Leslie Dianda, MBA, PMP

I attribute my success to my ability to put great teams together and keep them cohesive. I really look at the resources I put together, the team, the personality, what they can contribute, the diversification just in their backgrounds. Even my team has said that from a management perspective, I'm probably one of their best bosses because of the team that I put together and how I manage them. That's probably my most notable achievement. I'm also known for breaking down walls and silos. I really make sure that we are one team and we're working together, because our strength and our opportunities are as one. Another thing is that I have the vision to see the bigger picture. One of my bosses at one point said, wow, you really can see the forest through the trees, because I see things holistically and I can kind of foresee where things are trending or where to anticipate. I'm definitely a planner, I'm a backup plan type of manager, I always have backup plans and strategy, and I'm really great at strategizing because I can see the bigger picture, which also helps managing my team. I've been through a lot over the years, including being laid off and closing up restaurants, but you just rebuild, you get stronger every time, and hopefully smarter.

The best career advice I’ve received came from leaders and executives who saw my potential and challenged me to grow—especially in environments where I had to establish credibility and earn my voice. They pushed me to step up, speak confidently, and trust in my abilities, even when it wasn’t easy.

That experience shaped how I approach leadership today. I believe strongly in paying it forward by mentoring others and helping them build confidence, navigate complex environments, and develop their own leadership skills. It’s important to me to create the kind of support system that I had to learn to build for myself, so others can grow and succeed with guidance and encouragement.

Keep to your values and make sure that you speak up. That's probably the biggest challenge that I see, that women sometimes are afraid to speak up. Sometimes they feel like they have to make a decision that doesn't really go against their values, and I tell them, you know what, you need to stand up for your values. Speak up, make sure your voice is heard, and be confident in what you know. And if you don't know, that's okay. Ask the questions, not everyone knows everything. It's okay to make mistakes, because that's how we learn. Make sure that you have a great support group. Speak up when you feel like something is not right, and keep pushing through, because you're gonna go through those challenges where some will sit there and not take you seriously, and you just have to keep confident in what you know. Admit when you're wrong, and learn, and move on, because it's not easy out there, especially for women. I work in a very male-dominated industry, and when I was in executive roles, I always had a lot of men around the table, so I had to really make sure that my voice was heard, and I always explained why I was thinking this way. It enabled me to earn the respect. Self-doubt is probably the biggest challenge that we all have and experience, but if you feel strongly about something, just explain why. Don't ever compromise your values.

There is a tremendous opportunity right now with the rapid advancement of AI and technology. It’s an exciting time to learn, adapt, and apply new tools that can transform how we operate and deliver value. At the same time, there are challenges. The industry is still largely male-dominated at the executive level, which can mean having to work harder to ensure your voice is heard. Additionally, the complexity of managing large client programs requires strong cross-functional coordination, and the demands of the role can make it difficult to stay engaged outside of day-to-day responsibilities. Balancing all of that effectively is an ongoing challenge.

The most important values to me are maintaining work-life balance and making sure my team does the same. I believe in work-life balance, and I make sure my team also manages work-life balance. I get a little upset with them when I see them working long days as well, so I try to get them help as much as possible. I also value staying true to your values and not compromising them. I tell people to keep to their values and make sure they stand up for what they believe in. Another core value is continuous learning and growth. I want to continue to learn, especially with everything being so AI-driven and focused right now, and I want to take some more education classes in that area. I also value being a mentor and sharing my knowledge and experience with others. I do like being a mentor, and I have two of my team members that have personally asked me to mentor them, and my nieces are constantly reaching out to me about their careers and their life. I give them the time, and I think that's what helps keep them engaged too. From a personal perspective, I value family, travel, and staying healthy. I want to continue to travel, stay focused, and I think working is just going to keep me going and staying healthy and young.