Be Like the Sea: Life, Learnings and Leadership from an Irish Navy Captain

by Marie Gleeson

'The one thing you can't fully control in a ship is the water all around you, so part of your plan is always reading and analysing the currents and the tides. You have a clear image in your head of how you think the ship will perform in the prevailing conditions. But this time something isn't going the way we had planned it ...'





As a farmer's daughter in the country's largest landlocked county, Marie Gleeson's unusual career choice took her into uncharted waters. Working her way up from gruelling bootcamp training to leading a drug interdiction operation seizing €700 million of cocaine from a yacht off the Kerry coast, she was a leader among men and rose to every challenge. Developing a love of the sea, Gleeson learned that to be at one with it required agility, and a willingness to change, to go with the wind – not against it. These lessons prepared her for operating without a life raft when her personal life threw her the greatest challenge of all ...

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2026

Reviews

[Síle Seoige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of sitting down with Marie for my podcast earlier this year and 'Be Like the Sea' is every bit as compelling as Marie herself...from the very first chapter, you’re completely drawn in.
Her extraordinary career in the Irish Navy, rising through the ranks at a time when there were so few women in the service, is inspiring in itself. But it’s Marie’s honesty about the life behind the uniform; particularly the devastating loss of her baby son Ciarán that gives this book its real heart.
There is so much here about courage, leadership, resilience, grief, love and what it truly means to be strong. A powerful and genuinely inspiring read. I couldn’t recommend it more highly ❤️

[Una Brosnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Like the Sea is a powerful and deeply honest account of leadership, resilience and finding the strength through adversity and bringing that energy and built strength into your everyday life. Marie Gleeson writes with refreshing openness and honesty, sharing both the challenges of life in the Navy and the personal battles she faced beyond it. A brave, inspiring and very human account and a genuinely cracking read.

From a personal note, I think I ground my teeth every time she had to dock the ship - I’ll never complain about a tight parallel park ever again!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly rate this book. It is an inspirational read with great messaging on resilience and leadership. When I first heard the speaker at a conference in Dublin it stopped me in my tracks and there was silence in the room. To overcome such challenges and loss is remarkable. The book and Marie’s public speaking are inspirational for anyone who had had to overcome challenges both personally or in business. Marie received a standing ovation at the last event I attended with over 300 attendees for charity. Well done. A must read for any age. I just purchased a book for my daughter.

[PJ Coogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read maybe 30-35 books a year. I don't read a lot of non-fiction and when I do it's nearly always for work - it's rarely a book of non-fiction will leave me wanting another chapter - but this is a great read - written with honesty, emotion and often self-depracating humour, Marie takes you right onto the bridge of the ship with her, and shows you around so well you can feel the spray. She also shares her personal life, friendships, love and great loss. This is not, as it might first appear "a book about the navy" - it's a book about life, adventure and gratitude. My favourite book of 2026.

[Joan Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous read. I couldn’t put it down and read it all in one day. Very interesting to hear of the work Marie did in the navy and her very personal details of her family and baby loss. Marie telling her story is inspirational and shows that even when we are hit with the toughest of storms we can weather it and come through it and the importance of those we trust around us. Well done and I highly recommend it.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been published in Ireland for a few months and I read a library copy.

This book is engaging and racy, discussing issues of leadership with a light touch. The book is all the better for it.

It's a leadership approach that would work in schools, hospitals, public groups in essence. I don't know enough to know if it applies to business.

She was clearly a focused young woman from an early age.

[Corinne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be like the Sea invokes a really powerful metaphor of the everchanging sea and life's ups and downs perfectly through Marie's personal and professional journey.

The book is really well written and fast moving - I read it in a day. The technical aspects of her work and life in the Irish Navy were described in a very accessible way.

Marie's journey with it's successes and tragedies is really inspiring and moving.

[Helen Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from the first page. It’s very well written - easy to read and giving just enough juice without ever denigrating either the service or the people in it. She dealt with tough times in and open and honest way and I found the whole thing really inspiring. She is a lesson in being clear about what you want from something and then going for it - but without needing to knock everyone else down on the way. A ‘should read’ that is also highly enjoyable and uplifting.

[Ian O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having shared the grueling trials of the Cadet School with Marie, I am incredibly proud to recommend her outstanding book, Be Like the Sea. Her transition from commanding high-stakes naval operations to navigating deep personal loss offers a profoundly honest masterclass in grit, agility, and emotional resilience. For veterans, leaders, or anyone facing life's unpredictable storms, Marie's powerful memoir serves as both an inspiring blueprint and a vital anchor.

[Colm Goulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary read that stays with you long after you turn the final page. Marie seamlessly provides practical wisdom with compelling real-world insights, offering a fresh perspective on resilience, leadership, and navigating life's unpredictable events. Her ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable advice is unmatched. Powerful, inspiring, and brilliantly written i couldn't recommend it highly enough.

[Elaine Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Be Like the Sea to be a moving and empowering memoir that beautifully blends leadership lessons, resilience, and personal growth. Drawing on her remarkable experiences as one of Ireland’s first female Navy captains, she shares valuable insights about courage, adaptability, and overcoming life's toughest challenges. The book is both deeply personal and highly motivating, leaving readers with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

[Lisa Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing read from an amazing woman. This book is a mix of a memoir of a fascinating career that wasn’t smooth sailing (pardon the pun) as well as a journey through Marie’s personal life which includes heartbreak along the way. Her strength, resilience and empathy shines through every word.

[Grace Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book!
Marie’s story was really interesting, especially hearing about her time in the Irish Navy.
It’s such a different world to anything I’ve experienced.
Not everything worked out perfectly, Which was brilliant to see in a book because it is rare that such honesty and vulnerability are shown by authors.
Definitely an interesting read.

[Louise Conlon]

Be Like the Sea is an inspiring and insightful book that blends leadership lessons, personal stories, and life wisdom from an Irish Navy Captain. Through engaging real-life experiences, it highlights the importance of resilience, humility, adaptability, and leading with purpose. A must-read for anyone interested in leadership, personal growth, and navigating life's challenges with confidence.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie’s reflections on the sea, leadership and resilience really resonated with me. The sea has a way of shaping how you think, work and deal with challenges, and this book captures that brilliantly. Plenty of lessons here that apply well beyond life at sea. Highly recommended.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read from an amazing and inspiring woman. I really enjoyed reading about such an interesting career as as well trying to balance this with life and all its challenges and heartbreak. Inspiring and a really good read.

[Colm Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, laced with personal tragedy, professional challenges, and an ability to chart a course through all of this. Marie demonstrates in this book how leadership is developed through a combination education, training and experience.

[RICHARD DONNELLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that will resonate with everyone fast paced and emotive a joy from start to finish.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie is inspiring and honest, and tells a story of leadership, resilience and strength.

[DARACH HONAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant read from start to finish.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Marie is inspirational.

[Paschalina Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting & inspirational , it shows how challenges you face makes you more resilient .