On Saturday, May 19, 2012, Dr. Landry Signé was bestowed the Outstanding Visionary Leadership Award by The African Network (TAN), a Silicon Valley based global non-profit organization aiming to foster entrepreneurship and technology among people of African descent and provide a support structure and network for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and community leaders worldwide.
The award was presented to Dr. Signé during the 2012 TAN Conference on Africa: Seizing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in recognition of his pioneering role in promoting entrepreneurial opportunities, accountable governance and economic development for Africa in the Silicon Valley and North America. Leading entrepreneurs, executives, and distinguished speakers were featured at the conference including Teresa Clark, Chairman and CEO of Africa.com LLC and former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs; Paul Rice, President and CEO of Fair Trade USA, Inc.; Bridgette Sexton, Global Entrepreneurship Manager at Google; Fred Jordan, Founder and Chairman of the Africa Opportunity Fund; and the Honorable Teresa D. Cox, Trade Adviser at the US Department of Trade and Commerce formerly employed at the White House.
Dr. Signé is a Banting fellow at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University, and lecturer at the Stanford University Continuing Studies, where he initiated and designed the first business course focusing on African economic opportunities entitled Emerging African Markets: Effective Business Development Strategies, Investments and Government Affairs. In this course, he provided Silicon Valley executives, managers, professionals and Stanford students with concrete tools to master African business etiquette and protocols; identify and transform highly profitable opportunities into superior results; and develop customer acquisition and effective business strategies. The course also provided an opportunity to invite prominent experts, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists to share their rich experiences with students. He also contributes to public debates on African economic opportunities, democratic governance, as well as peace and security for development and prosperity. Promoting Africa as a golden opportunity for entrepreneurial activities, he recently presented at the Commonwealth Club of California, the nation’s oldest and largest public affairs forum. He has been published or quoted in the New York Times, Reuters, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Afrik-News, the Council for a Community of Democracies, and has given lectures in Europe, Africa, Canada, and the US. He studied political science, international relations, communication, and business, and has received numerous grants, honors and distinctions including the Award for Best International Ph.D. Dissertation, and the REPAF Jury’s Favorite Award for Vision and Inspiration. At the CDDRL, he is currently working on a book analyzing the evolution of Sub-Saharan African economies, political regimes and governance in the 21st century.
Dr. Signé also has experience in organizations such as the United Nations Association of Canada-Montreal, the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, the Senate of France, the National Assembly of Cameroon, Axcentis International Inc, the Casino Group, the Political Commission of Montreal, and several universities.
After receiving the award, Dr. Signé said: “I am amazed by your generosity.” He thanked the TAN leadership and President and CEO Pascal Iwuh for their great work in enhancing the presence of Africa, and encouraged further initiatives “to train and empower emerging African entrepreneurs and policy leaders, and promote entrepreneurship, economic growth, business/market-friendly policies, poverty alleviation and sustainable development”.
