Around the Table with Marcus Towns

Around the Table is a three-question interview series from the Make Room email newsletter. Each edition features a conversation with a peer in the national security community to learn about their expertise and experience in the sector.

Marcus Towns is the director of member services and coalitions on the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the U.S. House of Representatives.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career on Capitol Hill, and how did your journey lead you to the House Foreign Affairs Committee?

When I was starting out my career, I never thought I would pursue a job on Capitol Hill. I was a campaigner before coming to the Hill. While I was interviewing for a job back home to stay in the campaign world, I had a friend offer to set me up with an internship on the Hill. He said it would be good for me to learn about the Hill. I was ambivalent to make the move to D.C., but when the job fell through, I quickly found myself sitting in a new city with new opportunities. When I first got here, I cold emailed everyone I could think of and did as many breakfasts, lunches, and coffee meetings as I could. My first job on the Hill was for the Ways and Means Committee, which was a nice spot to land as a junior staffer. Later, I got an email from the member services director on the Foreign Affairs Committee which led to an interview, and the rest is history. I’ve had some good luck along the way.

2. What does mentorship mean to you, and how have you approached finding and developing relationships with mentors and mentees throughout your career?

I think mentorship is useful at any stage in your career. Early on, when you’re in uncharted territory, it’s helpful to have someone invested in your future that can help guide you along. In Washington, D.C., the culture is designed for mentorship. I don’t think that necessarily means asking someone outright, “Hey, will you mentor me?” You’ll know you’ve found the right mentor when you can openly reach out to that person without feeling like a burden. Mentors will come and go, and at some point you will have mentees reaching out whose futures you care about as well. Everyone remembers the first person that gave them an opportunity. I still take every “coffee” when people reach out because I remember when I was on the other side hoping for someone to take a chance on me.

3. What advice would you offer to someone just starting their career? Are there specific skills or experiences that have been particularly valuable to you?

Say yes to opportunities and take chances while you can. You’ll never know where the little things could lead. How you choose to spend your free time can, and will, play a role in how your career progresses. If you’re working 9–5—which, let’s be honest, a lot of people here are doing well beyond that—look at where your time is being spent outside of work. Are you going to events to meet new people? Are you taking care of yourself by working out or decompressing when you have the time to do that? If your heart is not in the work, you will find it hard to produce quality work. We tend to believe we are irreplaceable but need to remember it’s a privilege to work on Capitol Hill.