Lhadon Tethong is the co-founder and director of Tibet Action Institute, where she leads a team of technologists, researchers and rights advocates developing strategies and innovative training, education, and technology programs for Tibetans and others living under extreme repression. She was awarded the first annual James Lawson Award for Nonviolent Achievement by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict in 2011 and accepted the Democracy Award from the National Endowment for Democracy on behalf of Tibet Action Institute in 2018.