Designing New Paths: Megan Thiede’s Fulbright Journey in Finland

Thanks to winning a prestigious Fulbright award, Megan Thiede (Mgmt’19) is embarking on a two-year master’s program at Tampere University in Finland to learn about designing more accessible digital experiences.

If you know anyone who has applied for a Fulbright scholarship, then you know it’s a rigorous application process for a highly coveted award. Still, that didn’t stop Megan Thiede (Mgmt’19) from going for it. She applied for one of only two annual Fulbright grants available for graduate study at Tampere University in Finland, winning a scholarship to study Accessibility and Diversity in Digital Services.

Thiede was initially inspired to apply for a Fulbright grant several years ago, when a fellow student in the Leeds Scholars class of 2019 won an award. At the time, she dismissed the possibility because she wasn’t drawn to a pointed research topic, which she thought was necessary to apply. Following experience in the work world and additional sources of inspiration along the way, the Fulbright seed that was planted years ago then sprouted.

Immersing in Finnish culture 

While it was a surprise to win such a prestigious award, Thiede seems even more surprised to find herself prepared for the journey ahead. “It’s definitely a big shift. I don’t know what it is exactly that makes me feel like I’m ready for it, but I feel that way. I applied so long ago [more than a year], and now it’s finally happening,” she said.

Thiede arrived in Finland earlier this summer for a month-long language and culture immersion program before her coursework begins in late August. Another surprise—she placed in level two of the language program—why, she really can’t say, she laughed, adding that it’s been a rewarding experience so far.

“It's 60 people of different ages and from all walks of life—from countries such as Germany, Sweden, Panama, Japan, Ukraine—all united by a shared fascination with language. It’s a unique environment I haven’t experienced before.”

Having studied abroad as an undergraduate in Berlin and Cape Town through CU’s Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program, and moving to different cities for work, Thiede values the benefits of being in an unfamiliar environment. It can't help but expand your mindset, she said. But she finds Finland comes with its own set of challenges, particularly as she finds her way on her own as opposed to the group experiences from her previous study abroad travels. The exposure to a wide array of cultures is ideal, Thiede believes, as it aligns well with her research aspirations.

Work experiences as a plus

Thiede held three positions since graduating with a degree in information management and a certificate in technology, arts and media, including roles at Deloitte Consulting and Sasaki, an interdisciplinary architectural design firm.

Her three years at IDEO, a human-centered design company, felt the most impactful. Working as a business operations specialist, she collaborated with various types of designers in IDEO’s learning/work and financial services domains.

In the learning/work arena, Thiede loved collaborating with “an incredible, powerful group of women.” She gained insights from their prior experiences delivering projects such as a reimagined first-year experience at New York University, and designing products for start-ups and a learning program for the city of South Bend, Indiana.

“What’s so special about IDEO is how designers are very involved in understanding their clients’ day-to-day interaction. There’s a design research discipline that involves meeting and conducting unique forms of research for all types of clientele,” Thiede said.

Last summer, one of her Thiede's mentors at IDEO, a former Fulbrighter, encouraged her to look further into available grants. A few weeks later, Thiede was browsing a Fulbright newsletter and came across a spotlight on a current student in Tampere applying his degree in Sustainable Digital Life to education. It sparked thoughts about her own research possibilities, and after speaking with that student, Thiede was compelled to apply for the university award.

“There are a lot of directions this type of degree can take you. So many aspects felt aligned with what I was looking for—the coursework, conversations with the department lead and the person spotlighted in the newsletter," she said.

“I’m really grateful I had time in between graduating and starting this degree. I think it makes a world of difference … I needed a few years to figure out what I might want out of my career.”

“I want to be in a role where I can flex my creative mindset and stay close to the people involved, so that I am able to connect to them and build resilient solutions together.”

Megan Thiede (Mgmt’19)

Leeds’ influence

Thiede was part of the Leeds Scholars program, led by Darrell Zechman, who wrote one of her Fulbright recommendations.

“I had no idea how much of an influence this program was going to have when I was at Leeds,” she said. Her cohort participated in the first global experience trip to Tokyo and helped launch outreach initiatives, such as a workshop for middle and high school girls to gain exposure to coding and career paths in web development.

“Leeds really promotes professionalism and pushes out-of-the-classroom learning in a way that I think is beneficial for all students. There are all types of networking, mentorship and student organizations that are readily available. I really am grateful to Leeds for exposing me to multiple pathways toward professional development.”

Thiede appreciates the business skills and analytical mindset she developed at Leeds. She says having that foundation allowed her to apply energy to creative pursuits instead of worrying about a learning curve on the business side of things.

“The business acumen gained at Leeds creates the building blocks for career development and being able to function successfully in a job.”

A look ahead

Thiede’s two-year graduate program will involve exploring the link between technology and society, discovering how we can create more resilient digital solutions to foster flexible, accessible experiences.

“The type of design research I was exposed to at IDEO is what I'm interested in exploring further.” In addition to courses, graduate students at Tampere are partnered with an NGO. “You work directly with whatever problem you are trying to solve or address and the community or audience that’s being affected,” Thiede said.

“Maybe it’s a small problem or maybe it’s a larger problem … I want to be in a role where I can flex my creative mindset and stay close to the people involved, so that I am able to connect to them and build resilient solutions together.”