Lille, France. An understandable aversion to andouillette. And Marie Curie. How do these things relate to Marion G., this week’s brave Five Questions participant? Read on to find out!
What are your responsibilities in your current role at MELE and what was your job prior to joining the company?
In my current role as an Accounts Payable Clerk at MELE, I handle invoice processing, vendor payments, travel expense reimbursements, and setting up new vendors in the system. Before joining MELE, I worked as a Bar Manager, where I developed strong organizational and multitasking skills—balancing inventory, finances, and team coordination in a fast-paced environment. The transition to accounting felt natural because both roles required precision, attention to detail, and problem-solving under pressure.
Accounts payable and accounting in general have many moving parts and can be stressful. How do you manage job stress personally and what does the accounting team do to keep things calm and light in the face of monthly deadlines?
I’ve always been good at handling stress, thanks to my background as a competitive track athlete at the national level—it taught me discipline, focus, and how to perform under tight deadlines. On our accounting team, we make a point to stay balanced. For example, we take daily walks together to decompress, chat about work or life, and keep the atmosphere light. It’s a great way to reset during busy periods like month-end close
Tell us a little bit about your hometown and how you wound up here in the Washington D.C. area.
I’m originally from Lille, France—a vibrant city in the north, perfectly situated between London, Brussels, and Paris. The public transportation was so efficient that I never needed a car (or even a driver’s license!). I came to the U.S. on a track and field scholarship, partly to improve my English, and ended up falling in love with the D.C. area. The diversity, the mix of museums and green spaces, and the endless things to do made it feel like home. Plus, it’s a great place for outdoor adventures, which I love.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I could dine with any historical figure, I’d choose Marie Curie. As a pioneering scientist and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field while balancing immense personal challenges. I’d love to hear about her perseverance, how she stayed motivated, and what advice she’d give to women in STEM today.
What is one food that you will not eat under any circumstances and why?
I have a strong aversion to andouillette or any organ meats—the texture and smell just don’t work for me, even though I know some people swear by them. It’s not a regional thing from Lille (we’re more about carbonnade or mussels!), but my dad loves it, so I’ve had to politely decline his enthusiastic offers more than once!
