D.M. de Vries PhD (Deanne)

Most kids outgrow asking “why?” Me? I never did. As a kid, you would find me reading the World Book Encyclopedia searching for answers, country borders and cool facts. I was (and still am) insatiably curious and inquisitive.

A natural storyteller, I weave 35+ years of rich experiences from the corporate and non-profit worlds as I bring business, leadership, politics, and culture to life for my students from undergraduates to executives.

 My journey is as global as my passions—16 years working across Africa, 8 in the Middle East, 6 in Europe, 5 in North America, and one in Asia—bridging continents, disciplines, and ideas to create meaningful impact and clarity out of chaos.

I have also written multiple books on my interviews with Heads of State across Africa on political leadership, about the lessons I’ve learned about doing business across Africa; on resilience; and on the importance of aligning corporate missions and visions with local cultures.

Whether in the boardroom, the classroom, or on the stage, My desire is to spark curiosity, growth and conversation.

Organisations

De Vries, D. Dr. (2023). The Key to Global Growth: Reframing Resilience through the Lens of Culture and Context in Kosberg, R. (Ed) Expert Resilience: How Entrepreneurs Are Leading the Future in Mind, Mastery, and Meaning. Los Angeles, CA: Best Seller Publishing. 

De Vries, D. Dr. (2022, December). Africa: Reframing Political Leadership. Los Angeles, CA: Best Seller Publishing. 

De Vries, D. Dr. (2022, January). Africa: Open for Business. Los Angeles, CA: Best Seller Publishing.

De Vries, D. M. (2012). The Role of Culture and History in the Applicability of Western Leadership Theories in Africa in Barbour, J. D., Burgess, G. J., Falkman, L. L. & McManus, R. M. (Eds) Leading in Complex Worlds (pp. 209–226). A Volume in the International Leadership Association “Building Leadership Bridges” Series. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

PhD Organizational Leadership
Eastern University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Dissertation: How Heads of State in Africa Lead: A New Theory of Political Leadership

MBA International Management
Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, Glendale, AZ, USA
Thesis: The Role of Culture in Explaining the Dearth of Successful M&As

BA International Business, BA Business Management, Minors in French and German 
Central University of Iowa; Pella, IA, USA

Website:      www.drdeannedevries.com

Organisations