has developed a highly successful “change agent” reputation in very complex industries by employing a style uniquely her own. It’s one that views empathy, collaboration, and relationship-building as the keys to success in advancing market, cultural and social innovation.
It’s no surprise that Dianne uses the original meaning of the word “compete”—Latin for “to strive together”—to illustrate her point-of-view. She believes “soft power” that can intuit what other people are thinking and feeling is vital to forging integrated communications that connect with stakeholders and their values on all levels.
Dianne gained the underlying wisdom that informs her work and life early in her career. A classically trained jazz musician, she cultivated the art of engaged listening and improvisation, then extended them into skill sets for use in her first monumental challenge—teaching high school English and Biology to undervalued inner city youth. Here she discovered that, by respecting each individual’s unique capability, genuine, open dialogue thrived, resulting in a tight–knit community of mutual learning and cooperation.
It’s this life experience and essential value as an empath that she continues to bring to each and every communications mission and message, no matter how complex or challenging the business model or social objective.
Whether it’s a technology innovation in consumer electronics, an automated business application or a global financial services and
payments consultancy, Dianne focuses on transforming the technical or complex concept into compelling dynamics narrative that connects to key stakeholders in meaningful ways. That’s why she can assiduously educate the banking industry on one of its own initiatives as well as uncover the human story behind “engineering geeks or entrepreneur visionaries” driving start-ups or established enterprises.
Dianne has been able to find the “sweet spot” intersection that unites different business cultures and disciplines within the same company. During the major reorganization of one entertainment empire, she crafted an internal and external corporate communications mission, unifying six diverse silos into an authentic articulation of one corporate narrative—demonstrating the quintessence of teamwork.
Dianne intuited that a medical device company seeking industry credibility for a new safety innovation needed to engage on an emotional level with key stakeholders. Addressing an initial barrier to market entry, she helped envision and launch a “grass roots” blogging platform that brings together healthcare practitioners, safety advocates, and patients to share life-threatening experiences with a ubiquitous medical procedure the company is uniquely positioned to address.
At Pivotal, Dianne continues to live the credo of “doing well by doing good”. That’s why she is integrating her diverse client experience and core values with a commitment to open a new era of business innovation—driven by her conviction that through empathic striving with others, positive change in society and for the planet is possible.
(photo: Sean Douglas)
