IRI Award Winner T. Edwin Freeman Talks Leadership, Education

For Dr. T. Edwin Freeman, technical fellow in sustainable materials and technology at Mars, resourcefulness has always been a way of life.

His background: “In Liberia, Edwin grew up in a culture where resourcefulness was woven into everyday life,” according to a recent profile on Freeman by the Innovation Research Interchange, the NAM’s innovation division.

• “Nothing was thrown away before it had served its purpose, and people routinely found creative ways to maximize the value of available resources.”

In the lab: Freeman, the recipient of the 2026 IRI Innovation Leadership Award, carried that resourcefulness into his career in manufacturing.

• At Mars, he has developed technology platforms to “transition from conventional, polyolefin packaging to fiber-based alternatives.”

How he does it: Freeman, who in 2012 co-founded Education First, a STEAM-focused school in his native Liberia, cites five key principles of leadership as foundational to his success:

• Connect scientific insights to tangible business outcomes: Freeman mentors up-and-coming scientists and helps them see that “successful [scientific] innovation requires both … great science and strong business outcomes.”
• Create conditions for collaboration and better ideas: Freeman believes that “psychological safety and open dialogue [are] essential ingredients for innovation,” so in his extensive partnerships with universities and research institutions, he “encourages team members to challenge assumptions, contribute ideas and engage in constructive debate.”
• Communicate effectively: Says Freeman: “If you can’t explain the brilliance of your science to a business leader or an outside partner, the impact of that science may end up being trapped in the lab forever.”
• Expand perspective via “systems thinking”: Freeman often tells emerging leaders in his field “to leave the laboratory” sometimes so they can “experience the broader systems their innovations are intended to influence.”
• Extend impact: Education First, which began as a kindergarten with just 40 children, has expanded in the 12 years since its founding to over 400 students through 12th grade. Co-founding the school is part of Freeman’s “deeply held belief that leadership is ultimately about creating opportunities for others.”

Dive deeper: Read the full profile of Freeman here, and learn more about the IRI, which connects R&D professionals driving growth and innovation across manufacturing sectors, here.