The topic for this episode is facade. A facade is anything that covers or prevents you from being seen.

Every one of us hides behind a facade, or mask, at one point or another in our lives. This facade stops us from becoming the best version of ourselves, and the key to removing that mask is living our true authentic self - and doing so fearlessly, unapologetically and undeniably.

To discuss this intriguing topic I have with me this week a guest co-host, Margaret Carter. Originally from the USA, Margaret is, in her own words, "a polyglot" who works as a teacher for the City of Vienna. Margaret certainly wears many hats because, in addition to being a former US Air Force and NATO officer with experience in arms control of nuclear and conventional weapons, also a singer with a rich and smooth voice whose timbre lends itself well to jazz and blues, an organizer and curator of international art exhibitions, this versatile lady is a mother of three amazing young people.

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Margaret Carter attended Hollins University (Virginia, USA), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a concentration in Russian Studies.  She continued her education at various universities around the world, finally finishing her Master’s degree in International Business at Webster University in Vienna, Austria.  She has honours in Spanish and is inducted into her university’s Hall of Fame for fencing.  She has lived, worked and/or studied in 34 countries around the world and has represented Austria internationally as a member of the Austrian National Women’s Rugby team.  

A former US Air Force and NATO officer experienced arms control treaty as well as political/military analysis, she moved to Austria 30 years ago; she has had various jobs in IT, business development, as well as communication and public relations for international corporations.  She was also a project manager for a local environmental NGO managing EU projects in the areas of transportation and renewable energy.  She is a native speaker teacher for the Vienna Board of Education, teaching seven subjects – including chemistry, physics, music, and art – to students in two schools. In English. Of note, she speaks six languages and performs jazz at concerts internationally.

Since 2014, she has organized and curated four charity art exhibitions highlighting the works of international women artists.  The current exhibition, Rich and Poor in the Dom Museum, was a catalyst and inspiration for the upcoming charity exhibition Worldwide Women: Life by Numbers, which will be held from 1 to 31 March 2022 at the VinziRast in the 9th district.  While the Dom Museum focuses on the comprehensive, international, and historical aspects of poverty and wealth in the world, the exhibition Life by Numbers deals with women and poverty in Austria on a structural level.  The exhibition is free to the public, and there will be six events throughout the month to highlight the topic of Women and Poverty in Austria.

And just in case anyone knows of someone, she is currently looking for a supervisor for her PhD work at the University of Vienna, Institute of International Development.