Michelle Diamond
Michelle Diamond, CEO of Elevate Diamond Strategy, a growth strategy and execution independent advisory, consulting, and interim executive business expansion firm recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, CEO Journal, CFO Magazine, Philadelphia Business Journal, B2B Magazines, and the Interim Association, has 25+ years’ business strategy, general management, marketing, go-to-market, finance, audit, and operations experience. She is also the author of How to Grow & Expand Your Business in Times of Feast or Famine.
Michelle has strong expertise in helping domestic and global high growth companies scale, scenario planning, developing, evaluating, and implementing diverse, yet innovative growth strategies and strategic plans for acceleration and long-term value creation, leading mergers and acquisitions (pre/post), identifying where to invest and then capitalizing on market opportunities through competitive advantage and differentiation, and in turnarounds/ restructuring to optimize costs and overall profitability.
Michelle is a growth expert, operational executive, and entrepreneur, who has worked on investor, Board, CEO/C-Suite, and SME issues for 65 organizations ranging from start-up, early/growth stage, small/middle market, private equity/venture capital, to Fortune 50 companies in 31 industries including CIGNA, Colgate-Palmolive, Elsevier, MetLife, Daimler, Dekra, NRG, Constellation Energy, Time Warner, and Club Med – just to name a few.
Her industry experience includes Automotive, Broadcasting (Television & Radio), Cable, Chemical, Consulting, Consumer Products, Dental, Education, Energy, Event, Financial Services, Food, Government, Health Insurance, Human Resources, Insurance, Medical Device, Music, Nonprofit, Packaging, Printing & Distribution, Private Equity/ Venture Capital, Professional Services, Publishing, Renewable Energy, Retail, Software, Technology, Travel, and Vision.
Prior to Elevate Diamond Strategy, Michelle worked for CIGNA, where she was the creator and Head, Competitive Intelligence for the $1B+ Group Insurance Division. Prior to that role, Michelle oversaw CIGNA’s $20M Printing & Distribution business (100+ employees), was Manager of Strategy for Accenture, and in Mergers & Acquisitions and Assurance and Business Advisory Services at Ernst & Young LLP. She also held various financial roles at Colgate-Palmolive Company, Citibank, and West Merchant Bank and was selected for Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble camps.
Michelle holds an MBA from Duke University, a BS from Morgan State University (Summa Cum Laude), and attended Wharton Executive Education. She is also a nonpracticing Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Michelle is a former Board President of the INROADS Philadelphia Alumni Association, a member of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), and has led efforts and volunteered for the United Way, March of Dimes, Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Habitat for Humanity. She was a speaker and facilitator for the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), and a growth expert on radio shows, Accelerating Your Business™ (creator and host), Executive Leaders Radio, and The Marketing of Business.
