The MESA Philosophy
The MESA Philosophy
The MESA Philosophy
A NEXT GEN THINK TANK
A NEXT GEN THINK TANK
A non-partisan conduit between the ideas of a rising generation and the institutions shaping tomorrow. We pursue an agnostic and rigorous approach to cultivating context-specific policy innovation; recognizing that solutions must emerge from the world as it is, not as ideology imagines it.
A non-partisan conduit between the ideas of a rising generation and the institutions shaping tomorrow. We pursue an agnostic and rigorous approach to cultivating context-specific policy innovation; recognizing that solutions must emerge from the world as it is, not as ideology imagines it.
What is a MESA?
noun me·sa | \ ˈmā-sə \
1. A flat-topped, elevated landform with steep sides, standing prominently above the surrounding landscape.
2. From the Spanish and Latin root word for "table."
The MESA Institute for Global Impact is a non-partisan conduit between the ideas of a rising generation and the institutions shaping tomorrow. We pursue an agnostic and rigorous approach to cultivating context-specific policy innovation - recognizing that solutions must emerge from the world as it is, not as ideology imagines it.
To advance this mission, we are looking to build a brain trust: a cohort of young experts, policymakers and leaders ready to convene to generate actionable ideas to approach the pressing issues that the next generation will inherit. We are anchored in a framework of values which seek to best represent the next generation. As such, the MESA institute is a non-partisan data-focused global aggregation of next-generation insights. The institute is ready to engage with emerging leaders, youth conferences, the UN and specific sponsors who are ready to amplify this work.
While many networks exist to produce policy papers or convene rooms of experts, MESA goes further. We understand that influence today is forged as much through culture as through policy.
At our core lies the power of storytelling — through our global podcast, digital media platforms, and public commentary — to make the ideas of a new generation legible, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Where others seek merely to publish reports, MESA seeks to shape the conversation itself: to reach millions, not just policy elites.
By pairing intellectual rigor with narrative reach, we create a living platform where young leaders’ insights transcend white papers and conference rooms — circulating through videos, online dialogues, and cultural forums that inspire understanding and action.
This cultural edge ensures that MESA is not a static institution, but a dynamic force: bridging ideas and audiences, redefining how policy is communicated, and transforming youth-driven insight into global influence.
The MESA Institute for Global Impact is a non-partisan conduit between the ideas of a rising generation and the institutions shaping tomorrow. We pursue an agnostic and rigorous approach to cultivating context-specific policy innovation - recognizing that solutions must emerge from the world as it is, not as ideology imagines it.
To advance this mission, we are looking to build a brain trust: a cohort of young experts, policymakers and leaders ready to convene to generate actionable ideas to approach the pressing issues that the next generation will inherit. We are anchored in a framework of values which seek to best represent the next generation. As such, the MESA institute is a non-partisan data-focused global aggregation of next-generation insights. The institute is ready to engage with emerging leaders, youth conferences, the UN and specific sponsors who are ready to amplify this work.
While many networks exist to produce policy papers or convene rooms of experts, MESA goes further. We understand that influence today is forged as much through culture as through policy.
At our core lies the power of storytelling — through our global podcast, digital media platforms, and public commentary — to make the ideas of a new generation legible, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Where others seek merely to publish reports, MESA seeks to shape the conversation itself: to reach millions, not just policy elites.
By pairing intellectual rigor with narrative reach, we create a living platform where young leaders’ insights transcend white papers and conference rooms — circulating through videos, online dialogues, and cultural forums that inspire understanding and action.
This cultural edge ensures that MESA is not a static institution, but a dynamic force: bridging ideas and audiences, redefining how policy is communicated, and transforming youth-driven insight into global influence.
The MESA Institute for Global Impact is a non-partisan conduit between the ideas of a rising generation and the institutions shaping tomorrow. We pursue an agnostic and rigorous approach to cultivating context-specific policy innovation - recognizing that solutions must emerge from the world as it is, not as ideology imagines it.
To advance this mission, we are looking to build a brain trust: a cohort of young experts, policymakers and leaders ready to convene to generate actionable ideas to approach the pressing issues that the next generation will inherit. We are anchored in a framework of values which seek to best represent the next generation. As such, the MESA institute is a non-partisan data-focused global aggregation of next-generation insights. The institute is ready to engage with emerging leaders, youth conferences, the UN and specific sponsors who are ready to amplify this work.
While many networks exist to produce policy papers or convene rooms of experts, MESA goes further. We understand that influence today is forged as much through culture as through policy.
At our core lies the power of storytelling — through our global podcast, digital media platforms, and public commentary — to make the ideas of a new generation legible, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. Where others seek merely to publish reports, MESA seeks to shape the conversation itself: to reach millions, not just policy elites.
