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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisThe job market feels uncertain for a lot of people right now, and I’ve been having many conversations about how to stay relevant when things keep changing. I shared some of those thoughts in a recent article for BA Times—focusing on practical ways to adapt, keep learning, and stay grounded in what really matters at work. Here’s the article if you’d like to read it: https://zurl.co/9Jxo4Staying Relevant in an Uncertain Job Market - Business Analyst Articles, Webinars, Templates, JobsStaying Relevant in an Uncertain Job Market - Business Analyst Articles, Webinars, Templates, Jobs
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisA gentle Darling reminder: networking isn’t just about meeting new people, it’s about nurturing the relationships you already have. If you missed my latest article, you can read it here: https://zurl.co/m5gms Your network isn’t a numbers game — it’s a relationship practice.
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisIf staying in touch with contacts feels harder than it should, this may help. The Sustainable Follow-Up System is a free, easy-to-use guide designed to make follow-up feel manageable and natural. Download the free PDF here: https://zurl.co/6Qh32
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisAt the age of six, I received my first lesson in gambling during a family road trip from Colorado to the West Coast. While stopping in Nevada, my dad inserted $2 into a slot machine—the same amount I earned from doing chores. When nothing came out, he asked if I wanted to bet next week's allowance. I shook my head vigorously in response. This past week, while giving talks in hotels with casinos, I recalled that lesson from my dad. What’s a lesson you've learned from someone that continues to resonate with you?
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisDiane Darling, CGSP shared thisNew publications from Erin Copelan, 🔆Kim Groshek, Marie-Ange Eyoum Tagne, PhD, Yujia Zhu 朱羽佳, Ph.D, LSSMBB, Karmen Booker, Donna Mitchell, Dr. Rita Renee, and April Little. https://lnkd.in/e5gUXaWGInnovation Women Speakers In Action: March 2026 | Innovation WomenInnovation Women Speakers In Action: March 2026 | Innovation Women
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisToday's #DarlingTip is to "Spot the lone wolves" at Networking Events. When the room is crowded, I look for people who are standing alone. It's harder to integrate into a group. Besides, individual contact is best: one-on-one makes for the most effective networking. Just make sure you smile as you approach. 🤗 #socialnetworking #networking #publicspeaking #communication #networkingtips
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisDiane Darling, CGSP shared thisNew speaking engagements from Sheri K., 🔆Kim Groshek, Bobbie Carlton, Kat Polsinelli, Dr. Rita Renee, Tasha Golden, PhD, Emily Carlson, Babs Ryan, Julia Geisman, M.A., Marie-Ange Eyoum Tagne, PhD, Lisa DeAngelis, MBA, Ph.D., Orly Zeewy, MBA, Aileen Axtmayer,Kim Meninger, MBA, PCC, Barb Nangle, Chef Maria Kemp, Melissa Harrison, Ashley Ryall, and Helen Jonsen https://lnkd.in/e5gUXaWGInnovation Women Speakers In Action: March 2026 | Innovation WomenInnovation Women Speakers In Action: March 2026 | Innovation Women
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Diane Darling, CGSP shared thisSo… you’re attending a new event but unsure where to start? Here’s a #DarlingTip for you: Don't go in cold. Do a little research beforehand—get a sense of: 📍The audience 📍Key topics 📍Who might be attending Knowing more about the crowd makes conversations so much easier. What’s your go-to networking tip? #SocialNetworking #Networking #NetworkingTips #PersonalDevelopment
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Diane Darling, CGSP posted thisEver been in that awkward situation where you're getting a hug, but you really don't want one? Apparently this happened to Princess Anne and she had a good sense of humor - especially when it happened a 2nd time with the same person. https://lnkd.in/ehX-483n
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisYesterday I held my book for the first time. I've been writing it for years. Read and reread every page. There's something about the physical weight of it in your hands that hits differently. The occasion was the Equalize Startups culmination event. They purchased early copies, ordered before the official launch date, for a cohort that needed them NOW. Equalize is one of my favorite programs. They focus on women academic inventors, researchers, and scientists spinning their innovations out of universities into companies, and they do it with a specificity and intentionality that most accelerators never reach. I've been through the process of spinning out of a university and I know how isolating it is. How murky early-stage fundraising feels when every resource you find was written for someone who doesn't look like you or come from where you come from. I gave a talk during lunch and then stayed for the rest of the day. 50 founders who flew in from around the country, plus the mentors, investors, sponsors, and ecosystem partners who showed up for them. Watching people flip through the chapters and say, "this is exactly what I've been looking for and couldn't find" hit me somewhere I wasn't expecting. Multiple people said every entrepreneur should read this. I didn't even bring a Sharpie. Nearly everyone asked me to sign their copy. Early on, someone handed me one and said: "You're an author now. You should always have one with you." I hadn't fully let that sink in until yesterday. Thank you Nichole Mercier, Ph.D., and Kirsten Leute for running such a meaningful program, providing my book as a resource, and turning yesterday into an unofficial, unexpected launch day full of joy.
