Dr. Robin Renee Sanders, a former senior career U.S. diplomat, is currently CEO of FEEEDS & FE3DS,  LLC, which focus on Africa’s business, investment and trade strategies, particularly in the energy, aviation,  ICT, and housing sectors. As a career diplomat, she served twice as U.S. Ambassador (Republics of  Nigeria & Congo), and as Africa Director at the White House National Security Council (NSC). Over the course of her full diplomatic career, Ambassador Sanders had oversight over a combined program budget of nearly $600 million. During her time as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Republic of Congo,  Sanders managed over 1,000 American, Nigerian and Congolese employees combined, including having oversight over eight U.S. Government agencies. She worked on key issues from governance, elections,  development, education, and sensitive policy, health and security issues, to business, investment and trade on behalf of the U.S. Government (USG). In addition, with her Embassy teams, designed strategic plans; managed U.S. government interagency processes including embassy military programs; and, worked extensively with U.S. companies on a range of key sectors including energy, trade, and banking.   Sanders also served as U.S. Representative to ECOWAS and CDEAO, the West and Central Africa’s governing bodies for political, economic, and trade, and while at the NSC, she covered economic,  political, and conflict issues for Central & East Africa. As Ambassador to Congo, Dr. Sanders led the USG  team assisting Congo to resolve its international debt crisis and created, with UNDP, one of Congo’s first post-civil war internet centers for small businesses and entrepreneurs, leading to her receiving the  Medal of Honor from the country’s President. Sanders has received six State Department Superior &  Meritorious Awards, the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs Civilian Honor Award, is a member of American  Academy of Diplomacy and College of National Security Leader; and, has donated works of art to the  Smithsonian, State Department Diplomacy, Robert Morris and Hampton University museums.

 

 As CEO of FEEEDS & FE3DS, LLCs, Ambassador Sanders has received numerous awards for her advocacy  work on global issues (UN, SDGS, education, health); with US & Africa businesses, and for her scholarly  research. Her renowned book “The Rise of Africa’s Small Businesses,” has numerous acclaims and being  reviewed as a business text book at a U.S. university; her other book Legendary Uli Women, is a text book  at a Nigerian University. Sanders has a BA from Hampton University, MA & MS from Ohio University, and  doctorate in information systems from Robert Morris University (RMU), where she is a Trustee,  and also a visiting university scholar under the Rooney and CIC Wilson Fellow programs. 

 Sanders has assisted U.S. and Africa businesses, particularly SMEs, with managing a range of projects, from trade and finance/fintech, to agriculture, aviation and energy/renewables. As a scholar in data and information systems, Sanders is also a Senior Scientist for Gallup Poll; has deep expertise in public policy, strategic planning, and corporate governance; works on global issues of climate change, SDGs, ESGs, and mega trends, and provides political and economic risk analyses to several bodies. Dr. Sanders has worked extensively with the Africa private sector on trade and growth, and on policy communications having been the State Department’s first  Africa Public Diplomacy Director. She is currently a member of the USG’s Africa-Trade Advisory  Board, USTR; senior advisor to the global issues-focused international Concordia Group, and served prior as Chair of U.S. EXIM Bank’s Africa Advisory Council. Her experience with U.S. and  Africa small businesses helped them adopt approaches to strategic planning, financing, and technology uses to accelerate growth, given her certifications in content marketing, and working knowledge of AWS, blockchain, and cybersecurity issues. She is on the board advisory of three Nigerian firms (energy, renewable and ICT sectors), and RMU’s Innovation Center.