By pairing intellectual rigor with narrative reach, we create a living platform where young leaders’ insights transcend white papers and conference rooms — circulating through videos, online dialogues, and cultural forums that inspire understanding and action.
This cultural edge ensures that MESA is not a static institution, but a dynamic force: bridging ideas and audiences, redefining how policy is communicated, and transforming youth-driven insight into global influence.
We exist to bridge the generational divide that separates institutions of influence from the emerging leaders who must ultimately navigate their legacies.
THE PROBLEM
<42%
of the global population is under 25 years old
>30
make up only 2.6% of national legislatures
~57 y/o
In the G20, the average age of a cabinet minister
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE THINK TANK
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE THINK TANK
Driving change through dialogue, the pollination of ideas, and measurable impact.
Driving change through dialogue, the pollination of ideas, and measurable impact.
Adam de Picot
Executive Director
Adam de Picot is a Franco-Australian geo-economic strategist and public policy innovator operating at the intersection of geopolitics, economic development, and next-generation leadership. A graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and the London School of Economics, he is the recipient of the 2021 Daniel Kahneman & Richard Thaler Prize in Behavioral Economics. Adam has advised senior decision-makers across government and industry on geopolitical risk, supply-chain resilience, and economic statecraft in an era of strategic fragmentation. His work bridges rigorous policy analysis with real-world execution across emerging and advanced economies. An avid global traveller who has visited over 120 countries, Adam brings a distinctly international perspective to his work.
Adam de Picot
Executive Director
Adam de Picot is a Franco-Australian geo-economic strategist and public policy innovator operating at the intersection of geopolitics, economic development, and next-generation leadership. A graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and the London School of Economics, he is the recipient of the 2021 Daniel Kahneman & Richard Thaler Prize in Behavioral Economics. Adam has advised senior decision-makers across government and industry on geopolitical risk, supply-chain resilience, and economic statecraft in an era of strategic fragmentation. His work bridges rigorous policy analysis with real-world execution across emerging and advanced economies. An avid global traveller who has visited over 120 countries, Adam brings a distinctly international perspective to his work.
Elisabeth Malanga
Chief of Staff & Policy Coordinator
Elisabeth Malanga’s work bridges the performing arts and human rights scholarship. A former professional ballet dancer, she graduated from Columbia University in Sociocultural Anthropology and Italian Literature, receiving the Medaglia D’Oro for excellence in Italian studies. Her research focuses on migration, refugee reception, and the politics of care and national identity in Italy, and she was awarded the Ella Deloria Beyond academia, she has contributed to independent theatre and film projects in New York and is active in advancing social-impact policy, particularly in the areas of migration and climate change.
Elisabeth Malanga
Chief of Staff & Policy Coordinator
Elisabeth Malanga’s work bridges the performing arts and human rights scholarship. A former professional ballet dancer, she graduated from Columbia University in Sociocultural Anthropology and Italian Literature, receiving the Medaglia D’Oro for excellence in Italian studies. Her research focuses on migration, refugee reception, and the politics of care and national identity in Italy, and she was awarded the Ella Deloria Beyond academia, she has contributed to independent theatre and film projects in New York and is active in advancing social-impact policy, particularly in the areas of migration and climate change.
Elisabeth Malanga
Chief of Staff & Policy Coordinator
Elisabeth Malanga’s work bridges the performing arts and human rights scholarship. A former professional ballet dancer, she graduated from Columbia University in Sociocultural Anthropology and Italian Literature, receiving the Medaglia D’Oro for excellence in Italian studies. Her research focuses on migration, refugee reception, and the politics of care and national identity in Italy, and she was awarded the Ella Deloria Beyond academia, she has contributed to independent theatre and film projects in New York and is active in advancing social-impact policy, particularly in the areas of migration and climate change.
Sage Lenier
Board Member
Sage Lenier first gained recognition at UC Berkeley, where, as an undergraduate, she created and taught one of the university’s largest courses on sustainability before expanding her work to global stages. She bridges the gap between the public and global decision-makers, translating complex systems into actionable solutions and mobilizing the next generation to help shape the economy of the future.
Clarisa Marambio
Board Member
Clarisa Marambio is a Chilean climate policy strategist working at the diplomacy–implementation interface, coordinating with governments, industry, and civil society to advance climate agendas. With ongoing experience in multilateral processes, she will support MESA’s mission of bridging dialogue and action between the Global South and North.
