By Alexandria J. Maloney
How a New Generation of Innovators is Using Diplomacy to Bridge Global Challenges
At the 2025 Edison Awards (also referred to as the Oscars of Innovation), innovation was not only defined by cutting-edge technology—it was elevated by purpose. Among the prestigious lineup of visionary thinkers and awardees, including NVIDIA Founder Jensen Huang and Arizona State University’s Michael M. Crow, was Alexandria J. Maloney, MPA, a 2025 Lewis Latimer Fellow, who took the stage to present a bold vision for The Future of Diplomacy.
Representing a unique fusion of systems thinking, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration, Maloney’s presentation emphasized an urgent truth: while the world has sufficient food, capital, technology, and creativity to address its most pressing challenges—such as poverty, hunger, and climate change—it remains mired in human conflict.
Maloney, who currently serves as Director of External Affairs at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, advocates for building a global leadership institute that equips decision-makers across industries with the tools to navigate conflict, communicate across cultural and ideological divides, and build trust. She believes that corporate diplomacy will be essential in accelerating progress where traditional politics may falter, especially in times of polarization and institutional strain.
The Lewis Latimer Fellowship: Innovation Centered on Humanity
The Lewis Latimer Fellowship, named in honor of the Black American inventor and draftsman whose brilliance helped revolutionize the lightbulb, is a prestigious, year-long innovation program supported by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, founded by Bill Gates. The fellowship brings together a powerhouse cohort of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and creative leaders dedicated to designing scalable, human-centered ventures that tackle global issues with bold imagination and interdisciplinary rigor.
Fellows participate in bi-weekly seminars with world-class experts in technology, public policy, and venture strategy, conduct collaborative research with the RAND Corporation, and present their innovations at leading global forums like the Edison Awards and the MIT AI Futures Summit. Their work spans fields from sustainability and education to leadership and emerging tech—with diplomacy at the heart of impact.
Introducing The Great 8
As part of her presentation, Maloney introduced the 2025 cohort of Latimer Fellows, known as “The Great 8”, each selected for their groundbreaking work across vital sectors shaping the future:
- Ranulfo (Randy) Allen, PhD – The Future of Material Science
- Aaron Fitzgerald – The Future of Sustainability
- Demetrius Harris – The Future of Aviation
- Lauren Ruffin – The Future of World Building
- Jason Teeters – The Future of Leadership
- Titus Walker – The Future of Gamification
- Cortney Woodruff – The Future of Education
- Alexandria J. Maloney, MPA – The Future of Diplomacy
Together, these fellows represent a new generation of changemakers who are not only imagining the future—but actively building it through collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to justice.
A Vision for Global Leadership
Maloney’s remarks at the Edison Awards made a compelling case for diplomacy as a core pillar of global innovation. Her forthcoming work will continue to explore how cross-sector leaders can be trained to approach problems through a diplomatic lens—blending empathy, strategy, and systems awareness to create scalable, peaceful solutions to complex societal challenges.
“We are the future. And we’re just getting started.”
Special Acknowledgments
Special thanks to the Lewis Latimer Fellowship and its visionary leaders and advisors—including Latishia Futrell Gordon, Knox, Frank Bonafilia, Andrea Kates, John Pasmore, Carmichael Roberts, Dr. Marsha H. Ershaghi, Clarence Wooten, and Bunmi Akinyemiju—for championing innovation that centers people, innovation, and purpose. Learn more.
