Experiences from Yale
Hege is far from new to the design industry. She has worked at Mission since 2002 and also has experience from other agencies. With studies from San Francisco under her belt, she has always had an exploratory attitude towards learning and describes herself as inquisitive. Over time, she had been looking for a course that could give her a new spark and inspiration.
It was a perfect match when her manager suggested the Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders programme at the renowned Yale University in Connecticut, USA. The course content and timing were ideal, and Hege seized the opportunity with both hands.
The programme, held over a semester in spring 2024, was rich in content and focused on topics such as positive leadership, decision-making, negotiation, accounting, and business models. What made the course unique was that it was tailored for experienced designers and others in creative professions, who either already had leadership responsibilities, or aspired to position themselves for such roles in the future. The course is developed in collaboration with The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).
Hege is enthusiastic about the course content: "It was incredibly inspiring to learn from so many talented lecturers." Many of her fellow students came from large, well-known companies where they were part of broader marketing teams. According to Hege, in-house designers are more common in the US than in Norway, although this trend is starting to gain traction in some larger Norwegian companies. Hearing about the challenges her fellow students faced in their work was both insightful and useful.
One of the most important lessons from the course was the significance of incorporating design and branding early in the strategic process. Hege emphasises that this is an area where many companies in both the US and Norway fall short. In economically challenging times, design and branding budgets are often the first to be cut, even though it is precisely during such times that investing in these areas can secure a stronger position when the market improves.
Increased Curiosity and Strengthened Confidence
The course has further ignited Hege’s curiosity, and she has already ordered several of the optional books recommended by the lecturers. "I wish the course had lasted even longer," she says, explaining how it has given her renewed drive to challenge herself, both professionally and personally. Recently, she has nurtured her passion for art by renting space in an artist collective, which allows her to explore her own creativity. "It’s important for me to cultivate my creativity," Hege explains.
Since her time at Yale, Hege has experienced increased confidence in client meetings. She highlights the negotiation theories as particularly useful in practice. Additionally, the insights from the lectures have reinforced her belief in the importance of positive leadership, which she actively works to implement in her interactions with less experienced colleagues and interns. For Hege, leadership is about inspiring and uplifting others, a valuable lesson she intends to carry forward.