About Strategic Leadership Academy
The Strategic Leadership Academy provides an array of coaching and consulting services to help individuals and organizations. Our services lend themselves well to individuals and organizations seeking a practical and time-focused solution to leadership development, career growth, and organizational development initiatives.
At the Strategic Leadership Academy our goals are simple:
- Strengthen business leaders to optimize their talents
- Increase an entrepreneur’s ability to grow a business
- Help organizations operate with strong open communication, well-managed conflict, and a great culture
Our coaching and consulting services are designed to be functional and realistic.
With a focus on practical and powerful learning experiences, SLA equips clients with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to become accomplished leaders, to manage their careers and businesses with focus and energy, and to move organizations forward.
We offer in-person and virtual platforms to suit your needs and time constraints.
We are well-matched with individuals and organizations who are seeking a practical understanding of what they want to accomplish and a realistic way to get there.
Diane Allen – Managing Principal
The Strategic Leadership Academy was founded by Diane Allen, a professional certified coach, organizational development consultant, and former Human Resources corporate executive. She has been operating a successful coaching and consulting practice since 2002. Diane founded the firm to offer individuals and organizations a practical hands-on approach to personal development and business growth. Her belief is that individuals thrive when they experience coaching, and organizations prosper when the culture demonstrates a high regard for developing their people.
Diane invested in her own development for many years. In her earlier coaching career, Diane was a Leadership Coach for the Ken Blanchard Companies, an organization that is renowned for its cutting-edge leadership development contributions. She received a SEED Award for her leadership development work from the Central New Jersey Women Business Owners Association and is a two-time winner of South Jersey Magazine’s Coach of the Year.
Diane holds the credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation. She earned her Master of Science in Organizational Development from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. She has served on various Boards for-profit and non-profit organizations. Her volunteer experience focuses on helping women in transition.
Joe Di Stefano – Sr. Coach/Business Consultant
Joe Di Stefano is a professional certified coach, business consultant, and trainer. Addressing customized enterprise leadership programs, 1-on-1 coaching and consulting services, Joe utilizes a practical, results-oriented, evidence-based approach, leveraged by his experience and background with corporate America.
With 30+ years of corporate consulting experience (IBM, Hitachi, Apple, and lesser-known brands) and as a professional services entrepreneur (founded and led regional consulting organization), Joe joined SLA in 2013 with the intention of transitioning to professional coaching.
With coaching as his platform, Joe’s volunteer work includes individuals seeking sustainable life changes and working with several non-profit organizations targeting first-time entrepreneurs and arts-related non-profit organizations in Philadelphia. Joe is a recipient of the Philadelphia Arts and Business Council’s Volunteer of the Year award sponsored by Comcast.
Joe currently holds the credential of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coach Federation. Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management Information Systems from Eastern University in Philadelphia. He received his Business Consulting certification from IBM through the Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.