Summary of Diane Devaney’s leadership interview
- Leadership Mentor/Role Model: Beth and Fritz Satran, who were her clients and helped her start her company 32 years ago. Their vision and courage to support a young entrepreneur made them her first mentors, and she continues to look up to them.
- Surprise About the Leadership Role: Diane was surprised by how much she has grown into her leadership role. Taking time to invest in her development has led to the company’s best year ever.
- Biggest Leadership Lesson Learned: Diane’s biggest lesson is the importance of investing in oneself and joining a peer group like Vistage. She believes that joining such a group earlier in her career could have led to earlier success.
- Best Leadership Decision: Her best leadership decision was joining Vistage, which has surrounded her with smart people, fostered accountability, and contributed to the company’s success in the last two years.
- Worst Business Decision: Diane regrets being too busy working in the business instead of on the business, especially in terms of building the foundation for succession planning. This realization came too late, and she now prioritizes creating a sustainable structure for the company’s future.
- Excitement About the Future: Diane is excited by the ever-evolving nature of advertising, marketing, and PR. The introduction of new tools, like AI, and how they continuously change the agency’s landscape makes the future thrilling for her.
- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Diane advises aspiring entrepreneurs to find a mentor early on and get involved in peer groups, boards, and mastermind groups. She emphasizes investing time into building a solid foundation for the business.