Michelle Diamond
Founder & CEO, Elevate Diamond Strategy
Michelle Diamond
Founder & CEO, Elevate Diamond Strategy
Biography
Michelle Diamond, CEO of Elevate Diamond Strategy, a growth strategy and execution advisory and interim executive firm recognized by Forbes NEXT 1000, Entrepreneur Magazine, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, Inc, Los Angeles Business Journal, and other leading publications, has 25+ years’ strategy, general management, marketing, finance, go-to-market, audit, M&A, and operations experience.
The author of the book, 10-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Growth Strategy For Your Company: The Secret To Unlocking The Mystery Of Achieving And Sustaining Profitable Growth, Michelle’s ability to motivate, teach, and inspire audiences through the use of memorable storytelling and humor based on her business and personal experiences, has propelled audiences to elevate and shift their mindsets, and take the right actions to both overcome growth and personal challenges as well as achieve growth goals in their respective organizations and the world.
Michelle utilizes her dynamic and unique perspective, along with her diverse domestic and global experience, to promote the acceleration of both the right mindsets and technical and analytical acumen (business acumen) to successfully develop and execute growth strategies, regardless of the current situation (growing rapidly, losing money, stagnant, competitive threats, etc.) or the economic environment, in a way that makes the complex easy to understand. She has strong expertise in helping high growth companies scale, scenario planning, and in developing, evaluating, and implementing diverse, yet innovative growth strategies, strategic plans, and go-to-market initiatives for acceleration and long-term value creation, leading mergers and acquisitions (pre and post), identifying where to invest and then capitalizing on market opportunities through competitive advantage and differentiation, and in turnarounds/restructuring to optimize costs and overall profitability.
Michelle is an expert, executive, and entrepreneur who has worked on Board and C-Suite issues for 65 domestic and global companies ranging from startup, early/growth stage, small/mid-cap, private equity/venture capital, to Fortune 50 in 31+ industries including CIGNA, Colgate-Palmolive, Elsevier, MetLife, Daimler, DEKRA, NRG, and Club Med.
Her industry experience includes Automotive, Broadcasting (Television & Radio), Cable, Chemical, Consulting, Consumer Products, Dental, Distribution, Education, Electronics Distribution, Energy, Event, Financial Services, Food, Government, Health Insurance, Human Resources, Insurance, Medical Device, Music, Nonprofit, Packaging, Pharmaceutical Distribution, Printing, Private Equity/ Venture Capital, Professional Services, Publishing, Renewable Energy, Retail, Software, Technology, Travel, and Vision.
Prior to Elevate Diamond Strategy, Michelle worked for CIGNA, where she was the creator and Head, Competitive Intelligence for the $1B+ Group Insurance Division. Prior to that role, Michelle oversaw CIGNA’s $20M Printing & Distribution business (100+ employees), was Manager of Strategy for Accenture, and in Mergers & Acquisitions and Assurance Advisory and Business Services at Ernst & Young LLP. She also held various financial roles at Colgate Palmolive Company and Citibank, and was selected for Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble camps.
Michelle holds an MBA from Duke University, a BS from Morgan State University (Summa Cum Laude), and attended Wharton Executive Education. She is also a nonpracticing Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Michelle is a former Board President and has led efforts and volunteered for the United Way, March of Dimes, Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Habitat for Humanity. She was a speaker and facilitator for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), Year Up, INROADS, Renaissance Executive Forums, EY, Constellation Energy, Elsevier, Orbit Commerce, and other leading companies and organizations, a frequent podcast guest, winning game show contestant, and growth expert on radio shows Accelerating Your Business™ (creator and host), Executive Leaders Radio, and The Marketing of Business.
Michelle currently resides in Beverly Hills, and enjoys sports, dance, entertaining, and travel.
Speaker Videos
Growth Strategy Development
Growth Strategy Execution
Goals
Speech Topics
MINDSET: THE REAL GO/NO GO WHEN DEVELOPING & EXECUTING YOUR GROWTH STRATEGY™
Mindset. The foundational key to success in both business and life. Many have heard the terms fixed vs. growth mindset, and how that can impact organizations. However, there are multiple types and layers of mindsets that many leaders and executives have that can make the difference between success and failure, when it comes to both developing and executing the right growth strategies for your organizations.
Using her dynamic and unique perspective through the use of memorable storytelling and humor, while also drawing on examples from past clients and companies in her book, 10-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Growth Strategy For Your Company: The Secret To Unlocking The Mystery Of Achieving And Sustaining Profitable Growth, Michelle will motivate, engage, and challenge audiences to ‘think and act differently’, while also providing practical and actionable insights that can be implemented right away.
WANT TO REMOVE ROADBLOCKS TO STRATEGY? – CHANGE YOUR MINDSET™
Roadblocks can be both internal and external. Many well thought out growth strategies and plans go nowhere, due to these roadblocks (which can be both seen and unseen). Growth strategy development, planning, and execution has oftentimes been taught and created from a primarily analytical point of view.
During this keynote, Michelle will share real world and real life examples from some of her past clients and companies mentioned in her book, 10-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Growth Strategy For Your Company: The Secret To Unlocking The Mystery Of Achieving And Sustaining Profitable Growth, and have audiences blown away and mesmerized by how some of the biggest roadblocks were eliminated using the simplest and smallest shifts in both mindset and action that resulted in achieving growth goals, solving growth problems, and turning around numerous organizations – and how they can do the same.
DON’T BLAME THE PERSON, FIX THE PROCESS!™
“Fire him.” “Move her.” “We have to get the right people in the right seats.” While sometimes doing these things will give you the results you want and need to move your organization forward, it’s not always the case.