Ziad Ahmed
Board Member
Ziad Ahmed is the founder and CEO of JUV Consulting (acquired by UTA), a leading Gen Z community and strategy firm known for its purpose-driven social campaigns and global youth engagement. He has spent the past decade dedicated to youth empowerment—as a founder, speaker, strategist, and advisor—working to ensure that the next generation of leaders and communities are brighter, better, and bolder.
Umang Prabhakar
Board Member
Umang Prabhakar is a development finance and policy strategist focused on ecosystem building for inclusive economic growth in emerging and frontier markets. With over a decade at the intersection of finance, technology, and systems change, he mobilizes partnerships across governments, DFIs, and investors to advance sustainable innovation. At MESA, he supports the Institute’s mission to translate cross-sector collaboration into actionable global impact.
Matias Burdman
Board Member
Matias Burdman's work straddles the intersection of government, politics, and civic engagement. After graduating from Georgetown University, Matias founded Civic, a startup aimed to spur civic participation. He has since held roles as a startup consultant and at the U.S. Department of Justice. Previously, Matias served as an elected official in the District of Columbia government. He is currently pursuing his J.D. at Georgetown Law.
Sage Lenier
Board Member
Sage Lenier first gained recognition at UC Berkeley, where, as an undergraduate, she created and taught one of the university’s largest courses on sustainability before expanding her work to global stages. She bridges the gap between the public and global decision-makers, translating complex systems into actionable solutions and mobilizing the next generation to help shape the economy of the future.
Ziad Ahmed
Board Member
Ziad Ahmed is the founder and CEO of JUV Consulting (acquired by UTA), a leading Gen Z community and strategy firm known for its purpose-driven social campaigns and global youth engagement. He has spent the past decade dedicated to youth empowerment—as a founder, speaker, strategist, and advisor—working to ensure that the next generation of leaders and communities are brighter, better, and bolder.
Matias Burdman
Board Member
Matias Burdman's work straddles the intersection of government, politics, and civic engagement. After graduating from Georgetown University, Matias founded Civic, a startup aimed to spur civic participation. He has since held roles as a startup consultant and at the U.S. Department of Justice. Previously, Matias served as an elected official in the District of Columbia government. He is currently pursuing his J.D. at Georgetown Law.
Clarisa Marambio
Board Member
Clarisa Marambio is a Chilean climate policy strategist working at the diplomacy–implementation interface, coordinating with governments, industry, and civil society to advance climate agendas. With ongoing experience in multilateral processes, she will support MESA’s mission of bridging dialogue and action between the Global South and North.
Umang Prabhakar
Board Member
Umang Prabhakar is a development finance and policy strategist focused on ecosystem building for inclusive economic growth in emerging and frontier markets. With over a decade at the intersection of finance, technology, and systems change, he mobilizes partnerships across governments, DFIs, and investors to advance sustainable innovation. At MESA, he supports the Institute’s mission to translate cross-sector collaboration into actionable global impact.
Sage Lenier
Board Member
Sage Lenier first gained recognition at UC Berkeley, where, as an undergraduate, she created and taught one of the university’s largest courses on sustainability before expanding her work to global stages. She bridges the gap between the public and global decision-makers, translating complex systems into actionable solutions and mobilizing the next generation to help shape the economy of the future.
Matias Burdman
Board Member
Matias Burdman's work straddles the intersection of government, politics, and civic engagement. After graduating from Georgetown University, Matias founded Civic, a startup aimed to spur civic participation. He has since held roles as a startup consultant and at the U.S. Department of Justice. Previously, Matias served as an elected official in the District of Columbia government. He is currently pursuing his J.D. at Georgetown Law.
Umang Prabhakar
Board Member
Umang Prabhakar is a development finance and policy strategist focused on ecosystem building for inclusive economic growth in emerging and frontier markets. With over a decade at the intersection of finance, technology, and systems change, he mobilizes partnerships across governments, DFIs, and investors to advance sustainable innovation. At MESA, he supports the Institute’s mission to translate cross-sector collaboration into actionable global impact.
Ziad Ahmed
Board Member
Ziad Ahmed is the founder and CEO of JUV Consulting (acquired by UTA), a leading Gen Z community and strategy firm known for its purpose-driven social campaigns and global youth engagement. He has spent the past decade dedicated to youth empowerment—as a founder, speaker, strategist, and advisor—working to ensure that the next generation of leaders and communities are brighter, better, and bolder.
Clarisa Marambio
Board Member
Clarisa Marambio is a Chilean climate policy strategist working at the diplomacy–implementation interface, coordinating with governments, industry, and civil society to advance climate agendas. With ongoing experience in multilateral processes, she will support MESA’s mission of bridging dialogue and action between the Global South and North.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS