Diana Stepner
Alumni (MIMS 2004)
Focus
Diana's background includes leading teams in startups (E.piphany, Cheapflights - bought by Kayak, and SimplePractice), enterprise organizations (Salesforce, Monster, Pearson), digital agencies (Razorfish, part of Publicis) and software consulting (Epsilon, E.piphany). She also has a MIMS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Boston University as well as an ACC from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Specialization
Biography
Product Leader • Professional Coach • Author • Speaker • Advisor
Diana Stepner is an experienced product leader, coach, and author with over twenty years leading innovation and product teams across startups, global enterprises, and mission-driven organizations. She helps emerging and seasoned product leaders unlock their potential, build high-performing teams, and navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence.
As Head of Product and Coaching at C/R Strategy Partners, Diana drives the integration of AI-powered tools and human-centered leadership to accelerate innovation and organizational transformation. She also serves as Co-Founder of Product Gold, a platform focused on elevating product leaders through the often-overlooked soft skills that complement technical mastery. Her parallel roles as author, advisor, and instructor reflect her belief that exceptional products begin with empowered people.
Diana co-authored the bestseller Next-Gen Product Management, a product management guide that brings together three generations of expertise to help professionals thrive in an era defined by AI, rapid change, and cross-functional collaboration. In addition to her coaching practice, she advises startups like WingRep, mentors product leaders through Exec and Tandem, and teaches on Maven, where she helps professionals strengthen their influence and leadership mindset.
Before her current focus on coaching and leadership development, Diana held senior product roles at technology and education organizations. At the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, she led a portfolio of education products to scale impact through data-informed decision-making and strong cross-functional collaboration. As VP of Product at SimplePractice, she oversaw a suite of digital health platforms serving over 140,000 practitioners and 44 million clients. Earlier, she spent a decade at Pearson, where she founded the company’s first startup accelerator, launched its API platform, and eventually led a global product organization delivering over $80M in annual revenue. Her career also includes leadership positions at KAYAK, Razorfish, Monster.com, and Salesforce—each reinforcing her expertise in connecting customer insight, strategy, and innovation.
An Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the College of Executive Coaching, Diana holds a Master’s in Information Management Systems from the University of California, Berkeley, an MBA from Boston University’s School of Management, and a B.A. in Mass Communication and Media Studies from UC San Diego.
Her work has earned her recognition as a LinkedIn Top Product Voice, Top 50 Product Management Mentor, and Finalist for the everywoman in Technology Award. She is an member of Chief, Astia Angels, and the Psychological Safety Community, reflecting her commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in leadership.
Through her coaching practice, speaking engagements, and writing, Diana continues to champion a simple but transformative idea: launch the people who launch the products.