Proud to share that Principal Theresa Moroukian was profiled in the Albany Business Review for International Women’s Day. She shares her leadership philosophy and her path to becoming our first non-licensed principal.
Q: Tell us a little about your career path. How did you get to where you are today?
A: I started at Mosaic Associates in 1992, when we were Dodge Chamberlin Luzine Weber. When the Finance Manager left, I went to one of the partners and said, “I can do this job.”
I worked hard to prove my value. Mosaic became more than a job, it was a career. But it wasn’t until NYS law changed to let non-licensed employees become owners of architectural firms that I started to set new goals. I became an Associate in 2011 and Associate Partner in 2015. I was the first non-licensed person to hold that title here.
But before I could become an owner, the firm would have to become a design professional corporation. It was a long, difficult road. But in September of 2019 I became the first non-licensed owner of Mosaic Associates. It was a huge moment for me. I had proved I belonged at the table. I had created a new seat there.
Q: What advice would you give to young women as they launch their career?
A: In 1992, becoming an owner wasn’t on my radar. And the road to getting here was not an easy one. There were times I didn’t think it was going to happen.
Knowing that I was the first was pretty important to me. I didn’t do it just for myself, but also for the people who will come after me. What I achieved will help people that I’ll never know.
It’s something I’m very proud of, especially because I showed my daughter what hard work and dedication can achieve. She saw me shatter that glass ceiling. She knows what that means.
My advice to young women: believe in yourself, don’t doubt yourself, trust yourself, and find people who will support your goals. It is not always easy, so don’t give up, keep pushing.
Q: What event or decision impacted your career the most and why?
A: I’m a proud member of the 2012 graduating class of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute! The experience changed the trajectory of my career. It opened doors to so many people I would never have met. I made life-long friends and formed new connections in the community. The experience led to so many opportunities for me, like joining the Rensselaer Chamber Board and the Board of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region.
Q: What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned?
A: I’ve had many mentors who helped me on my path to becoming a leader. One of them shared a quote that has stuck with me. It’s from Mahatma Ghandi: “A sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but how many leaders you create.” That’s the kind of leader I try to be. To find the potential and strength in people; to encourage and empower them. The role of a leader is to make good leaders.
Theresa Moroukian is a Principal and Director of Finance and Human Resources at Mosaic Associates, a multi-million-dollar architectural firm. She is graduate of The Leadership Institute of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and a past board member of the Chamber and the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region. Theresa serves on the planning committee for the Chamber’s Annual Golf Classic and is a recipient of the YWCA Resourceful Women award.