performance. WISTA International (and therefore WISTA Brazil) has consultative status at IMO, making it both a peer in policy advocacy and a regulatory partner for diversity initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wistabrazil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wista-brazil
• Instagraminstagram.com/wistabrazil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WISTA Brazil