Laura Blažková

Alumna portrait of alumna Laura, from the Master of Science in Development Studies. Interview was conducted in March 2024.

Hi Laura! What have you been up to since your graduation from Development Studies at Lund University?

I graduated in June 2020, and since then I stayed in touch with Graduate School through creating and leading the Alumni Association. In this project, I was trying to connect alumni with students and make some projects here and there, which went on for about one or two years.

I also took a challenge upon myself, trying to learn how to code, and trying to better understand the world of technology and data science. That has led me to the work I have with my current company, where we detect fraud and money laundering through using artificial intelligence and large language models. I think the work is a great combination of still being in my field, as money laundering and fraud is closely tied to development studies, yet approaching it from a different angle, and learning more about technological solutions behind it.

I currently live in Prague, Czech Republic, and travel here and there for work. I work in a start-up, and for me, it is a very exciting way of tackling an issue I was studying about at Lund University. More specifically, I am working in post-sales, meaning I work with banks and financial institutions, where I implement our technology and directly consult with my clients on the topic of fraud. In my field we call my role Customer Success Manager or Account Manager.

What does your daily routine look like?

I work for a start-up, which can be very time-consuming and demanding. As I am an early bird, I can start working from 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning. Every day I interact with my clients, have meetings with them where we discuss their productions, their findings, and solve some technical issues on the implementation side.

Working for a start-up also involves working with different teams, facing lots of changes, and adjusting to different strategies. The day is full of meetings, both internl and external, and then some work around, while trying to be a better colleague. I also study a bit, along with my work, as I educate myself on fraud and money laundering. There is so much to explore, it is a never-ending field!

What career advice would you give to current students at Graduate School?

I would say, expand your horizons - being creative with topics that you want to explore and tackle. I always thought that after Graduate School, I would work for an NGO (non-governmental organization) or the UN (United Nations) or something similar, which I did previously, I worked for NGOs. I am very happy that I expanded my horizons because now I apply what I have learnt in development studies in a start-up, or technology company, which before I would never connect these two together.

Nowadays, the world is changing fast, especially with technology, and there are many interesting people who work on projects, combining topics like ours. Expand your horizons, network, reach out to people on LinkedIn, and talk to people about what they are up to, how can you help, and be available to new projects, new ideas, and don't stick only with the traditional paths. Don't be afraid to own your own path that fits you!

Lastly, I'd say, it is so important to stick to your values; to find a work that aligns with your values. I believe everyone can make an important impact and contribution to the world, in their own way.

Do you have any advice to prospective students interested in Development Studies?

When I was younger, I was challenged by people telling me to narrow down my focus and become an expert on certain things. To this day, I am not, and I think that I was always against this advice. I am thinking broadly about things in a complex way because it makes sense to me. Development Studies was exactly the right fit for how I viewed the world, and how I needed to explore the topics. 

Development Studies is a complex study, it allows people to connect different topics, look at things from different angles, challenge your own views. It is viewed from a helicopter-perspective, yet you get into details if you want. In the program, you never settle down for one type of answer. Choosing Development Studies made me a better person, on so many levels. I feel like I expanded my thinking to horizons I did not even know I could.

If you want to study something for two years, you need to be connected to it, in some ways. If you, like me, think of the world in an explorative manner, then this is a good fit, and I would recommend the program.

When I think back to my time in Development studies, and my classmates, one thing I very much valued is that they became my lifelong friends. What we often thought about and what brought us together is complex thinking and approach to problems. We had similar personalities, because we often ended up not having answers for the problems, and we were okay with not having answers. It is not always the end goal to have answers to everything. I think people who have flexible, open-minded, philosophical, and resilient mindsets would like this program. I remember myself, and my classmates, always challenging our own ideas and thoughts. Not everyone can be like this, and that is fine. We also need people who can give a clear, correct and one answer only, such as mathematicians.

When I was younger, I often struggled with exams that allowed me to select one answer only, which proved to be a disastrous mismatch for my thought process. This setback nudged me towards development studies. When I came to Lund, I was happy that my approach to reasoning was not just accepted but celebrated. I had discovered a place where I belonged and didn't feel out of place! I guess, what I try to say is that the subject should resonate with you and your way of thinking/doing, and if you are fascinated by this approach and subjects, I believe you'll find great satisfaction in this program. 

How did your experiences at Lund University contribute to your professional development?

In so many ways! I studied a couple of subjects, in my third semester, in Asian studies, which was fantastic. When I think about Development studies, I cannot help but think about the teachers, who helped me to improve my way of thinking and way of approaching things and encouraged my individual journey. They have shaped me as a person and I gained professional competence. Yes, the teachers were very tough, but always with good intentions. 

I truly believe the teachers we had were the best in the field. They always offered us the maximum knowledge, alongside many practical examples from their own research. You could immediately apply the theory and practice through their own examples. 

I think everything starts with the way you think and whether you can process information and take in as much as possible. The way you think about problems can help you in your professional life, because you can apply different creative ways to solve issues. This is something I learnt during my studies and something that I apply today in my daily work. It links to core, the core way of who you are. Development studies truly changed my life. I am not making it up – the place, the school, the people, studying Development studies at Lund University is one of the biggest impacts on my life and my development, both personal and professional.