Breaking The Glass Ceiling 2024

www.thetycoonmedia.com
Breaking
T
h
e Glass
Ceiling 2024
Dianne
DeSevo
Defying Stereotypes,
the HR Landscape, and
Succeeding in Leadership

Note

Happy International Women's Day!
Kevin Wiiams
Kevin Williams
Editor-in-Chief
The Tycoon Magazine

C O N T E N T S
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Anisa Hassan
the ultimate
Matchmaker
Rozy Rana
Leading Innovation
For A Delightful
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Dianne
DeSevo
Dr. Theoroa
M. Cason
A Champion
For Equity
Defying Stereotypes,
the HR Landscape, and
Succeeding in Leadership

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Dianne DeSevo
Defying Stereotypes, Transforming the HR Landscape,
and Succeeding in Leadership
In the dynamic landscape of leadership, women
around the world are boldly shattering the glass
ceiling, challenging traditional norms, and carving
out their own paths to success. These visionary women
leaders are not only breaking barriers but also reshaping
the narrative of what is possible in the business world.
With resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of
excellence, they are making significant strides in diverse
industries, from technology and finance to healthcare and
beyond.
Currently serving as the Chief People Officer for Dow
Jones, Dianne DeSevo stands out as an exemplary leader,
forging her way to success–and doing her part to lift others
up in the process. She oversees the HR function, as well as
workplace evolution, safety, security and risk for the
global publisher and provider of business information
services. Her leadership has been instrumental in Dow
Jones achieving and maintaining a high standard of
employee satisfaction and organizational performance.
Dianne has dedicated over 25 years of her professional
journey to the field of Human Resources, predominantly
within the media and agency sectors. Her experience
includes significant stints at Warner Media (HBO, Warner
Music), Disney/ABC News, and Engine (Tech).
Throughout her career, the fearless trailblazer has
successfully navigated organizations through
transformative phases, integrations, and periods of
Jason Vego,
Co-Founder
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Breaking The Glass Ceiling 2024
substantial growth. She also had the
privilege of holding prominent roles
and collaborating with leaders who
fostered her personal and professional
development. “I'm passionate about
the work I do, the businesses and
industry I support, and the network I
have very intentionally built and
maintained throughout my career,”
says Dianne.
Personal Challenges: Reshaping HR
Perceptions and Driving Success
Challenges are a part of life. In her
professional journey, a challenge
Dianne has had to confront involved
reshaping perceptions about the role of
HR and its significance within
organizations. Like many others in the
field, she has encountered situations
where HR was viewed as a personnel
or administrative-or even a
policing-function, leading to strained
interactions.
She recalls one particular event:
“Earlier in my career, when I first met
with a business leader in the
organization, I was told in no
uncertain terms that they did not like
HR people or HR speak. There was a
reluctance to appreciate and really
embrace the role HR teams can play in
high-functioning organizations and it
was made perfectly clear to me in that
moment.” Her response then–as it
would be today–was, “Well, I'm not
HR, I'm Dianne. I don't speak HR, I
speak business, and I can assure you
that after working with me, you and
your organization will be more
successful today than you were before
you met me.”
This approach marked the initiation of
a fruitful collaboration wherein they
revamped and modernized the HR
function, fostering a profound
relationship with the business leader.
Dianne believes it is necessary upon
HR leaders to effectively communicate
the value of HR as a strategic partner,
demonstrating its essential contribution
to organizational success.
Pioneering Global Information with
Over 130 Years of Trusted
Journalism
Dow Jones is a prominent global
provider of news and business
information, aiming to facilitate
informed decision-making for both
businesses and individuals. The
company's diverse portfolio includes
esteemed publications such as The
Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and
MarketWatch, alongside leading
business intelligence solutions like
Factiva and OPIS. Boasting one of the
world's largest news-gathering
operations, Dow Jones has been
delivering unparalleled and trusted
journalism for over 130 years. With
approximately 5,500 employees
worldwide, the company is structured
around core pillars of excellence in
news, wealth and investing, risk and
compliance, and energy. Additionally,
Dow Jones operates a thriving live
events business, bringing together
business leaders across industries to
address key issues throughout the year.
Nurturing and Empowering Talents
At Dow Jones
To Dianne, what truly matters is how
Dow Jones empowers its employees.
Since she joined the company in 2021,
Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour has
been a key supporter of employee
development and engagement. Under
his leadership, the fearless trailblazer
has made significant changes in
operations. While the company is well-
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established with reputable brands and a
rich history, it's also undergoing a
transformation, showing a commitment
to adapt to the evolving needs of
customers and employees. “I've been
blown away by the support I've
received and it's a direct contributor to
the level of impact our team has been
able to have over the past two years,”
states Dianne.
Weave DE&I Into Every Aspect Of
Business
At Dow Jones, diversity, equity, and
inclusion are fundamental to the
company's culture and overarching
mission. Recognizing the responsibility
to meet audience needs and accurately
represent the world in their news
coverage, the company emphasizes the
importance of embracing a variety of
backgrounds, experiences, and
perspectives. It takes a proactive
approach by integrating inclusion
efforts into its day-to-day business
operations rather than isolating them as
a separate function. This approach
aims to foster a sustainable culture of
inclusion that involves everyone and
holds them accountable, extending
beyond the sole purview of HR.
According to Dianne, Dow Jones has
incorporated inclusion initiatives into
its performance management system,
emphasizing its significance in team
building and its connection to business
results.
Empowering Women to Challenge
Stereotypes
Being a woman navigating the
corporate world, Dianne reflects on the
challenges women face, highlighting
the pressure to act or present or
overcompensate in a way that many of
their male counterparts have not
experienced. She strives to address
these norms by demonstrating that
success in a senior-level job can
coexist with a fulfilling personal life.
The fearless trailblazer recalls, “I've
encountered single women in various
stages of their careers who were
concerned that to be successful, they
would have to give up much of their
personal life. I have shown that you
can hold a senior-level job while
having a life outside of work. I have
modeled this and tried to coach others
not to be afraid. I have also spoken to
many women who have felt added
pressure to prioritize their appearance
or fashion.” The focus here is on
encouraging women to be confident,
supportive of each other, and to reject
the notion that success requires
sacrificing personal well-being or
conforming to narrow standards of
appearance.
Dianne has also noticed a common
trend where women are not
consistently supporting each other.
9

