40 under 40 — Maurice Ducoing
Psi, 2003 — Recognized in: 2020
Originally from New York (Seaford, Long Island to be exact), Maurice went to Chaminade High School in Mineola and then attended Cornell University (originally the School of Hotel Administration but then transferred to The School of Industrial & Labor Relations). Maurice joined the Psi Chapter in 2000 and held many positions in the Chapter (including Recruitment Chair, Pledge Master and member of Supreme Council) and on campus (VP-Recruitment – IFC and VP, Order of Omega). He graduated in 2003 and spent the next 11 years in NYC (NYC Public School Teacher, Recruiter and Deloitte Consultant). During this time, Maurice received his MS in Education through the NYC Teaching Fellows program, launched and ran a film review blog for five years, and also received a certificate in film production from NYU – Tisch. With this background, Maurice moved to Los Angeles in late 2014 to pursue a career in film, but ended up building on his career in Human Capital as the Practice leader for a Private Equity firm and after five challenging but rewarding years, launching his own consultancy, Ducoing Human Capital.
The focus of much of Maurice’s professional life has been on Human Capital. First, in a less strict sense as a Middle School Teacher, teaching in the Bronx ESL/dual Language as part of the NYC Teaching Fellows program. Maurice did this for three years, teaching three classes, attaining his Masters, and facilitating a graduate level class for incoming teachers whom he also mentored.
“Much like pledging, this may have been the most fun and rewarding experience I never want to do again. This experienced moved me and forced me to grow up, perhaps too quickly, but grow up all the same. I saw things I can’t unsee and experienced things I’d never want to forget.”
On life after graduate school:
I had little idea of where I was going from there, but rather stumbled into what would become my future as a more traditional Human Capital practitioner. Working with scores of clients over the last 15 years, I have honed my approach and philosophy to helping organizations make their people happier and therefore more productive at work. I find this work personally and professionally meaningful. It allows me to work with leaders, executives to solve challenging problems from the “people” perspective. To not just see a merger as a means to an end, but an experience that poses long term challenges as well as opportunities to develop a stronger, more effective workforce. To provide CEOs with perspective, to provide COOs with strategies, to provide HR leaders with much needed ideological support.
Maurice gives much credit to his time with Zeta Psi for allowing him to develop many of the necessary professional and interpersonal skills he uses on a daily basis.
“Zeta Psi has provided belonging, friendship, and ample opportunity to test and grow my skills. On the one hand, my brothers provide me with support and have done so at many stages of struggle; but Zeta Psi, at the interpersonal, chapter, inter-chapter and International levels, has also given me opportunities to work on important problems and crisis and establish deeper relationships than I would have ever had otherwise. Having served as an active leader I developed skills before I really needed them in the real world; as Elder Phi and member of the Psi Elder Board I provided a balance of aggressive vision on the one hand and stability on the other – as my role evolved and as obsession and force gave way to experience and wisdom; and as Chair of Membership Education for ten years and Member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, this experience continues to evolve and my efforts continue to be rewarded. I am deeply honored to serve Zeta Psi, a Brotherhood in whom my commitment remains unwavering, even as emotional state and patience changes by the hour.”
Maurice would like to give the following advice to young Zetes about to embark on their own post-college journeys:
“While advising others is essentially my life, I do not take that obligation lightly. If I were to give any Zete advice, it would be to remember three important aspects of life:
- Don’t define yourself by how often you stand out but when you do stand out, find a way to do so that doesn’t make anyone else invisible
- Never judge a challenge by how you see it today – sleep on it and remember there’s always another way to look at things
- Never give way to despair – if things can always get worse, they can always get better. And that depends on you.
You can connect with Maurice and his company Ducoing Human Capital through LinkedIn.