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.
