Great leadership isn’t about a position or a title – it’s about gaining influence, establishing a vision, and bringing out the best in yourself and others. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your leadership skills or have your team grow their personal and people leadership skills, we are here to help through our executive/leadership individual and group coaching programs.
At SLA we work together with you and/or your team using evidence-based, well researched tools and strategies to unlock potential, tackle challenges, to strengthen leadership competence.
Creating a Purposeful Future for Individuals, Group, and Teams
Examples of How We Work with our Clients
We explore specific leadership challenges faced by the client. For instance:
A COO preparing for a company’s acquisition might work with a coach to identify the key cultural factors that are essential for a successful transition. Or,
A CEO may find that a shift in leadership style from primarily “telling” to “more listening” will yield better results. Or,
An IT professional may need to convey complex technical information and collaborate with a diverse non-technical audience. Coaching provides a customized plan for development.
GROUP COACHING
Through an interactive group process, we deliver Group Coaching that is tailored to the organizational and individual development needs of each organization and team. Group Coaching sessions include growth strategies that promote personal leadership development, problem solving, personal awareness, and healthy team interactions.
Group members typically learn to:
Understand the distinctions between Leading and Managing
Self-reflect on their individual style and behaviors
Manage Accountability
Create a High Trust Environment
Manage Difficult Conversations
Use a Coaching Style of Leadership
Manage Stress and Build Resilience
Through a collaborative needs assessment process, we help you identify what your leaders or teams need, and we provide an interactive and stimulating learning environment.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Diane Allen, PCC
Diane is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), credentialed by the International Coach Federation, with deep expertise in executive coaching and leadership development. She specializes in helping high-performing professionals grow into confident, credible, and influential leaders.
With a focus on executive presence, strategic communication, and emotional agility, Diane supports leaders in navigating the complexities of their roles—whether stepping into a new executive position, managing a critical transition, or striving to lead with greater clarity and authority. Her coaching enables clients to show up with authenticity, communicate with impact, and build the confidence necessary to lead in today’s dynamic business environment.
A core strength of Diane’s practice is guiding clients through high-stakes conversations – delivering feedback, resolving conflict, aligning priorities, and navigating organizational politics. She equips leaders with the mindset, language, and practical tools to handle difficult discussions with clarity and purpose, transforming tension into trust and discomfort into opportunity.
Diane has worked with individuals and teams across Fortune 1000 companies, mid-market organizations, and fast-growing startups. Her approach combines evidence-based methodologies with a deep understanding of business realities, tailored to the unique demands of each client and organization.
Clients consistently value her ability to blend strategic insight with actionable coaching. The result: measurable growth in leadership effectiveness, enhanced team dynamics, and meaningful impact across the organization.
Professional Background:
With over 25 years of business experience, Diane specializes in Organizational Development, helping companies enhance leadership effectiveness and drive cultural transformation.
She founded the Strategic Leadership Academy (SLA) 15+ years ago to provide coaching and organizational development consulting to mid-market companies. With the addition of business partner Joe Di Stefano, SLA successfully expanded its reach to serve clients in the Fortune 1000 space.
Certifications & Affiliations:
- PCC Credential – International Coaching Federation (ICF)
- DiSC certification
- Myers-Briggs Certification
- Energy Leadership Practitioners Index – IPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) and
- Adjunct Instructor – School of Corporate Solutions, Philadelphia Community College and Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Organizational Development from St. Joseph’s University.
Personal Highlights:
Diane is strongly committed to helping women from all walks of life to empower themselves personally and professionally. Several book recommendations include The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck, and the following two books that stand the test of time: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard.
Let’s work together so you can achieve personal and organizational success.
Joe Di Stefano, PCC, CVPCC
As a credentialed coach with the ICF (International Coach Federation), Joe works with executives, business owners, aspiring professionals and individuals who want to experience a break-through to strengthen their leadership skills, executive thinking, career management, & life strategies, with the focus on achieving significant sustainable growth either individually or for their organizations.
With over 35 years’ experience as a business leader, coach, and entrepreneur, Joe has a distinguished record of both individual and client successes across a myriad of industry verticals and people from all walks-of-life.
Joe’s many talents include his well-honed communication and public speaking skills which enable him to achieve results with individuals at all organizational levels or stations of life.
As a coach regardless of the individual situation, there remains a constant focus…a relentless attention to people, relationships and a personal desire to facilitate and support sustainable growth and success.
