Joshua Edmonds of DigitalC: 5 Things You Should Do To Become a Thought Leader In Your Industry
An Interview With Dina Aletras
Surround Yourself with Incredible People: Being a thought leader is not done alone. You become a thought leader because everyone is giving you their inertia and their best to allow you to become that person. Surrounding myself with talented individuals who care deeply and share in the mission has been crucial. Their support and collaboration enable me to excel as a thought leader, especially as we build a first-of-its-kind community-based network here at DigitalC in Cleveland.
As part of our series about how to become known as a thought leader in your industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joshua Edmonds.
Joshua Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer at DigitalC, is transforming Cleveland’s digital landscape with bold ambition and securing significant investments for the nonprofit technology social enterprise. Under his leadership, DigitalC is bridging the city’s digital divide by providing tailored digital skills training and deploying a citywide state-of-the-art network to deliver superior high-speed home internet to residents. Recognized by Forbes and GovTech, Edmonds positions Cleveland as a national model for digital equity and inclusion.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us! Our readers are eager to learn more about you. Could you provide some background information about yourself?
Thank you for having me. I’m Joshua Edmonds, the CEO of DigitalC, where we are on a mission to bridge the digital divide — for good. At DigitalC, we are deploying a locally grown, community-based network, competing against giants to provide a product Clevelanders can be proud of. My journey recently took me from nearly four years in Detroit back to Cleveland, where I now lead a team dedicated to disrupting the telecommunications industry. When I left Cleveland, I felt my work here was unfinished, and now, being back, I am committed to making a lasting impact and positioning my home city as a national model. Broadly, I am an “intrapreneur” with a history of doing high-impact work within multiple organizations. I have experience working at various levels of government — federal, state, and municipal. I am always open to collaboration and opportunities to broaden my understanding of civic technology, social enterprise, and smart city initiatives.
What establishes you as an authority on thought leadership? Could you briefly share your expertise with our readers?
My authority on thought leadership is rooted in my extensive experience across multiple sectors and roles, allowing me to view the digital divide and digital equity from various perspectives. I have worked as a digital inclusion fellow in public housing, served as a public policy fellow at the University of Michigan, and as a public service fellow in philanthropic investment. Additionally, I was the first digital inclusion director in the history of America. Now, I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of DigitalC, a position that places me in a highly disruptive capacity. These diverse experiences have equipped me to support and advance efforts to eradicate digital inequities.
Can you recall a funny mistake you made when you were first starting out? What lesson did you learn from it?
Absolutely! One incident that stands out was when I was a spokesperson for the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the PGA Tour. I was used to attending events in a suit and tie, so naturally, I showed up at a golf course in the middle of July dressed that way. As you can imagine, I was drenched in sweat — the shirt was sticking to me, the tie was glued to my neck, and I was desperately trying to keep it together. The makeup team kept applying more makeup, but my face just looked defeated in every picture. The Golf Channel crew was amazing — they had towels and were squeegeeing sweat off me, but my shirt was completely see-through. I tried to act like everything was fine, but it was obvious I was struggling. When the shoot was over, I called it a day, went home, showered, and just recovered. The biggest lesson I learned? Dress for success no matter the environment, but be aware of the environment you are going into. Sometimes, a polo and shorts are much more suitable than a suit and tie.
What are the most significant disruptions you foresee in your industry over the next five years, and how can businesses adapt to these changes?
As we see the growth in alternative forms of telecommunications infrastructure with an emphasis on fixed wireless, we are witnessing unprecedented pricing disruptions and commercial agreements in the internet market. Over the next five years, I anticipate significant disruptions in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly focused on fixed wireless. For example, a major player recently introduced a five-year business lock price plan, indicating an aggressive shift in pricing strategies. Internet providers are becoming more competitive, ultimately benefiting consumers. The telecom industry is poised to be one of the most disruptive sectors due to this heightened competition. Historically, this industry has been non-disruptive, with pseudo-monopolies and duopolies, but now DigitalC, and similar entities, represent a necessary market correction that benefits American consumers. To adapt, businesses should build bolder relationships with mission-driven companies. Future generations are increasingly making value-driven purchases, so aligning with companies that reflect their values will result in greater ROI. The companies that are willing to fight inequities will see a greater ROI than they have ever seen.
Can you explain the benefits of becoming a thought leader? Why is it valuable to invest time and resources into this?
The benefits of becoming a thought leader are immense. If you believe strongly in driving the change you want to see in the world, thought leadership allows you to build a community, foster collaborations, and inspire action. It also instills a sense of pride in your community. For instance, coming from Cleveland, I have often heard people disparage our city. By achieving something special and casting Cleveland in a positive light, I can inspire other entrepreneurs to do the same. Others can be inspired to set a trend and do that in a bold way. Investing time and resources into becoming a thought leader has a powerful multiplier effect. Demonstrating both leadership and followership can ignite movements, creating a ripple effect that cascades into broader initiatives. This investment is crucial for building lasting and impactful change. This is not a moment but a movement.
Can you share an example of a significant challenge you faced in your career and how you leveraged innovative thinking to overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in my career was being lobbied against by significantly larger companies and undergoing public scrutiny while we were undergoing a cultural transformation within our organization. Everything was in flux. To tackle this, our team leveraged innovative thinking by using artificial intelligence to counter-lobby these corporate giants. Additionally, we applied community organizing principles, recognizing that we could not win in a private game. Instead, we created a public-facing strategy that mobilized the community, using the power of storytelling and public messaging to drown out the private messaging. Our nonprofit was able to counter-punch; it involved showing up in ways we never had before, making our presence felt. This approach was not just innovative — it embodied boldness.
Now that we have covered that, we’d love to hear your advice on becoming a thought leader. Can you share five strategies that someone should follow to gain recognition as a thought leader in their industry? Please include examples or stories from your own experience for each strategy.
