Meet Diane Gardner, a three-time Leadership Coach for BravenX! As a self-employed Board Director and CFO Advisor, Diane brings deep leadership experience working with global teams. After a recent career transition, she began looking for meaningful ways to volunteer with college students, and when she saw a LinkedIn post about Braven, the mission resonated with her immediately.
“As a first-generation college student myself, I remember trying to navigate so many ‘new’ things,” she shares. “Braven is a great way to provide students with support so they’re not going through it alone.”
This personal connection shapes how Diane shows up as a Leadership Coach. She’s intentional about giving Fellows an honest perspective on their career journeys: “Being open and honest about the hurdles, mistakes I’ve made along the way, and the unexpected detours I’ve faced is consistent with my personal and professional values of honesty, authenticity, and transparency.”
One of the most meaningful parts of her experience has been watching Fellows grow, especially during the Capstone Challenge. “This project gives Fellows a chance to pick a role that fits with their skills and interests, and I’ve seen so many students really shine in that arena.”
Volunteering with Braven has also influenced how Diane thinks about leadership. “I’ve learned (or re-learned!) the value of listening over talking, and the value of leading and coaching a team to a successful outcome versus making the decisions myself.” It reinforced her belief that different experiences and perspectives are incredibly valuable in the workplace—and that leadership is about creating space for others to thrive.
She advises Fellows to bring their authentic selves to work: “Sometimes that can be hard in a new workplace, but know your core values and who you are deep down, and let those things shine!”
Diane leaves us with this mantra: “People may be afraid of change, but everyone wants to make progress. Sometimes small changes can have big results! And sometimes if you try to change everything at once, you can lose sight of what you are trying to accomplish.”
Thank you, Diane, for leading with honesty, perspective, and heart.
