Meet Tiffany Teng, an Adjunct Lecturer at the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) who’s making a big impact in the entrepreneurial community. With her creative background and hands-on experience in startups, Tiffany brings a unique and refreshing perspective to her teaching. Whether she’s helping students navigate entrepreneurship or exploring her own creative pursuits, Tiffany’s passion for entrepreneurship shines through in everything she does.
Discovering Entrepreneurship
Tiffany’s entrepreneurial journey began during her student days at U-M. “I started working at a student startup incubator, optiMize, when I was a student. That introduced me to startups. I found myself super drawn to how innovation was being enabled and it really opened me up to the concept of entrepreneurship,” she says.
An Artistic Foundation
Tiffany began her academic career in the STAMPS School of Art & Design, focusing on illustration and storytelling. During undergrad, she unexpectedly found herself in a graduate-level Design Thinking course. “The course opened me up to a whole new way of thinking. Using what I learned from that class, I was able to apply this new skill set to land a job at a local VR startup. I also freelanced on the side. Eventually, the snowballing of experiences helped me make my way to working at a startup design agency,” she explains. These moments were pivotal in shaping the career she’s built today.
Joining the CFE Community
Tiffany’s relationship with the CFE began as a Teaching Assistant. After graduation, she stayed involved as a guest speaker, which eventually led to her current teaching role. “I TA’ed for this class when I was a student, and continued to participate as a Guest Speaker after I graduated. The previous lecturer recommended me for this role when he stepped down,” she shares. Today, she teaches ENTR 390.12, Digital Product Design. Her journey at the CFE has truly come full circle!
Empowering Students
For Tiffany, the most rewarding part of teaching is guiding students through challenges she once faced herself. “I am fulfilled by giving students guidance that I wasn’t able to receive when I was a student and had to learn the hard way. Helping share my experiences, and also learn from my students, is such a rewarding symbiotic process. It’s also amusing to learn about generational differences,” she says. Her relatable and engaging approach makes her a favorite among students.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Tiffany’s advice for students considering entrepreneurship is simple and empowering. “If you have an idea, why not give it a shot! As a student, this is a rare time in your life where you will be surrounded by all of these resources. Don’t be worried about the commitment. Try and follow the path, see how steep it gets, and find out if you can handle it,” she encourages.
Beyond the Classroom
When she’s not teaching, Tiffany stays busy with creative hobbies and exercise. “I like to make pottery, draw, travel, and cook. In my free time, I also try to keep on top of going to the gym and rollerskating. I’m currently learning how to snowboard,” she says.
Tiffany Teng’s work at the CFE is inspiring students to embrace innovation, take risks, and carve their own paths. Ready to start your own journey? Browse our course list.