1. Forge Your Own Path When a Path Isn’t Clear: In a historic industry, working for a public housing authority as a fellow, I read the strategic plan of our organization and made a name for myself by prioritizing emerging focuses. By doing this within larger organizations, you can gain recognition from the executive team relatively quickly and forge your own path. President Obama developed the ConnectHome Initiative to prioritize connecting public housing residents to the internet, but there was no framework for how to do that. I took the initiative to develop one that worked for our community.
2. Don’t Ask for Permission to Be Disruptive: When I saw an emerging priority within the housing authority and identified a unique opportunity to collaborate with an established brand, I seized it. This collaboration allowed us to build something that exceeded all expectations and highlighted Cleveland’s innovative potential.
3. Be Bold: In Detroit, when I was called to testify before Congress on digital equity, it was terrifying, especially knowing it would be televised on C-SPAN. All the work I had been doing led up to this point. I could have said no, but I embraced the opportunity despite my self-doubt. The boldness came from believing in myself even when I was called to perform at the highest level. The architecture we discussed at the hearing is the same architecture we see today.
4. Fight for What’s Right: In Detroit, one neighborhood faced a 45-day internet outage. At the time, we had relationships with large corporations, and one of them was responsible for providing the service to this neighborhood. I publicly called out our partners, facilitated public hearings, and the issue drew national attention. Despite counter-lobbying and relentless attacks from the responsible party, this effort led to greater digital equity investments in the city. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice whatever you think you have for the greater good.
5. Surround Yourself with Incredible People: Being a thought leader is not done alone. You become a thought leader because everyone is giving you their inertia and their best to allow you to become that person. Surrounding myself with talented individuals who care deeply and share in the mission has been crucial. Their support and collaboration enable me to excel as a thought leader, especially as we build a first-of-its-kind community-based network here at DigitalC in Cleveland.
You can hear more about these five strategies in this video.
How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization, and what practices have you found most effective in encouraging creative thinking among your team?
I foster a culture of innovation by relentlessly modeling it. By constantly searching for, finding, and learning from examples, I encourage our team to do the same. I create a culture of “yes, and” instead of “no” to explore possibilities beyond our current thinking. Incorporating as many voices as possible into our discussions and gathering feedback, even from those who are not experts in the topic, is important. Recognizing people for their broader capabilities allows us to innovate at all levels. You are not limited to your function; you are a human with thoughts well beyond your role. I do not limit people when it comes to creative thinking.
Who do you think is an outstanding example of a thought leader? What specific qualities impress you about this person?
I must go with David Stewart. David is one of the wealthiest Black men in the world, and he built World Wide Technology based on the principles of the Bible. His book, “Doing Business by the Good Book,” exemplifies how he maintains his principles while leading a successful technology company. This approach allows him to foster a culture of innovation and motivation within his team. I have met members of his team, and they genuinely love what they do, inspired by his leadership. David is never afraid of big moments and exudes confidence in his team. His ventures have even expanded to include a racetrack, demonstrating his limitless thinking. From fashion to racing to technology, he absolutely believes in his boundless potential, and this mindset of untethered execution is what makes him an unrivaled thought leader.
How do you stay informed about the latest trends and developments in your field, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into your strategic planning?
I have built a great network of people doing similar work at different levels; we often convene and share insights. Attending conferences regularly and reading extensively during my spare time helps me stay informed. I incorporate this knowledge into our strategic planning. I am in a perpetual state of strategizing and executing, planning based on the latest information to keep our efforts agile and ready for continuous adjustment.
Some people feel that the term “thought leader” is overused and has lost its impact. What are your thoughts on this?
While some feel the term “thought leader” is overused and has lost its impact, I believe we need them more than ever. In the age of social media and overnight success, there is a lot of mimicking of true thought leadership rather than practicing pure thought leadership. Although this makes the field seem oversaturated, we still need genuine thought leaders who can build movements for good across various sectors, whether in industry, government, or nonprofits.
How do you balance short-term business goals with long-term strategic vision, especially in a rapidly changing market?
I structure my week, weekends, and life to balance both short-term and long-term goals. For example, on the weekends, I take long walks in the woods — 7- or 8-mile hikes. On these hikes, I think about the longer-term vision. Often, I hike up an elevation, and at the top, I can see the whole world around me. This helps me clear my mind and focus on the five to ten-year vision, seeing the bigger picture. During the week, I prioritize execution on a short-term level.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? How has it been relevant in your life?
My mentor tells me this often: “Just because the game is rigged doesn’t mean you can’t win.” This has been relevant in my life because, in virtually every environment I have worked in, I have seen how the game can be rigged against the underdog. It does not mean that you cannot win. It means you just have to find a better way to win.
Many influential figures in business and entertainment follow this column. Is there someone you’d love to have lunch or breakfast with? They might notice if we tag them.
David Stewart and anyone interested in joining a disruptive telecommunications board.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow DigitalC’s work on social media. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at digitalc.org. I am available on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua234.
Thank you so much for your insights. This was very insightful and meaningful.
About the Interviewer: Dina Aletras boasts over 20 years of expertise in the corporate media industry. She possesses an in-depth understanding of growth, strategy, and leadership, having held significant roles at some of the UK’s largest media organizations. At Reach PLC, the UK’s largest tabloid publisher, she served in various director capacities. Additionally, she held leadership roles at The Independent Magazine Group and DMGT. Her extensive knowledge spans editorial, digital, revenue, sales, and advertising.
Upon relocating to Switzerland, Dina took on the responsibility of managing and promoting the international section of Corriere del Ticino — CdT.ch pioneering the English page “onthespot.” She also was the Co-Editor of Southern Switzerland’s first official Italian and English bilingual magazine.
