When Trupti Thakur joined APM Terminals Mumbai – located in the Nhava Sheva's Jawaharlal Nehru Port and also called Gateway Terminal India (GTI) – as a cargo control clerk in 2006, she could not have predicted where the journey would take her. Over the past two decades, she has worked across operations, planning, contracts and asset management. This breadth of experience has given her a deep understanding of the business and helped support the terminal’s performance every step of the way. We spoke to her about her career journey.
I joined the terminal in 2006 as a cargo control clerk, working 12-hour day and night shifts in the documentation section. My responsibilities included vessel import and export documentation, communication with shipping lines and supporting day-to-day operational activities.
Those early days gave me a strong understanding of container documentation and terminal operations. More importantly, they taught me how critical every role is to keeping the terminal running smoothly and how much you can learn from experienced colleagues on the ground.
My career has taken me through several different functions. After cargo control, I moved into the Terminal Statistics team, where I worked on vessel and rail reports, throughput data, reconciliation processes and reporting for both internal and external stakeholders, including JNPA [Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority].
I later became a Supervisor in Contracts and Claims, where I worked closely with shipping lines, insurance companies, vendors and internal stakeholders on claims management, contracts, invoices and vendor relationships.
From there, I moved into Asset Management, working as an IFS [Industrial and Financial Systems] Administrator for our maintenance management system and gaining practical exposure to maintenance activities through daily collaboration with frontline teams. I later took on the role of Maintenance Planner for STS [ship-to-shore] and RMG [rail-mounted gantry] cranes and contributed to major initiatives including the IFSv10 implementation, asset management strategy development, mobility initiatives and team training programmes.
Moving into Asset Management was a key turning point. It gave me the opportunity to apply my educational background as an Industrial Electronics Engineer while developing a much deeper technical understanding of terminal equipment, maintenance systems and reliability.
It opened the door to new challenges, including maintenance planning, asset management strategy and continuous improvement initiatives.
Working in operational roles gave me experience in real-time decision-making and shaped how I think about performance, safety and accountability.
Having worked across cargo, operations, planning and asset-focused roles, I have developed a broader perspective on how daily operational realities connect to long-term asset performance and terminal success.
My work involves reviewing asset performance, coordinating with operations and maintenance teams, tracking priorities, resolving issues and planning improvements.
A big part of the role is bringing people together and aligning everyone around common goals.
And after work, I enjoy spending time with my family.
Today my focus is on maintenance planning, reliability, safety and sustainability.
The goal is to ensure our assets continue to support safe, efficient and consistent terminal operations.
Asset management plays a critical role in ensuring equipment is available, reliable and performing as expected.
By planning maintenance effectively and focusing on reliability, we help support operational performance, safety and long-term sustainability.
Being open to learning, listening to different perspectives and taking ownership have been essential throughout my career.
Self-confidence has also been important, along with a willingness to embrace challenges and step outside my comfort zone.
The opportunities to grow, the trust placed in me and the people I have worked with.
The organisation has continued to evolve over the years, and I have been able to evolve with it. I've been fortunate to work with leaders who have supported my development and encouraged me to pursue my passions.
As someone who grew up in the local area, I am proud to have grown alongside the organisation and contributed in ways that have had a lasting impact.
Looking back, it is rewarding to see how far I have come and how many opportunities I have had to learn, develop and contribute.
Learn the basics well, ask questions and be patient.
Growth doesn't happen overnight, but every role and every experience teaches you something valuable. If you stay curious and keep learning, opportunities will follow.
The most meaningful part of my journey has been the constant support of my life partner, who has motivated, guided and encouraged me through every professional high and low.
I also believe that women are incredibly strong and capable. With courage, determination and a positive mindset, any challenge can be faced and overcome.
Meet our People
Read about other APM Terminals employees around the world on our Meet our People page.