Using unique and relatable examples, this keynote program will engage, enable, and empower audiences to know what questions to ask and learn the difference between whether or not the REAL growth problem can be solved or growth opportunities can be achieved by changing the people, or if the underlying process (or root cause) is what truly needs to be fixed.
MOVING FROM BOOTSTRAPPING TO GROWTH STAGE: HOW TO GO FROM ‘GUN SLINGING EVERYTHING’ TO HAVING A REAL FOUNDATIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY TO SCALE™
The same way we grow from being a child, adolescent, and then an adult, we also grow as a business. When you are starting out or at a certain level, getting whatever sales you can through referrals, networking, relationships, or happenstance (“bootstrapping”) works. However, when you decide it is time to go the next level, and want to grow ‘like the big boys do’, you have to do things differently.
During this keynote, Michelle will share real world and real life examples from some of her past clients and companies mentioned in her book, 10-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Growth Strategy For Your Company: The Secret To Unlocking The Mystery Of Achieving And Sustaining Profitable Growth, to have audiences be inspired and take action based on practical tools and the mental and emotional shifts needed to go to the next level and scale to limitless new heights and beyond!
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE GOAL (MOTIVATIONAL/INSPIRATIONAL)
This motivational and inspirational keynote takes audience members through my personal journey of being on my own since the age of 16, healing myself of fibromyalgia, my career journey and business accomplishments thus far, mistakes made, and lessons learned. Stories of how to overcome obstacles, persevere, and achieve success both personally and professionally will be shared and tailored to audience demographics and makeup.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RESULTS & A VALUE BASED MINDSET VS. PROCESS NORMS (AND HOW TO CHANGE TO MAKE YOU & YOUR COMPANY THRIVE)
This program teaches CEOs, executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs how to identify if "process" and "mental and traditional norms" are what they and their employees believe is value vs. what is actually the case in practice. Real world and business examples will be discussed to change and ‘up level’ thinking and show how this will accelerate top-line driven profitable growth. Can be delivered via keynote motivational/inspirational speech or via live seminar/webinar, workshop, or facilitated training (includes interactive activities and live Q&A throughout the session).
WHAT MICHAEL JORDAN CAN TEACH US ABOUT WORKING THROUGH A CRISIS & BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS
This program teaches how learning from a crisis, defeats, and setbacks, and implementing the right tools and mindsets can set leaders and their teams up for repeatable and sustainable success.
THE ROLE OF MINDSET IN DEVELOPING & EXECUTING YOUR GROWTH STRATEGY
This program teaches overall learnings from case studies of companies from small businesses, startups, middle market, to Fortune 50, on how the wrong mindsets created stagnant growth and caused companies to lose money vs. how the right positive mindsets created successful turnarounds and accelerated growth (regardless of the economy). Emphasis will be placed on the mental and emotional aspects of creating and executing a successful growth strategy for your company. Can be delivered via keynote motivational/inspirational speech or via live seminar/webinar, workshop, or facilitated training (includes interactive activities and live Q&A throughout the session).
EFFECTIVE GROWTH STRATEGIES: HOW TO GROW THE TOP LINE WITH THE BOTTOM LINE IN MIND
This program teaches how to develop and execute growth strategies that drive both top line revenue (based on how to increase revenue by targeting and adding value to the RIGHT customers) and overall profitability in a way that is holistic (encompassing internal and external opportunities, ensuring initiatives are “outside-in”, and utilizing techniques to go from idea stage to implementable strategies and plans). Audience members will also learn unique ways to ‘open up their thinking’, take their businesses and companies to the next level or out of stagnant growth and piecemeal mode, and prioritize initiatives in a way the is simple and easy to understand. The Top 10 practices that achieve and sustain growth and the Top 10 practices that prohibit the achievement and/or sustainability of growth will also be discussed. Live facilitated training includes interactive activities and live Q&A throughout the session.
HOW TO IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE, & CAPITALIZE ON GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN A TIME OF FEAST OR FAMINE (STAGNATION OR EXPANSION)
Finding growth opportunities in today’s market will require different skill sets and ways of thinking that will take many CEOs and executives out of their comfort zones. Certain markets will continue to shift, and others will go away. This program will teach how to identify, prioritize, and capitalize on opportunities to maximize revenue and overall profitability, regardless of the ups and downs of the economy.
HOW TO GAIN A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE BY ‘GETTING INTO THE MINDS OF YOUR COMPETITORS’
Many CEOs and business owners who are serious about growing and reaching the next level do not have a good grasp on the new and ever changing competitive and external environment - essentially leaving $$$ on the table. Having in-depth knowledge and a thorough understanding of your competitors on an ongoing basis, is essential to your strategy refresh process, overall operations, and your ability to achieve and sustain profitable growth. This program will teach attendees how to build a competitive intelligence organization in-house to help achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. Can be delivered via keynote motivational/inspirational speech or via live seminar/webinar, workshop, or facilitated training (includes interactive activities and live Q&A throughout the session).
MARKET ENTRY & PENETRATION STRATEGY (HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY & ENTER NEW MARKETS)
This program is designed to teach CEOs, executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs, how to successfully identify, select, and enter the RIGHT new markets profitably, as well as how to further penetrate their existing markets – locally, nationally, and/or internationally.
Attendees will learn how to identify new markets to enter, the process for choosing when and how to enter, exit, or expand, how to weigh opportunity costs, and how to do so profitably in a way that is easy for them to follow, implement, and understand. Live facilitated speech or training includes interactive activities and live Q&A throughout the session.