Manit Chander: The Mariner Steering Maritime into the Future

For Manit Chander, the sea was never just a backdrop, it was a calling. Growing up with the ocean as his closest companion, surrounded by towering ships and the quiet authority of white uniforms, Manit didn’t just admire the maritime world, he absorbed it. It shaped how he thought, how he worked, and ultimately, who he became.

Today, as the CEO of HiLo Maritime Risk Management, Manit is not just leading a company, he’s redefining how the industry thinks about safety. What sets him apart is a rare blend of deep-rooted maritime experience and a forward-thinking obsession with technology. While others saw tradition as something to preserve, Manit saw an opportunity to evolve it.

Under his leadership, HiLo has emerged as a force of change, using data-driven insights and predictive analytics to identify and prevent risks before they become disasters. For Manit, risk management isn’t just a box to tick, it’s a mission to make every seafarer’s journey safer, smarter, and more predictable.

His approach is bold, but deeply personal. Every innovation he pushes, from real-time monitoring to AI-powered prediction tools, is rooted in the belief that technology can, and must, protect the lives of those at sea. It’s this clarity of purpose that fuels him.

Manit’s story is proof that when passion meets purpose, and tradition meets innovation, powerful things happen. Through HiLo, he’s not just navigating change, he’s creating it, one safe voyage at a time.

Merging Corporate and Startup Approaches

Manit’s experience spans both the startup and corporate worlds, a blend that has shaped the direction of HiLo. In the corporate world, the focus is on setting a clear path and relentlessly pursuing the goal. In contrast, the startup world thrives on agility, continuously adjusting strategies until the optimal solution is found, all while keeping the end goal in sight.

HiLo capitalizes on both approaches. The board is composed of seasoned corporate professionals with deep expertise across diverse industries, while HiLo’s internal team operates with a startup mentality—“Build, Measure, and Learn.” This process involves creating solutions, evaluating their effectiveness, learning from errors, and iterating to improve. Unlike the rigid corporate model that demands unwavering commitment to a single strategy, Manit fosters a flexible, adaptive approach, allowing the team to pivot as needed while maintaining progress.

Experiencing the Maritime Industry’s Challenges

Manit’s leadership in the maritime industry comes from his firsthand experience of the struggles mariners face. Reflecting on Einstein’s definition of insanity—“doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results”—Manit recognized the stagnation in maritime safety protocols. Despite decades of using the same methods, incidents with grave consequences continued to occur. In response, Manit collaborated with a group of dedicated seafarers to uncover a new, more effective approach to preventing these catastrophic events.

Breaking the Data Barrier in Maritime Safety

A major realization for Manit was the inefficiency of data sharing within the maritime industry. Shipping companies and other industry bodies often failed to exchange crucial data, which hampered efforts to understand and address the root causes of incidents. Various systems existed for post-incident analysis, but Manit’s team focused on prevention. They developed a tool designed to look ahead, predicting potential issues and stopping incidents before they happen.

By combining his management expertise with his maritime knowledge, Manit spearheaded the creation of HiLo, initially collaborating with a select group of companies. The predictive model proved successful, and HiLo expanded, becoming an independent entity in 2018 with a reach that has increased fivefold.

Embracing Challenges as Opportunities for Growth

Manit firmly believes that challenges are opportunities in disguise. While adversity tests one’s character, he sees failure as a vital stepping-stone to growth and success. Rather than succumbing to the stress of difficult situations, Manit encourages a mindset shift: facing challenges head-on and viewing them as chances to evolve. His personal journey reflects this, with each obstacle becoming a new opportunity to learn and create something impactful.

For Manit, every challenge is a new chapter in a larger story of innovation. When he identified the data gap in the maritime industry, he saw not just a problem, but an opportunity to revolutionize the sector.

His motto is simple: “Stay strong, believe in yourself, and never give up. When you hit rock bottom, that’s when you need to gather all your strength and rise.”

The Technological Revolution in Maritime Industry

The maritime sector is undergoing a technological transformation. Digitization is sweeping through the industry, but the pace of adoption varies widely across different organizations. Some companies are progressing rapidly, while others lag behind, creating a technological imbalance.

Manit is focused on bridging this gap through HiLo. The company leverages Big Data Analytics to provide tailored solutions that meet the varying needs of shipping companies, regardless of their level of digital maturity. HiLo’s flexibility ensures that all its clients, no matter their starting point, benefit from the same advanced data analysis.

Manit is determined to dismantle the fear surrounding data sharing in the industry. He believes that improved data exchange will lead to better safety practices and ultimately save lives. But his vision extends beyond safety—he aims to optimize every aspect of the industry through the smarter use of data.

Core Values of Trust and Customer-Centricity

The backbone of HiLo’s success lies in its unwavering commitment to two key principles: trust and customer-centricity. These values permeate every facet of the company, from internal decision-making to external relationships. The HiLo team operates in an environment where failure is not feared but seen as an opportunity to innovate and improve.

The company fosters a culture where every team member feels empowered to contribute ideas and work collaboratively toward solutions that put customers first. Trust is at the core of this dynamic, allowing HiLo to develop innovative products that truly serve the needs of the maritime industry.

Leading HiLo: Encouraging Open Communication and Innovation

As CEO, Manit leads HiLo with a clear focus on openness and collaboration. He takes a strategic, big-picture approach to leadership, balancing the demands of running the company with the need to foster an inclusive, communicative environment. His leadership style encourages team members to speak freely and share ideas, which in turn fuels HiLo’s innovation.

Manit believes in celebrating successes, big and small. He encourages his team to share stories of the positive impact HiLo has on seafarers’ lives. These success stories serve as a powerful reminder of the company’s purpose and the real-world value of their work.

Balancing Leadership and Personal Life

Despite the demands of leading HiLo, Manit recognizes the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal life. Although he has yet to fully master this balance himself, he is committed to supporting his team in achieving it. He understands that a healthy work-life balance is essential for long-term success and is actively working toward that goal in both his personal and professional life.

Manit’s Vision for HiLo’s Future

Looking ahead, Manit envisions HiLo becoming the maritime industry’s leading knowledge center. He wants the company to be recognized as the go-to organization for safe data sharing and the extraction of meaningful insights. By fostering trust, encouraging innovation, and empowering his team, Manit is driving HiLo towards a future where the company plays a pivotal role in transforming the maritime industry through data-driven solutions.