How Being a Coxswain Prepares Me for Life After College

After 10 years in the sport I’ve found people are quick to brush off the role of a coxswain as the “person yelling row at the back of the boat”. I’ve learned more sitting in the coxswain seat than I have in any classroom. A good coxswain is an expert communicator and decision-maker even under immense pressure.

As I wrap up my senior year as Captain of the University of Washington Men’s Rowing Team, I’ve realized that the skills I’ve gained as a coxswain are what differentiate me positively from other people my age who’re also applying to similar jobs. Coxswains need to realize that the team dynamics we navigate every day are identical to working in any organization.

Here’s how:

1. Coxing is Leadership in Its Purest Form

As a coxswain you're responsible for strategy, morale, safety, and performance. I like to think of it as being a horse jockey, except I’ve got 8 rowers that are nearly a foot taller than me, and I’m steering a boat the length of a bus with all of them perfectly blocking my line of sight.

It’s taught me how to:

• Communicate clearly under pressure
• Read emotional cues and body language
• Take ownership of results, good or bad

2. Coxing is Project Management on Water

Every race or practice is a project with multiple moving parts. It’s sharpened my ability to:

• Plan ahead and troubleshoot on the fly
• Juggle time, people, and priorities
• Create a shared goal and get buy-in fast

3. Coxing is Sales

As a coxswain you don’t sell a product, you sell belief. In each practice, I’m pitching trust:

• “You can do this. Here’s why.”
• “Here’s our plan, and why it will work.”
• “Let’s go one more time, and here’s the payoff.”

Then when it comes to racing, it’s about turning that belief into 10ths of a second to be across the line first:

• Hard work pays off - be the best prepared, and make your crew feel like it
• Personalize the message, no race is the same
• Be the positive voice in the rowers head - “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right”

These same principles are core to any sales internship or business pitch.

What’s Next?

I’m currently exploring opportunities that let me combine my background in sports with my passion for communication, strategy, and innovation here at CrewLAB!

Interested in athlete leadership, coxing, or sports tech? I’d love to chat.

→ Let’s connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranpjoyce/ or email me at  kieran@crewlab.io

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