About Grassroot Diplomat
Empowering every citizen to become a diplomat
Our evolution
Grassroot Diplomat has come a long way since its establishment in 2013. Originally a diplomatic consultancy, we have evolved to become a leading organization designed to empower activists and changemakers to become effective diplomats. Our mission remains the same: to make diplomacy inclusive for everyone.
We believe that every citizen has the power to be a diplomat, regardless of their background or experience. We focus on working within the system to effect change through effective influence, not tearing down walls and demanding change.
At Grassroot Diplomat, we recognize that countries are made up of real people, and we believe that national interest should be focused on recognizing their strengths and values, rather than just strengthening trade and bilateral relations. Our innovative diplomatic toolkits train diplomats to operate fluidly in today's multicultural society, enabling them to champion their country, cause, or mission with skill and conviction. Our resources are designed to make diplomacy more visible in the public eye, using the examples of people themselves.
If you're looking to become an effective diplomat and make a positive impact in your community, Grassroot Diplomat has everything you need. Our range of services empowers diplomats from all nations and backgrounds to engage confidently in international relations.
Discover how simple it can be to become a diplomat today by working with us at your next event.
Our founder
Talyn Rahman-Figueroa, founding CEO of Grassroot Diplomat, has been described as a "change maker" by the global diplomatic community. Her journey to becoming a diplomat started when she represented Britain at the United Nations COP15 in Copenhagen, one of the most important international summits of her generation. Despite the summit's failure, Talyn recognized the limitations faced by the diplomatic service and founded Grassroot Diplomat to strengthen the relationship between governments and civil society.
Over the years, Grassroot Diplomat has evolved as a brand from serving the diplomatic community to empowering citizens to represent their communities, both at home and abroad. Talyn is the host of a YouTube series called "Become a Diplomat" and is the creator of the "Diplomatic Planner", a career development planner designed to turn activists into diplomats. She is also the author of “Women in Diplomacy” (2017) and the “Brexit Handbook” (2020), and is on her way to publishing her first children’s book “A is for Ambassador” (2024) to foster the next generation of little diplomats around the world.
Talyn is currently working as a Personal Brand Consultant for her other company, Boss Diplomat in the United States, helping small business owners become their very own Brand Ambassadors.
Talyn holds a MA in Diplomacy and a BA in Japanese and Management, with credentials from SOAS (UK), Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (Japan), Al-Akhawayn University (Morocco), and McGill University (Canada). She is a trained diplomat with a passion for making diplomacy inclusive for all.
To learn more about Talyn and her work with Boss Diplomat, please visit www.bossdiplomat.com.
Honoring our history
The Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award will always be an important part of our history, as it recognizes the incredible achievements of outstanding diplomats and politicians who represent the interests of civilians in policy, social awareness, and business development.
Through this award, we aimed to create positive role models at the government level and encourage representatives to lead effectively for their people. Our past winners were exemplary government officials, acting as ambassadors for our mission and values. We received hundreds of nominations every year, and the process of selecting just six winners across three categories was always a challenging one.
Although we no longer run the award, we will always remember the incredible impact it had in recognizing and celebrating the hard work of diplomats who truly embody our values.
In addition to the Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award, we used to run diplomatic roundtables and workshops that tackled some of the most pressing global issues. These roundtables were hosted in collaboration and partnership with foreign embassies and parliamentary offices, and were made up of delegates from various countries, local politicians, and influential public figures who were leaders in their own right. Our roundtables covered a range of topics, including climate change, mitigating extremist conversion at grassroots level, child labor issues, nuclear disarmament, and economic development and entrepreneurship. We brought together voices from different diplomatic communities and cultures to promote effective and sustainable diplomacy. Through these discussions, we aimed to create a better understanding of complex global issues and identify actionable solutions.