Blog Post: Mary Gilbaugh- Controlling the Cap

From a young age Mary Gilbaugh knew she wanted to work in professional sports, but her corporate accounting career path took a few bends before her childhood dream would be realized. After running track for two years at USC, Mary confidently entered the world of corporate accounting only to realize the fifteen hour days were not for her. On November 11th, 2004 Mary’s longtime friend, USMC 2nd Lt. JP Blecksmith, was killed in Fallujah, Iraq.

Allowed a leave of absence, Mary took the opportunity to create the JP Blecksmith Foundation which sponsors an annual memorial 5k in San Marino, California. After returning from the leave of absence, Mary earned her CPA and took another corporate job, always alert however, to other opportunities in her field.

What began as a “why not” application has left Mary the controller for one of the best and most exciting teams in the NBA. Although Ms. Gilbaugh enjoyed each of her previous employment opportunities, the Phoenix Suns allowed her a normal life; the responsibility in no way watered down, Mary now has free time after work to run her foundation, work out, or bring her father to Sun’s games. Her parents, both employment loyalists, were skeptical of her decision to leave, but Mary knew what she wanted, and went out and got it.

She offers this advice to those who feel career pressure from their parents “Just because it’s something [parents] don’t understand doesn’t mean that it isn’t right for you.” A job will always be repetitive, but if you are passionate about what you do and where you do it, repetition does not have to be boring.