Inside COMATCH

Inside COMATCH: What Drives our Consultants?

  • Ariane Moussault
  • October 28, 2020

Meet Ariane Moussault, a management consultant, marathon runner and Ironman participant.

What kind of experience do you have in consulting?
I have been active in the field of project management as a project manager, coach, trainer and consultant since 1992. I have experience in a wide variety of projects, both in the public and the private sector. I also wrote a book on project management for Noordhoff Publishers, the largest Dutch educational publisher.

What motivates you to do extreme sports?
In the summer of 2016, I looked in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw: an aging workaholic with an aging body. I realized that something had to change, so I decided to start running. But the decision itself wasn’t enough. The only way to really change the status quo was with a strong focus on something. So I needed a goal and decided to run a marathon.

I chose the Rotterdam marathon which took place nine months later. I quit drinking, ate fewer carbs, and hired a coach and a physiotherapist. I ran 728km, lost 10kg, recuperated from three injuries, and ran the marathon in 5 hours 22 minutes. Something that seemed nearly impossible in July was accomplished in April. Somehow I still was not satisfied, so I decided to run another marathon even faster than the last one. I subsequently signed up for the Berlin marathon in September 2018. But for some reason, another marathon didn’t seem to be such an interesting challenge anymore.

One day, I was watching an Ironman race because I knew one of the participants, and I realized that I had found my next ultimate challenge. I began training for the full triathlon in 2020. I started without any swimming or cycling experience, so there is still a lot of work to do. I train 10-12 hours per week now and I love it (most of the time!).

How does this relate to the consulting world?
Both a marathon and a triathlon can be seen as projects. Focus on the objective is crucial. Without dedication and discipline, nothing can be accomplished. Along the way, things happen, injuries and time-issues, like risks in any project… and in the end, it is all about the right mindset.

For every project, the right mindset is the vaguest yet most important success factor.

Related Blog Posts