Resource Directory
Background & Experience

Diane DiResta is a Crenshaw Coach specializing in executive communications with close to 30 years of experience preparing senior executives for strategic conversations and presentations.  Diane supports leaders who must deliver their best in high stakes presentations, including one-on-ones, senior-level job interviews, board meetings, and platform presentations delivered to thousands live and online.  
 
Previously, Diane held communications training and management development roles at Salomon Brothers and Drexel Burnham Lambert. Her expertise in communications is grounded in her earlier background as a Licensed Speech Pathologist and her experience at the New York City Board of Education diagnosing and treating children with speech and language disorders.  
 
Diane has a unique ability to get to the core of the message and partner with highly accomplished executives to translate complexity into simplicity.  She specializes in building “communications confidence,” through messaging that conveys a stronger level of gravitas and a more polished executive presence. Through video, role play, body language assessment, and tools/prompts for streamlining communications, Diane helps her clients “declutter” their messaging, showcase their expertise, influence key stakeholders with persuasive talking points, and project a professional and authentic image that is more aligned with their company’s goals and values.  
 
She’s coached clients on strategies for delivering mission-critical presentations that resulted in millions of dollars in new program/product funding and improvements in investor relations leading to higher analyst ratings and boosts in stock prices. She’s helped brand marketing executives infuse energy into product pitches and fueled the transformation of undistinguished sales teams into rock stars. Diane marries the science of speech and language and their role in communications with practical applications for executives that contribute to their ongoing success and upward mobility. 

Industry/Business Segment Expertise

Financial services, Healthcare, Sports & Entertainment

Functional Expertise

Executive Presence, Presentation Skills, Communication, Media Training

Companies Worked For

The Executive Technique, Salomon Brothers, Drexel Burnham, NYC Board of Education
Adjunct faculty: St Joseph’s College, NYU

Education

MS, Speech Pathology, Columbia University Teachers College
BA, Speech, Brooklyn College

Certifications

CSP Certified Speaking Professional
CCC Certificate in Clinical Competence Speech Pathology
NYS License Speech Pathology
Certificate Neurolinguistic Programming/ Eriksonian Hypnosis
Certificate CoachU

Publications

Books: Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power Punch and Pizzazz 3rd edition Morgan James Publishing
Ebook: Give Fear the Finger: Knockout Fear of Public Speaking
Forbescom: Selling g to the C-Suite
Quoted in Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Investors Business Daily, The London Guardian and others

Speaking Engagements

Appeared on CNN
Financial Executives International –Influential Leadership: Transform Communication into Massive ROI, How to Give a Knockout Presentation
Met Life, Northern Trust, Time Warner Cable: Creating Confidence: 10 Ways Women Sabotage Communication in the Workplace
AMA: Executive Presence for Women, Leadership Skills for Women

Recognitions/Awards

Louis K Miller Award for Business Leadership Staten Island, NY
Golden Mic Award National Speakers Association NYC chapter

Board Appointments

Past President NYC chapter, NSA, Member of the Year, Membership Chair, Speaker University Chair
Former board member: NY Center for Interpersonal Development Staten Island NY
Former Advisory board member: Enterprising Women magazine

Fun Fact

Grew up in a military family and attended 8 elementary schools.