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisAfter 12 years as a business reporter, covering entrepreneurs who bet everything on an idea, and another 12 years in PR helping founders tell their stories when the stakes were the highest, I'm taking my own leap. Today I've launched Van Der Pool Media Strategies: a strategic communications and media training firm. ✨ Here's what makes me different: I've been on both sides of the table. As a reporter at Adweek and the Boston Business Journal, I watched executives who spoke in soundbites, able to nail company messaging and weave a great narrative—and I watched others fail. As a PR pro at Inkhouse, I helped leaders land their messages when funding, reputation, or business survival hung on a single interview. Because of my background as a reporter, I know what journalists actually want. I know what makes a story work. And I know how to prepare executives to be authentic, confident, and ready to navigate the media landscape that exists today. 📹 If you're a founder or CEO who needs a strategic communications partner who truly gets it—let's talk. 💬 I help leaders: ✅ Land their message with clarity and confidence ✅ Navigate crisis communications ✅ Block and bridge through the toughest questions ✅ Make the most of a limited window with a journalist To everyone who's ever taken the leap: I finally get it. And I'm grateful to join you. 🙌 #Entrepreneurship #MediaTraining #StrategicCommunications #PR #StartupJourney #CEOs #Journalism #ExecutiveCommunications #Leadership #EdTech #FinTech #CrisisCommunications
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Diane Darling, CGSP reacted on thisDiane Darling, CGSP reacted on thisWhen your dog's day goes from BEST DAY EVER to WTF... Yesterday Luna discovered the magic of a real bone. It was probably the most excited I have ever seen her. Huge tail wags and commitment with a touch of growling. Then her left eye started acting all weird and swelling shut. Emergency vet visit commenced immediately. A few tests and checks later. A diagnosis of Horner's eye syndrome. Followed by some jabs, medication and one very anxious dog mum wondering how a bone turned into a vet's appointment, we were sent home. Today, thankfully she seems fine and her eye looks much better. We are going back this afternoon for a follow-up, just to make sure everything is fine and nothing else is lurking under the surface. Fingers crossed. 🤞 For the foreseeable future, that was Luna's first AND last bone. 😅 --- I seriously never thought being a dog mum would be this stressful. 😩
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisAfter years building lab automation platforms, one thing kept gnawing at me: the software scientists depend on every day isn't designed for how you actually work. It forces you to think like engineers, locks your data in proprietary formats, and treats compliance as an excuse not to innovate. What if you could describe your work the way you'd explain it to a colleague, and get back a validated, export-ready workflow? That's Virgil. A patent-pending workflow authoring platform that adapts to your lab, not the other way around. With AI that continually learns your terminology and stays fully private and local. Compliant from the first draft. Standalone or embedded within your LIMS or ELN. We're seeking founding partners who want early access. https://lnkd.in/exFNPX-3
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisOur new brand is officially live — and so is our updated website. Over the past several weeks, we’ve shared a first look at LJV’s refreshed visual identity. Now, we’re excited to fully roll out the next phase: a digital presence that better reflects who we are, how we work, and where we’re headed. Our updated website was designed to create a clearer, stronger experience for clients, partners, and trade professionals looking to learn more about LJV. From our services and portfolio to our values and project approach, every detail was built to reflect the discipline, clarity, and accountability we bring to the field. This isn’t just a new look. It’s a more aligned representation of the company we’ve grown into and the standard we continue to uphold. Take a look at the new site: ljvdevelopment.com Shout out to Grey Invent Technology and fellow MITer Philips Akinyele for their hard work and amazing results on our website! #TeamLJV #BrandRefresh #ConstructionManagement #BuildingBetter #DesignBuild #FederalConstruction
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisGreetings from AONL in the windy city! He finally know how the city got its name
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisI am humbled and honored to be included among such an amazing group of women (and one man) who have helped to elevate women in the law and in society while succeeding professionally. It has been my life's privilege to be able to do the work I do, both for pay and for equality and safety for women. And, truly, I am always mindful that I stand on the shoulders of giants, women who fought in harder times so that I could do what I do. Just paying it forward!!Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisAnnouncing the 2026 NAWL Impact List! The #NAWLImpactList recognizes mid-level and senior-level lawyers who have attained a high level of professional accomplishment and have demonstrated a personal commitment to and positive impact on NAWL’s mission of advancing women in the profession or advocating for women under the law. Meet the 2026 NAWL Impact List here: https://lnkd.in/eBAN8-iE Congratulations to all the recipients! Elaina Kim Benfield (Vanguard) Bob Glaves (The Chicago Bar Foundation) Joan Haratani (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP) Ellen Holloman (Kaplan Martin LLP) Louise Ing (Dentons) Katya Jestin (Jenner & Block) Andrea Kramer (Kramer Law LLC) Julia Markley (Perkins Coie) Mary Richardson-Lowry (City of Chicago) Lourdes Rivera (Pregnancy Justice) Kalpana Srinivasan (Susman Godfrey LLP) Rebecca Williford (Disability Rights Advocates) #NAWLImpact #NAWLAward
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisI’ve been reviewing a new industry study by MMGY Travel Intelligence on the meetings landscape, and there are a few trends worth paying attention to. First, budgets are under pressure. This is no surprise to most of you. Everything is a negotiation. Rising travel, hotel, and production costs are forcing meeting professionals to scrutinize every expense more carefully than ever. Proposals are getting a closer look, and buyers want to clearly understand the value of every element of their event. I talk about the “ROI of you” often. This is what you need to emphasize. Second, safety and global uncertainty are influencing decisions. With wars and geopolitical tensions affecting travel in parts of the world, some organizations are being more cautious about where and how they gather. Destination choice and travel logistics are receiving more attention than they did just a few years ago. That said, here’s the encouraging news. The demand for in-person meetings remains very strong. Planners continue to say that face-to-face events are critical for connection, culture, engagement and learning. Organizations still want live events, they’re just being more thoughtful about how they invest their meeting dollars. What does this mean for speakers? More than ever, clarity matters. If a meeting pro can quickly understand: • who you serve • the problem you solve • and the outcomes you deliver …you immediately find it easier to justify in the budget conversation. This is where having a positioning statement pays off. In other words, the speakers who thrive in this environment are those who speak in outcomes, not just topics. While the market may be concerning right now, I remain optimistic. When organizations gather, they still want and need ideas, insight, and inspiration that move people forward. And that’s exactly where you shine!
