Meena Thiruvengadam is a Chicago-based, veteran travel writer and former editorial consultant to T4A. Having traveled to all seven continents, she’s set foot in an astonishing 70 foreign countries and 47 domestic states. Her extensive travel experience and professional background in media have shaped her unique perspective on global exploration.
More than that, Thiruvengadam’s work has transformed the travel writing community. She has channeled that editorial power, gained through her leadership at some of the nation’s largest media institutions. She previously worked as an editor for Yahoo Finance, and audience development at Bloomberg and Business Insider. Her writings have been featured in all the above, as well as in the pages of CNBC in which she recounts her experiences as a traveler with disabilities.
In 2023, Thiruvengadam got to visit cities like Rome, Italy and Singapore. Her journeys are more than a set of places visited; they include fascinating cultural exchanges and amazing culinary experiences. So when she traveled recently to Mexico City, she made a point to visit a local Starbucks. This moment was the epitome of her combination of comfort and curiosity abroad.
Thiruvengadam’s experience in Paris was one for the books. She then personally was invited to a tasting menu dinner at one-star Michelin fine-dining establishment! This culinary journey is just one example of her love of experiencing the local food that acts as a window to deepening one’s understanding of other cultures.
As a travel expert, Thiruvengadam has encountered various scenarios that reveal how cultural differences can impact perceptions of behavior while traveling. She remembers those experiences that every traveler can relate to, including the question most travelers ask, “What’s the cost in dollars?” Many American travelers have a habit of wanting to translate local currency into dollars or into denominations with which they are comfortable. This behavior is often interpreted as clueless or disrespectful toward local traditions.
In his online Travelogue, Thiruvengadam makes the case for being culturally sensitive and culturally aware travelers. She frequently listens to comments that say, “This is not the way we do things where I come from.” Comments like this expose an inability to be agile outside their comfort zone. By sharing her experiences, she encourages fellow travelers to acknowledge and accept more human differences. In her public appearances, she encourages them to treat new cultures with curiosity and respect.
Her website, meenamedia.com, is an ongoing chronicle of her travels and revelations about the world through travel. The site features articles that not only highlight destinations but offer tips on how to navigate cultural differences effectively.
Thiruvengadam’s decades of journeying across the planet has filled her travel toolbox with tools and lessons that will benefit adventurers of all shapes and sizes. Her travel experiences is helping others get inspired to see the world. In doing so, she cultivates an appreciation for the cultures they visit.