Marie-Céline Piednoir

Marie-Céline is a connector, matchmaker, and amplifier for good, roles often underestimated but vital. With her extensive network, empathy, and passion, she excels in breaking silos and linking people across sectors to collaborate for positive change. Her ability to map needs and create ecosystems for achieving shared goals is a rare talent.

With a background in Marketing and Communications, she initially set her sights on the luxury industry. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that her true passion lay elsewhere—especially in sports and making a meaningful impact through her work.

In 2016, she joined adidas at their Global Headquarters in Germany, starting with the adidas Women’s Business Unit. There, she had the privilege of working on initiatives aimed at empowering women through sports. She later transitioned to the adidas Newsroom, focusing on Social Media strategy for adidas Women, and eventually joined the adidas Running team, where she managed Communications and Marketing for the global adidas Runners teams.

Although she enjoyed her work, she felt a growing desire to focus on projects with a deeper sense of purpose. This prompted her to step away from the corporate world and take a new path.

She started by spending three months in India, a country she holds close to her heart, where she became a certified yoga teacher. Shortly after, she was presented with an exciting opportunity to lead Communications, Marketing, PR, and Awareness at Coral Gardeners, a coral reef restoration organization based in French Polynesia. Her time there confirmed that you don’t need to be a Marine Biologist to make a difference in ocean conservation—she was hooked on the cause.

In January 2021, she joined Only One, a platform created by SeaLegacy, initially serving as Marketing Director. In 2022, she shifted her focus to managing communities (Scientists, Storytellers, Ambassadors, and Enterprises) and leading Ocean Policy campaigns for SeaLegacy. In 2023, she took on the role of Director of Partnerships, Communities, and Ocean Policy Campaigns, working alongside global partners—foundations, NGOs, private donors, and organizations—to drive impactful campaigns worldwide.

Now, as she looks toward her next venture, she is excited to continue leveraging her expertise in partnerships, policy campaigns, and communications to support purpose-driven organizations. Her passion lies in ocean conservation, empowering communities, and championing women's empowerment.