Lieutenant Megan Wilkins

Workshop: Designing a More Meaningful Life

Kathleen deLaski, Mally, Enrique, James, Ronnie, Cindy, Jill, Lieutenant Megan Wilkins

Hosted by the Center for Strategic Philanthropy at the Milken Conference, this workshop introduced a four-stage design thinking framework to help philanthropists navigate complex global challenges through empathy, invention, and rapid iteration. Participants applied the methodology in an interactive sprint to answer "How might I design a more meaningful life?" by engaging in structured interviews, assessing personal assets, and prototyping low-fidelity solutions. The session concluded with a case study of the facilitator's pivot from journalism to education innovation, emphasizing that democratic, iterative processes are essential for disrupting traditional hierarchies in sectors like academia and the military.