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Diane Darling, CGSP liked thisDiane Darling, CGSP liked thisThis past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Ms. JD Leadership Academy Intensive at Boston University School of Law. Being surrounded by driven, thoughtful, and ambitious women was a reminder of why I chose this path. Grateful to have shared the experience with such incredible women from my law school, and for the conversations, connections, and the push to keep growing.
Experience & Education
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Diane Darling
View Diane’s full experience
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Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Pet Foster Parent
Animal Rescue League of Boston
- Present 1 year 10 months
Animal Welfare
After the unexpected passing of my cat, I was so devastated I needed to do something to distract myself since I was literally not getting dressed some days.
I decided to foster a dog who would MAKE me get out of bed and even leave the front door (hard to tactfully pee from the 7th floor).
"Royal" was my pal for a long weekend. I was thrilled he was adopted just a few days after our time together. -
Affinity Group Leader
The Boston Club
- 1 year 1 month
Economic Empowerment
The Boston Club is an organization empowering economic opportunities for women. I started two new affinity groups within the organization to foster community.
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Volunteer Baby Cuddler
Massachusetts General Hospital
- 1 year 8 months
Children
Worked with infants and children in the in-patient pediatric unit. Interacted with families juggling children at home with ill newborns needing medical care. Provided care and comfort for children being weaned off drugs as they waited for adoption.
Went through an extensive vetting process to qualify as a volunteer. -
Board Member and Past President
Association for Talent Development (ATD)
- 4 years
Education
Association for Talent Development is the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations. (Formerly known as the American Society for Training and Development - ASTD.)
As a member, as well as the former president of the Boston Chapter, I provided leadership advice, implemented financial systems, recruited volunteer committee leads, and largely empowered ownership and execution. Contributed to the growth of funds by 10x during my tenure. -
Founding Board Member
50/50 Women on Boards
- 1 year 1 month
Civil Rights and Social Action
Originally known as 2020 Women On Boards, this organization started as a national campaign dedicated to increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards to 20% by 2020. The campaign redefines successful corporate governance, gender diversity standards, and creates a cultural imperative for corporate action.
The new campaign 50/50 Women on Boards, will advocate for gender balance and diversity on boards, with women holding half of the corporate board seats of the Russell 3000 Index…Originally known as 2020 Women On Boards, this organization started as a national campaign dedicated to increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards to 20% by 2020. The campaign redefines successful corporate governance, gender diversity standards, and creates a cultural imperative for corporate action.
The new campaign 50/50 Women on Boards, will advocate for gender balance and diversity on boards, with women holding half of the corporate board seats of the Russell 3000 Index companies.
I helped with the founding launch of the organization by making strategic introductions, participating in committee meetings, and assisting in securing new members as well as advising on social media strategies, events, and corporate partnerships. -
Mentor to Entrepreneurs
MassChallenge
- Present 15 years 7 months
Economic Empowerment
MassChallenge is a global, zero-equity startup accelerator. As of 2019, MassChallenge has accelerated more than 1,900 startups that have raised more than $4.3 billion in funding and generated $2.5 billion in revenue.
Worked with seven of the final 26 teams coaching them for final presentations in front of 800+ people.
Publications
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The Networking Survival Guide
McGraw-Hill
See publicationThis is a revised edition of my first book. The first was written in 2002 - before LinkedIn existed!
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Dr. Ruth shows us how to put 'people skills' to work
Boston Business Journal
See publicationShe measures 4 feet, 7 inches tall, has the stamina of the Energizer Bunny and will turn 80 in June. Her voice has been......
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Networking for Career Success
McGraw-Hill
See publicationThis the version for people with ADD! Short and to the point!
Honors & Awards
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Rising Star
Center for Women & Enterprise
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
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Thai
Elementary proficiency
Organizations
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International Coaching Federation
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- Present -
Chief Executive's Club of Boston
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- Present -
ASTD Boston
Co-President
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