With both French and American citizenship, Camille Kathleen Sumner has spent her career building bridges between communities and leading the support of social and intercultural projects all over the world.
After receiving a masters in international relations from Tulane University and a masters in international cooperation from Lyon II University in France, Camille became Cooperation Manager for the French Embassy in Togo, Africa, where she managed scientific and social partnerships between the two countries. She then became International Project Manager for the School of INSA LYON to design and lead innovative training programs for foreign students.
Her passion for supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and international partnerships led her to become International Manager of the life science cluster for France’s EUROBIOMED where she boosted the start-up’s internationalization as well as attracted entrepreneurs and investors in the French territory.
She secured over $1 Million in European funds and 1 Million $ of public investment for the creation of a major European start-up’s accelerator and signed major investment partnerships with international clusters and companies.
Most recently, she exercised her social entrepreneurial mindset in West Africa as Business Developer for the European company TESS GEIE, launching and managing social enterprises focused on second-hand clothing recycling and supporting local cooperatives and nonprofits.
Camille’s genuine love for New Orleans brought her back to the city this year to finally call it home and she can think of no greater way to express this love than through being a part of YLC, one of its most vibrant, lively and inclusive organizations.