This has fueled her strong commitment to advocating for
women's mutual support. She emphasizes the importance of
collective backing for everyone's success, highlighting that
there are no advantages to diminishing others. The fearless
trailblazer actively invests time in collaborating with fellow
women, focusing on boosting their confidence and
reinforcing the value of solidarity.
Source Of Motivation
When asked to share her source of motivation, Dianne
replied, “What motivates me the most is watching
organizations and people grow and change. It is very
rewarding to see my work's influence over the businesses I
have supported. It is both gratifying and energizing to know
that the work my team does in building relationships,
earning trust and advising teams and leaders has a direct
impact on the success of the business.” She further adds,
“Our employees are our biggest asset– and our greatest
evangelists– so it's so important that we're engaging with
and investing in them to continue to fuel the type of growth
and innovation we're looking for at Dow Jones. It's never
lost on me that what we do each day matters so much.”
Draws Inspiration from Female Leaders
Dianne deeply respects female leaders who utilize their
platforms and influence to shed light on significant issues
that positively affect people's lives. These leaders, including
Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Arianna Huffington,
inspire her with their openness to vulnerability and
willingness to share personal experiences.
Future Plans
Currently, Dianne's primary focus is on the dynamic and
thrilling projects underway at Dow Jones. The company
boasts robust leadership committed to fostering an excellent
place to work. And so, she and her team are working
together to achieve this goal. “I am blessed that I work with
great people and that I love what I do everyday,” says
Dianne.
Transformative Career
Wisdom
As the Chief People Officer,
Dianne gives advice, “Work
hard. Play hard. Know your
trade. Build great
relationships. And be kind.
That is what has worked for
me throughout my career and I
think being really intentional
in those key areas has been
transformative. As you
navigate your career,
mentorship–both formal and
informal–plays an important
role, as does remaining open
to being mentored. If you
approach every interaction as
an opportunity to either help
someone or learn from them,
those experiences will help to
develop really strong
relationships. I'd also add that
as you grow in your career
and find yourself in leadership
roles, be mindful of how much
influence your position affords
you and never underestimate
the impact you have on those
around you. It plays a large
part in how company cultures
are built and sustained.”
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