By: Elizabeth Galewski
Groundbreaking nonprofit organization The Behavioral International Economic Development (BIED) Society is on a complex mission. In addition to developing the next generation of diplomats and experts in international affairs, this premier international think tank also gathers the nation’s most brilliant minds to tackle some of today’s most urgent problems.
How the BIED Society Creates the Next Generation of Leaders in International Affairs
Kenneth T. Davis, a former U.S. Marine Officer and diplomat who has worked in 77 countries founded The BIED Society in 2014. No one knows better than him what it takes to make a difference on the international stage. That’s why one of the main missions of The BIED Society is to help up-and-coming professionals influence American policy.
“Many graduate programs require students to do an internship to earn their degree, but when COVID hit, the usual organizations that offer such internships closed down,” Davis explains. “Faculty members started calling me and asking if I could take students. That’s why we grew so fast during COVID.”
Davis soon realized that many of these students were going to graduate school to earn master’s degrees but remained uneducated on basic information related to their field.
“They didn’t even know what organizations hired people for the roles they wanted,” he remembers. “Meanwhile, acquiring advanced degrees risked making these students overqualified, even while they lacked practical experience in the field, having never actually done anything yet. Moreover, a master’s degree is expensive, yet it only results in a single line on their resumes.”
The BIED Society’s Global Leadership Academy gives aspiring international relations professionals a better option. It supports Research Fellows in growing their professional skills and honing their ability to write effective policies. It also convenes meetings in Washington D.C. in both the spring and the fall each year to teach them how Congress makes decisions, as well as how to write grants, obtain funding for research, and build their professional network.
“Hiring managers look for candidates who have already demonstrated the skills they would need to succeed in the position,” Davis explains. “When people go through our programs, they come out with real experience on real projects to list on their resumes and have several published articles to their credit. We develop each young professional so their abilities shine.”
However, cultivating the next generation of leaders in international relations is only one aspect of The BIED Society’s work. This year, it’s working on three initiatives — the first of which involves brain injury research to prevent suicides among veterans and military members.
The BIED Society Combats Veteran and Military Suicide
The BIED Society advocates on behalf of veterans and members of the military, pressing the Department of Defense and other key decision-makers to continue addressing their brain health.
“We went to the U.S. Congress in the spring to talk to the Senate Majority Leaders Office and others about the research findings of Dr. Andrew Heyman and Dr. David Ross,” Davis explains. “Their groundbreaking work shows how the mold military facilities can contain, combined with the traumatic brain injuries soldiers can sustain, may lead to mental health problems, even resulting in suicide.”
Recent events suggest that The BIED Society’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“We were excited to see the August 8th Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership, Commanders of the Combatant Commands, Defense Agency and DoD Field Activity Directors,” Davis says. “The subject from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, the Honorable Kathleen Hicks, is a new directive on Department of Defense requirements for managing brain health from blast overpressure. While this is not the end of the initiative, tracking brain health while in and out of uniform is a great way to start addressing brain injuries.”
The BIED Society’s second initiative for 2024 focuses on defense Innovation.
Advancing Defense Innovation: The BIED Society
The BIED Society is also attracting MBA graduates from all over the country to learn about current problems in national defense and government options for growing businesses that monetize important solutions.
“Our November 15-17 Congressional Conference is a unique opportunity to network with high-level executives and academic professionals who can really help entrepreneurs and scale new businesses,” Davis says. “We expect MBA professors and graduates all over the country to join us, and we look forward to helping them network and find funding to build their innovations.”
The BIED Society’s third initiative involves writing a Strategic Guide to U.S. Foreign Service and Career Success.
The BIED Society’s Strategic Guide to U.S. Foreign Service and Career Success
On November 15 through 17, The BIED Society will convene aspiring diplomats, mid-career professionals, and senior leaders at their fall Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C., to write a comprehensive textbook on foreign service and career success.
“We want this book to include tough lessons from people with first-hand experience,” Davis says. “If you have experience in the Foreign Service, then we want you there. This includes State Department employees, USAID personnel, Foreign Agricultural Service Officers, Foreign Commercial Service Officers, Intelligence Officers, Marine Security Guards, Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents, Peace Corps Volunteers, Fulbright scholars, and many more.”
Join the BIED Society’s Fight for Progress
The incredible scope and depth of The BIED Society’s work, as well as its importance for our nation’s future, has gained recognition through numerous awards. For instance, the U.S. Forces in Business Awards recently shortlisted Davis in the prestigious Role Model of the Year category for 2024.
The BIED Society makes a difference by connecting people and helping them grow. To join their fight for progress, visit www.biedsociety.com.
Published by: Martin De Juan