Combining the power of coaching, his affinity for people, and his life and business experience, Joe is an advocate and catalyst for his clients’ change and personal transformation.
Clients include: Executives, Business Owners, Leaders, Individual Contributors and teams with Fortune-1000, small and medium businesses, and startup organizations; as well as 1-on-1 individual relationship with people addressing personal goals.
“I have the distinct privilege of assisting people to empower themselves, to build on their strengths, while overcoming challenges and producing lasting sustainability.”….Joe D
Professional Background:
Founded, lead and guided regional consulting organization through acquisition by a national organization
Leadership positions with:
- Trigon, Viasoft, IBM, Hitachi and individual contributor with Apple
- Coaching & Mentoring, Business Consultant, High Performing Culture, Emotional Intelligence, Coach Approach Leadership, Organizational & Business Transformation, Strategic & Tactical Strategist, Relationship Management, Executive Advisor
- Certified IBM Business Consultant
- 2,300+ Coaching Hours Delivered / 240+ Clients
- Verified Coaching NPS 4.9/5 last 6+ years
Education:
- B.A. Management Information Systems, Eastern University, St. David’s, PA
- IBM Certified Business Consultant (IBM/Harvard Business School)
Certifications, Affiliations, etc.:
- PCC Coach Certification – International Coach Federation
- CVPCC Coach Certification – Coachville
- BetterUp Premier Fellow Coach
- IBM Certified Business Consultant (IBM/Harvard Business School)
- HPC Certified Consultant (High Performing Culture)
- Member, International Coach Federation
- Adjunct Instructor, Coaching Curriculum, School of Corporate Solutions, Phila. Community College
- Volunteer of the Year, Tech Connectors Program, Phila. Chamber of Commerce
Personal Highlights:
Proud husband and father of two accomplished daughters. Grateful for his family, clients, and the opportunity to do meaningful work. Recent reads include The Power of Habit and The Warmth of Other Suns
Let’s turn your leadership potential into real impact.
SUCCESS STORIES
Strengthening Leadership at a Regional Non-Profit Subsidiary
Context & Challenge
A regional CEO of a national non-profit subsidiary faced leadership challenges—specifically, indecisiveness and a reluctance to hold others accountable. This created internal confusion, low morale, and poor program implementation. While mission-driven, his leadership lacked consistency and impact. The Board, recognizing his potential, supported a year-long executive coaching engagement to address these issues.
Coaching Approach
The engagement began with staff feedback, revealing a “pleaser” leadership style. Coaching focused on building confidence, improving collaboration, handling conflict, and adopting situational leadership styles. Tools like the “Five Whys” and behavior modification strategies helped the CEO confront and shift unproductive habits.
Results
Increased Respect & Credibility: Saying “no” and setting clearer expectations boosted his standing with staff and the Board.
Better Accountability: Programs ran more effectively, with improved client outcomes.
Organizational Alignment: Clearer, more consistent messaging united teams around shared goals.
Cultural Change: A shift toward honest, blame-free communication increased engagement.
Sustainability: Regular check-ins ensured progress, with long-term behavioral changes improving satisfaction for both the leader and staff.
Leadership Transformation at a New Jersey University
Context & Challenge
SLA conducted a 12-month executive coaching engagement with a senior university leader whose behavior had prompted formal complaints. He was perceived as arrogant, dismissive, and difficult to work with—largely stemming from his overemphasis on academic credentials and lack of self-awareness. High staff turnover was compounding the issue.
Coaching Approach
Using an inquiry-based and emotionally intelligent approach, coaching focused on uncovering the client’s belief systems, emotional blind spots, and leadership behaviors. Tools included role reversals, stakeholder feedback, and guided emotional intelligence practices. Though initially defensive, the client gradually developed self-awareness and a willingness to change.
Results
Mindset Shift: He recognized that education did not make him superior to others.
Improved Empathy & Communication: Practiced intentional leadership and emotional intelligence, leading to better relationships with staff.
Rebuilding Trust: Adopted a deliberate leadership approach and began to demonstrate genuine care for his team.
Ongoing Development: Instituted regular personal reflection and semi-annual pulse surveys to maintain accountability and cultural improvement.
Contact
Let’s Connect For Your Success
We’ve worked with clients in a broad spectrum of industries from major media corporations to small and mid-size manufacturing and service businesses. We gain an understanding of your challenges, your culture, and where you need to go.
We gladly offer a complimentary session to identify how we could help.
Please click here to contact us: JoeD@strategicacad.com | 1+856-876-5260