Why do I coach?

I coach because throughout my 20+ years leading product teams, I discovered that the best leaders didn't come with all the answers. Instead they led by asking the right questions and creating space for people to explore and experiment. Early in my career, I would jump in to solve problems. I was the "fixer", the person who could navigate and get s**t done through sheer will. When I became a leader, this approach didn't translate. My team was waiting for me to answer questions instead of developing their own product muscles. We'd hit our metrics, my teams wasn't growing their expertise. At that time, I started working with a coach. She helped me to change from "Diana has the answer" to "What do you think?" My teams became more innovative, confident, and resilient. I became a new leader, and my team noticed too. That's when I started to realize my next career was in coaching. Team members thanked me for pushing them to grow. Former team members reached out and shared, "You didn't just help me become a better product manager. You helped me become a better version of me. That's why I coach. Because I love helping to launch people even more than launching products. Now more then ever, coaching helps humans hone in on the unique characteristics which are necessary to succeed personally and professional in an AI driven world. Every coaching conversation is an act of faith in human potential. And after two decades in product leadership, I know that when we invest in developing people, everything else—the products, the metrics, the culture—elevates as a result.

Work Experience

Head of Product & Coaching

C\R Strategy Partners

January 2025 - Present

At C/R Strategy Partners, we help organizations break through barriers to innovation, growth, and digital transformation. Our proprietary AI-powered methodologies and strategic frameworks are designed to: -Align Leadership & Strategy: Unite executives around a clear vision, ensuring agility in uncertain markets. -Accelerate Innovation Cycles: Pinpoint challenges using INSI (Innovation Navigation Styles Inventory) and fast-track solutions with IOP (Innovation Operating Principles). -Build Customer-Centric Products: Transform customer insights into market-leading products and services. What Sets Us Apart AI & Industry Expertise: Decades of experience with leaders like Apple, Dell, Google, and Disney. Proven Results: 85% success rate in accelerating growth, product launches, and digital transformation for 100+ major brands (Disney, Chegg, Select Medical, Smithsonian, etc.). Cross-Sector Impact: Partnerships spanning healthcare, technology, education, media and beyond. Core Services -AI-Driven Innovation -Digital Transformation -Product & Growth Strategy -Leadership Alignment & Development -Organizational Change Management

Coach

Tandem

November 2024 - Present

Tandem works with Seed to Series C startup talent. Tandem helps individuals fast track their learning, feel less alone, and operate like an expert even when they're new to the job. Coaching, Executive Coaching and +1 skill

Advisor

Wizly

July 2024 - Present

Wizly (https://www.askwizly.ai/) is an AI-powered people knowledge platform where expertise is shared, monetized, and valued. With Wizly, you can access the network’s knowledge base through proprietary AI technology to solve your hardest go-to-market challenges, while gaining unique access to a trusted community of top-industry talent in our referrals-only network. Product Consulting, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and +5 skills

Moderator

Psychological Safety by Iterum

May 2024 - Present

The mission of Psych Safety is to make the world of work a safer, higher performing, more inclusive and equitable place. Main aim as a moderator is to keep the community active, engaging and safe. Community Development, Community Outreach and +3 skills

Co-Founder, Product

Product Gold

March 2024 - Present

At Product Gold, we elevate product leaders by focusing on the often-overlooked soft skills and networking abilities that complement technical expertise. Our holistic approach develops well-rounded product managers, equipping them with the intangible assets that drive career growth and industry influence Public Speaking, Product Consulting and +17 skills

Product Advisor &Leadership Coach

Diana Stepner Coaching & Consulting

December 2022 - Present

With over 20 years of experience as a product leader and coach, I bring a unique blend of hands-on expertise and strategic practices to foster self-awareness and translate insights into action. My focus is on coaching product managers and technology leaders to navigate transitions, team dynamics and organizational change. Known for my intuition and thoughtfulness, I enable individuals to stretch beyond their existing comfort zones. My coaching philosophy emphasizes achieving tangible outcomes amid change, helping clients build resilient, innovative, and collaborative teams. When partnering with startups and established teams, I apply my extensive product leadership and management experience to provide personalized growth strategies that empower clients and their teams to emerge stronger, happier, and more prepared for whatever the future holds. Public Speaking, Innovation Development and +20 skills

Education

UC Berkeley, iSchool

Master's degree, Information Management Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Human Computer Interaction

College of Executive Coaching

Individual and Executive Coaching

Comprehensive executive post-graduate coach training for professionals transitioning to coaching who hold graduate degrees. Sophisticated, individualized leadership development for executives. Business Coaching, Organizational Leadership and +2 skills

Boston University Questrom School of Business

MBA, Business

University of California, San Diego

BA, Communications