Diankha Linear

What was your first job, and what did it teach you?

My first two jobs were in fast food — McDonald’s and Wendy’s. They taught me a lot. The joy of independence and financial freedom. Being able to make decisions on my own. The pressure of having to be accountable for a shift.  Being responsible as a member of a team. Ethics. Having to make choices under pressure.

What have you learned to do differently as you’ve moved into more senior roles?

Law firm success is, in many ways, dependent on your success as an individual. That has changed as my role has changed — it’s the exact opposite. My relationships with people are the key. Making sure they feel understood.  Mistakes will happen — it’s how you respond to those mistakes that matters.

Who is someone who’s had a big influence on your career? Why?

There are a lot of people who have had a big influence on my career. All of them have come from my service on nonprofit boards. These were very senior corporate leaders with huge jobs. I watched them balance, navigate, and prioritize service to community.

When did you start thinking about using your skills to effect social change?

Mayor Royer came to my elementary school and gave me an award for service to the community. It’s always been a part of who I am. It feels so good to me; it feeds my soul and gives me confidence. I need to feel like I have a purpose. I fell in love with service at an early age.

What strategies do you employ to manage through difficulty?

Through the Army I learned two things. 1. Perspective. In the Army, you’re training for life and death. So, I try to keep everything in perspective. 2. Taking good care of myself. When things are stressful, it’s hard to get the energy to exercise, but that’s the thing that makes things better.

What’s the biggest or scariest challenge you’ve taken on as an organizational leader?

When I became CEO, the job was to execute a complete turnaround. We had to show significant growth and raise money at the same time. I had to make sure the team maintained confidence in our ability to win. I completely focused on the team, anchored to a strategy, and put culture first. The transformation happened, and when I moved on, the company was thriving.

What’s the best career decision you ever made? 

In addition to taking on big professional challenges, I committed to nonprofit board service. I took on board president and chair roles. I did this early in my career, and I caught some criticism for it. I was told I should have waited. I’m so glad I didn’t. So much of my success is because of the experience and confidence I gained and the positive energy I put into things that mattered.

How do you organize your time?

My friend’s daughter taught me how to use Google Calendar a decade ago. I’m a maven managing it. It’s all color-coded based on priority. I set alarms for important meetings during the day. And I try to be meticulously organized.

What’s a good outcome for you, professionally, in the year ahead?

Since the mid-1990s, I’ve been creating a 5-year plan. This is an agreement between me, myself, and I. I set holistic goals — spiritual, mental, and financial — and I set yearly benchmarks. I’m really proud of myself and typically know what the next phase is. My aspiration is to be an entrepreneur in 2026.

Finish this sentence: People would be surprised that I...

...was an Army paratrooper, Logistics Officer, Civic Affairs Special Operations Forces Unit, and JAG officer.