Global Leaders Program

Filipino Illac Diaz, creator of the My Shelter Foundation - which promotes low-cost sustainable projects - saw in the solution created by Alfredo Moser (Brazilian mechanic who in 2002 installed his handmade lamp on his roof during a blackout), the opportunity to help needy families in their country, creating the project "Um Litro de Luz" in 2012.

Litro De Luz aims to improve people's quality of life through sustainable lighting solutions and empower agents of change. They aim to make lighting accessible to all, overcoming socioeconomic and geographic barriers.

Friends of Creation is a gospel-centered community-based organization founded in 2020 in Tigoni, Kenya. They aim to address environmental waste issues and the economic needs of marginalized youths and impoverished communities. Their goal is to lead in environmental awareness and conservation through community enhancement activities.

Their vision is to reduce the amount of waste by promoting individual and corporate responsibility through an integrated system of waste management incorporating sustainable, environmentally sound, and cost-effective practices.

Meiko Green Waste Solutions makes commercial food waste collection and treatment simple, more hygienic, ergonomic, and sustainable. From prep waste and leftovers to bones, cores, and peelings, organic waste is a source of energy that is much too valuable to throw away. Meiko Green has the solutions to unlock its potential. 

Driven by the needs of our global customers, we develop future-proof systems for the sustainable management of food waste. Our mission is to help commercial kitchens and their suppliers move away from traditional waste bins and adopt a revolutionary new approach. By becoming a market leader in innovation and technology, we aim to make these processes clean and simple for everybody.

Laura Adiwasito is an impact-driven senior strategist with over 11 years of experience in creative communications, design thinking, consulting, and project management in multiple subject matters including: social innovation and entrepreneurship, sexual and reproductive health, and sustainable development.

Laura has worked with organizations in the nonprofit, multi-lateral, public, and private sectors in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and South Asia. A political scientist based in Bogotá, Colombia, she is passionate about working in international and multicultural environments, particularly with social impact initiatives that drive change.

Richard (Richy) Bikko's initial work experience was an internship at TASSC International, a human rights organization in Washington, D.C. He moved back to Kenya in 2012 where he joined DIPAD, a peacebuilding and development organization that works at the intersection of restorative justice, trauma healing, and leadership development. His initial work experiences gave him a deeper understanding of the liberating and transformative power of both formal and informal education.

In 2013, Richy joined Global Minimum Inc. (GMin) as a volunteer and was captivated by the organization’s vision of engaging and inspiring young Africans to be at the forefront of creating a more just and equitable world through unique learning experiences. Since then he has been instrumental to the growth of the organization and played a key role in the development and facilitation of workshops on Design Thinking, Project Based Learning, as well as leadership and social entrepreneurship. He has also played a key role in the development of GMin programs to be more accessible and inclusive for all young leaders. Mentoring young leaders at GMin is one of his most treasured moments as he gets to see firsthand the impact and transformational journey the youth are making toward creating social change in their communities. 

Richy’s education journey led him to attain a B.A. degree in Justice, Peace & Conflict Studies from Eastern Mennonite University. His education strengthened his resolve to champion social justice and exposed him to a multidisciplinary and multicultural educational environment.

Michelle Ngure is a learning experience designer who has contributed to the development of STEM curriculum in primary and secondary schools. She has led an afterschool STEM program serving over 700 marginalized youth in low-resourced schools at Global Minimum, a non-profit organization that provides youth with the opportunity to harness their potential as changemakers. In her role as East Africa - Regional Manager, she established STEM learning centers in Kampala and Nairobi or STEMCafe. She is a member of the International Development Innovation Network (IDIN), a program led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where her experience in immersive human-centered design, through training engagements and coaching, has facilitated learning and project development for diverse groups of teams in Africa.

In her most recent role as a Project Lead at inHive, a non-profit organization that strengthens access to youth’s social capital strong networks, and relatable role models, she advised on the structure and operations of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nairobi and is pursuing a Master of Education in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology at Harvard University.

Shira Babow is a training specialist for an international development consulting firm based in Washington, DC. She specializes in working with international clients to design and deliver trainings, workshops, and events in the fields of biodiversity conservation and international education.

Shira holds a masters in Development Studies with a concentration in environment and sustainable development from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. In her free time, she enjoys cooking mediocre food, catching outdoor concerts from local bands, and tending to her ever-growing urban jungle.

Lisa Elzey Mercer (she/her/hers), Assistant Professor of Graphic Design & Design for Responsible Innovation, is a designer, educator, and researcher. Her interests are in developing and executing design interventions that fuel and sustain responsible design for social impact. The developed frameworks and tools are intended to create a space for conversation and knowledge exchange where participants can collaborate in creating new ideas and solutions. This type of methodology is evidenced in her current projects focused on the topics of human trafficking, incarceration, race, and racism. She co-developed the framework Racism Untaught, a framework for collaborators to identify racialized design and critically assess anti-racist design approaches. They have iteratively improved upon the framework by working with their industry partners including Target, Spotify, PayPal, and Apple; and their academic partners include the University of Minnesota, Parsons School of Design, Louisiana State University, and Auburn University. She also developed Operation Compass, an ethnographic research study concerned with developing design-led interventions to combat the complex social issue of human trafficking.

Shannon Johnson serves as the Climate Specialist at Environmental Incentives, LLC. She supports the USAID Climate and Cross-Sectoral Strategy branch connecting with partners and coalitions to help implement the new USAID climate strategy. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and has lived in Boston, Washington State, and now Washington, D.C. She is passionate about climate and environmental justice, especially thinking through strategic partnerships and policies. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Benin, West Africa and completed her graduate studies in Geneva, Switzerland. In her free time, she loves hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, swing dancing, exploring with her dog, and making stew for friends.