Q&A with Fulbright Foreign Student Program alumnus, Collins Munyai

Why did you apply to the Fulbright program?

I have always had a feeling woven into the fabric of my psyche that there was more to the world than what I knew at the time, and when I heard of Fulbright, I knew this was a befitting opportunity for me to explore. Having lost an idea for an app I had conceived I knew my dream to look deeper into protection of novel ideas would happen through Fulbright. My friend described it as a prestigious award, and I was sold.

What was the application and selection process like??

The process for me was a bit jarring. I had never done something like it before. Every round’s selection pumped me with anxiety – but the good anxiety if there’s such – that made it feel all worth it at the end. Procedurally, the Fulbright team guided and supported me throughout the process. I knew that, even when confused about things I was hearing for the first time as a village boy, that I wasn’t alone. At one of the rounds closest to the tipping point, I was selected as an alternate candidate. I remember receiving the call and my voice dropping a couple of octaves lower, thinking to myself “this is the end of the road”. Lo and behold, a couple of weeks later I received another call while going about my evening, this call was confirmation that what’s meant to be, WILL be. I was going to do my masters in AMERICA.

What was your U.S. experience like? How did you adjust?

Everyone has an American dream. Even if you are not aware of it. Mine I saw a glimpse of, and I will tell you that it was a sight for sore eyes. It was both humbling and presidential. With the former, I got to see full perspective of where my country stands in the global market. While with the latter, I met one of Chicago’s best attorneys - although retired – who through Fulbright was appointed as my mentor. I found myself in houses of well-known attorneys in the intellectual property space as well as prominent former leaders in the U.S. government. Having an American Thanksgiving experience - who would’ve thought? I know. I lived in Champaign, Illinois, where most of my American experience came from. I was constantly in awe of the cultural differences between there, and where I was from. To adjust I had to develop a mentality that “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. Overall, my American experience was great, and it ended with me Valedictorian of my cohort and sharing the stage with Taylor Swift’s attorney - Douglas Baldridge - with whom I can now brag and say we went to the same law school.

Where did you grow up and why did you study law?

I grew up in Venda most of my life. Raised by a single mother who lived in a different province, my sister and I had to look out for one another. Upon completion of my Grade 12, I went to the University of Venda to do my LLB. Having lived so close to the university, my mom thought It was a great Idea to go

there – to save costs. I did and it was the best decision of my life. While there I conceived an idea to make an app that would help solve transportation issues within all modes by use of a single app. When I saw my idea on tv after months and months of pitching to potential funders, I knew the game had to change. That people who, like me, cannot afford filing patents needed a layman like me to go learn and teach back how we can protect our ideas in a language they can understand. I then made it my quest to find out all possible ways to play in the Intellectual Property landscape, whether by Trademarks, copyright, patent or even Trade Secrets.

What are your current activities and your future ambitions?

I work as a radio broadcaster and I’m still navigating ways to teach through organization such as the Black Management Forum. This organization has taken an interest in helping make teaching Intellectual property a possibility in South Africa. Although I would like to still get into practice, particularly intellectual property in a prestigious law firm, it seems I am yet to see opportunities in that space.

Would you recommend Fulbright and why?

I highly recommend Fulbright. Far be it from me to sound grandiose, Fulbright is a game changer. The programmoved me from punching below my weight to a new level, and made me realize you can up the weight, so why wait? I appreciated that the program delivered as promised and I never felt a shortfall, there wasn’t any. From taking me from my village to what felt like a long scene in a Hollywood movie and paying for everything, and the catch was only that I come and learn. Now I feel empowered and ready to face the world.