Secret of My Success: Mollie Marcoux

Mollie Marcoux, 42, is the executive director and executive vice president of Chelsea Piers Connecticut.  In that role, Marcoux will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire 400,000 square foot sports facility in Stamford, CT.  

Marcoux has worked for Chelsea Piers Management in various management capacities since the complex opened in 1995.  As the first director of summer camp, she helped create and launch the first Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp, which now enrolls over 2,000 children each summer.  Between 1998-2000, Marcoux helped launch and was the first general manager of Pier Sixty and The Lighthouse, the company’s two event centers.  Marcoux then spent two years as the first vice president of new business development before taking over operations of the Field House.  

From 2002 until her appointment as executive director of Chelsea Piers Connecticut in January of 2012, Marcoux served as the general manager of the highly successful Field House, which offers extensive sports programming for athletes of all ages and abilities.  She also founded the Chelsea Piers “CP Kids” daycare/preschool center and was responsible for overseeing the company’s special event business.  

Marcoux graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1991 where she was a four -year starter on both the women’s soccer and ice hockey teams, ending her career as the women’s ice hockey team captain and the school’s all-time leading scorer.  Marcoux was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1988 and earned First-team All-Ivy honors for four straight years.  Marcoux was also a First-Team ECAC selection in 1989 and in 1990 was named to the ECAC Team of the Decade.  Marcoux was Second-team All-Ivy in soccer and was given the school's prestigious C. Otto Van Kienbush Female Athlete of the Year award for high scholastic rank, sportsmanship and general excellence in athletics in 1991.

Marcoux moved to Pelham in 2005 with her husband and their three young children. Outside of work, Marcoux is actively involved with Pelham Hockey as a volunteer coach and board member.  She also serves on the Princeton Alumni Association Admissions committee and is the founding member of the Chelsea Piers Scholarship Fund.  


What drew you to your profession?  What do you find interesting about the work you do for a living?
Sports were always a huge part of my life.  From the time I was very young, sports were what I loved to do most.  Not only have sports opened doors for me, but also have taught me extremely valuable life lessons that I use everyday.  I am also very competitive and love the challenge of the business world, so working at Chelsea Piers has allowed me to combine these two passions.

I love that I can create programs that help children develop as athletes and also ensure that they are gaining all of the other amazing benefits of playing sports.  

How do you balance your career with family life?
It is a constant balancing act.  Being a working mom doesn’t leave room for a lot of other things, so I commit myself fully to spending my non-working hours with my kids.  My husband and I have made our kids our #1 priority, so between the two of us, I think we have it covered.  

I am also lucky in that Chelsea Piers is a very family-friendly company.  My children have been coming to work with me for camps, classes, daycare and preschool since they were 3 months old.  My co-workers, coaches and teachers are always a great resource and help when meetings run long or schedules get scrambled.  The Chelsea Piers family has become our extended family and has provided so much for our kids that it has eased the stress of being a working mother.

If you could change one career decision you’ve made, what would it be?
I have been very lucky.  I worked for four years at a great boarding school and then I found Chelsea Piers.  I have been totally committed ever since.

What are some key lessons you've learned in your professional and personal life that you think everyone can learn from?
You should find a job in an area where you have a passion.  You spend more waking hours working than doing anything else – so be sure to enjoy it.
Surround yourself with smart, dedicated coworkers and train them to make decisions and understand the business.  Having a strong team is critical to success and a happy work/home balance.

What are the three most important things a person needs to be successful? Why?
1.)Passion – Be passionate and commit yourself totally – hard work and willingness to throw yourself into a task is key to success.  

2.)Happy to learn – When I interview people, I analyze how willing they are to learn new things and how interested they are in completely throwing themselves into the task at hand.

3.) Team oriented – Be willing and able to be part of a team and always act as if you own the business or organization for whom you work.

What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is maintaining a healthy balance between all the roles I play and enjoying all my jobs – mother, wife, businesswoman and coach.  

If you could give advice to a recent graduate or someone just beginning their career, what would you tell them?
Find a career where you have a passion and success will follow you.