Interview with Margaux Lieser
Q&A with CMI dancer Margaux Lieser
Margaux Lieser is in her fifth season with Capitol Movement as a member of the technical company. She graduated from Vassar College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and plans to start her Master of Public Policy degree this fall. Margaux currently works as a Project Manager at Mathematica, a public policy research organization, where she manages operations and conducts research in the education and labor policy fields. She credits Capitol Movement for allowing her to pursue her love for dance while working full-time in public policy.
What woman has inspired you?
My mom has inspired me the most. Everyday, she exhibits selflessness, resilience, kindness, and compassion, and her strength motivates me to strive for excellence in everything I do.
How has your career path grown in opportunities for women?
I'm very fortunate to work at a company and in a field with a large female presence. Mathematica has majority female employees, and I'm grateful to have such supportive female career mentors. I've been able to train new staff and see myself serving in more leadership roles in the future, thanks to Mathematica's steadfast investment in developing the next generation of female leaders.
What do you hope to give back or provide in mentorship to the young dancers in CMI?
I hope to provide the young CMI dancers not only with high-quality training, but also to support them in developing confidence, resilience, and a strong work ethic. I want to help them find their individuality and to help bring that to their performance. Most importantly, I hope to instill in them a love and appreciation for dance, movement, and artistry.
Let's say one day next week you "pay it forward" What would that look like?
I would continue to mentor young dancers to help them grow in their craft. I would also offer support to my colleagues facing challenges by listening attentively and showing empathy.
What is a difficult moment you overcame and how?
Over the past year, I was feeling stagnant in my career. I was doing a lot of project management work but wanted to level up my research skills. I realized that what I needed was to apply to graduate school to focus more deeply on the technical, quantitative skills I learned in undergrad but haven't been using as much in my day-to-day work. Once I started applying, I felt empowered that I was making moves towards a major life change. Through this experience, I learned the importance of being proactive, rather than waiting for opportunities to fall into my lap, and I feel so much more confident for it!
What does woman empowerment look/feel like for you?
For me, female empowerment is a vibrant, supportive community where women uplift and celebrate each other's achievements. It involves women working together, learning from each other, and inspiring one another to do and be their best selves.
