Resilient. Powerful. Inspiring. Those are just a few words that I’d use to describe President and Founder of Corporate Class Inc. Diane Craig.
Featured in this installment of Interviews with Influential Women, Diane and I discuss just how she achieved monumental success for herself and her company amid constant personal tragedy.
In 200 words or less, please give my readers a short background on your personal journey that brought you to today.
One day, I was driving, and I saw a sign that read: “It took 20 years for this man to become an overnight success.”
I wish it had read 10 years, because I guess I took it literally. For the next 20 years, I was compelled to relentlessly pursue my dream and goal of growing my business.
I always had a passion for meeting people with great presence. After graduating from my fashion design program and teaching Haute Couture, I became an image consultant in our nation’s capital, Ottawa. In the 90’s, my claim to fame was working with Canadian political leaders. Not long after, I realized that appearance was only a part of what presence is all about. Content is still King/Queen.
I began studying what it meant to bring presence to each speech, conversation or room. In 2007, I launched my Executive Presence System, and it is now internationally recognized—including a licensing program launched internationally 2 years ago.
Who are your top 3 female role models, and what about each inspires you?
Christine Lagarde: As one of Europe’s most influential ambassadors in the world of international finance, she exudes Executive Presence. She is intelligent, well spoken, worldly, sophisticated and an inspiration to many women who believe reaching the top in a male dominated industry is nearly impossible.
Carolyn Wilkins: According to The Wall Street Journal, she is today’s most influential woman in Canada’s banking industry, not to mention the first woman to grace our currency. When I met Carolyn in 2010, she shared her aspirations with me, and we both agree that she exceeded them! She was able to reach this success, while remaining humble and kind.
Peggy McColl: She is a long-time friend and fearless entrepreneur. Over the years, she has overcome so many obstacles. The drive and passion put into what she believes in has always been an inspiration to me.
What challenge (s) did you face & overcome to get to where you are?
There were professional challenges but none as difficult as the personal ones. A year after I started my business, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and died 3 months later. We had been married 17 years. I was now a grieving single parent of two wonderful children, Kenny 12 and Sandrine 7. Four years later, my beautiful little girl Sandrine, at the age of 11, was killed in a school bus accident.
Overcoming those tragedies and finding the motivation to continue facing the challenges of owning my own business seemed insurmountable at times. My husband and daughter became my inspiration for forging ahead, and my son became my motivation. I wanted to provide financially and be a role model for him.
What are the 3 most important things you do (or did) that contribute to your success?
- Seeing the glass half full
- Taking risks
- Believing in myself
What are the 3 most important things women need to do or consider when charting their next chapter of life, whenever that may be for them?
- Make time for yourself (yes, be selfish – go to the gym, frequent the spa, visit your friends)
- Continue learning (keep growing your professional and personal development activities)
- Remain current and relevant
Diane Craig is the corporate world’s choice for Executive Presence Training.
As President and Founder of Corporate Class Inc., Diane’s ongoing 30-year career mentoring North America’s business professionals spans Fortune 500 companies, multinationals and numerous educational institutions.
She maintains an intensive schedule of presentations and is a frequent speaker at national business meetings and conferences. The media seek out Diane’s perspectives on social, political and business etiquette — from conduct issues and appropriate attire to body language interpretation. She is frequently quoted in The Globe and Mail and National Post and appears regularly on CBC and CTV.
Diane is dedicated to community service. She serves as a Board Member for the Trillium Gift of Life Network, the provincial organization responsible for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Diane is on the Board of Directors at Intriciti, an organization committed to the integration of faith and business.
Frequently heralded for her inspirational role in leadership, Diane is the recipient of many awards including the Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal; Canadian Living Magazine and Avon Canada’s Women of Inspiration Award; Toastmaster International’s Communication and Leadership Award.