An encounter with Diana Einterz
Executive VP – Directrice de la Direction des Grands Clients Orange Business Services – President of Strategic Committee of gender Equality – Orange
As Executive Vice President of the French Major Clients Division for Orange Business Services, Diana Einterz manages a portfolio of 250 Orange customers headquartered in France, a 2 billion euro business. She is also President of Strategic Committee of gender Equality for Orange Group.
Eve le blog: Would you tell us about your professional background ? What are the highligths of your career, before you became Executive Vice President of French Major Accounts – OBS?
Diana Einterz: I’ve held a series of global leadership roles directing large organizations dedicated to serving customers all over the world. I was the Senior Vice President responsible for the Americas region, comprised of both North and Latin America. Prior to becoming head of the Americas, I headed Regional Operations and led a team of more than 2,100 technicians and support staff that delivered world-class installation and maintenance services to multinational corporations in more than 220 countries and territories.
Before joining Orange, I served in a variety of executive posts for AT&T. My responsibilities included overseeing the maintenance and provisioning of domestic and international networks, while improving financial performance and boosting satisfaction levels among customers and employees alike.
I’ve made community-based giving a priority throughout my professional and personal life. I’ve instituted programs aimed at giving back to many of the communities served by Orange, including team renovation and cleanup projects at American schools and community centers. I also actively support hospitals and HIV/AIDS treatment centers in Africa.
A key highlight for me was when I was recognized as an industry leader. In 2010, I was selected as a finalist for two prestigious telecom industry awards in Atlanta – the Association of Telecom Professionals (ATP) Professional of the Year and the Women in Technology (WIT) Woman of the Year. I was cited for my leadership and promotion of innovation, collaboration and community service.
Globally, I’m actively involved in the Women’s Forum, committed to encouraging women’s leadership development and ensuring diversity in the company. I was much honored when Stephane Richard, CEO of Orange, chose me to co-preside the Strategic Committee for Workplace Equality. It’s not just about helping women succeed but about creating a culture that values equality and the talents offered by women and men. Orange has already made great steps forward in diversity (we are n°2 in the CAC 40 French companies in terms of female representation in Top Management; 79% of new fathers take paternity leave; GEEIS certified (eg. France and Europe, Egypt, Brazil…) ; a 15 commitment company charter on work/life balance, inc. work organization flexibility proposed to employees via digital tools; local networks of diversity correspondents throughout the Orange footprint…) and I am committed and excited about contributing to this.
Eve le blog: You have a very international background. Does it make a specific asset for your current mission?
Diana Einterz : I was raised in the U.S., I studied at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and I live in Paris. And for the last 30 years I’ve served multinational customers for a French international company and before that an American international company. So I do indeed have a very international background!
I think it helps to understand what your customers are looking for, their concerns and issues. And how this can change from one geographical area to another. Even how their business model can change from one market to another. We are living in a world without boundaries. The possibilities are endless.
Eve le blog: Did you personaly front gender brakes or glass ceiling during your career? If so, how did you surpass it?
Diana Einterz: I’m extremely fortunate to come from a culture and a family where women can stand up, raise their voice and take bold steps.
I think we’re all confronted with obstacles at some point in our lives, women and men from different cultures, races and walks in life.
I firmly believe that those who succeed are those who really want to succeed and remain determined in the face of obstacles and are willing to reach out, engage others and ask for help. It’s the desire to do something great that gives us the motivation to push harder.
Eve le blog: What is your vision of gender equality & female leadership in business ? Do you think that gender diversity is a performance lever ? How to combine pragmatic vision and principle of justice when we talk about gender equality?
Diana Einterz: The best strategy for success is to hire diverse, passionate people and listen closely to their perspectives. Successful organizations embrace diversity, all types of diversity and not just gender.
Every person is different, has their own story, ways of thinking, personal and professional experience; each person has something to bring to the table. It’s important to build a really diverse team that makes the impossible happen on a daily basis. I want to encourage women to step forward with their unique skills and insights to not only improve our business but also our workplace.
A successful organization valorizes these differences, talents and richness. Every leader can make a difference by stepping up to their responsibility and using their influence. Studies have shown that among Fortune 500 companies, those with an equal proportion of men and women in top leadership positions have seen much higher financial returns than those with low proportions.
Eve le blog: You know that as a female leader, you’re actually a role model for other women. Do you assume this as a kind of mission?
Diana Einterz: I think it’s a collection of several things: having networks, training and coaching, mentoring, sponsoring and role models, male or female.
I’d like to think that I set a good example for any individual, whether it’s a woman or a man. With privilege comes responsibility.
When you have talent, advantages, you have to share them and contribute to improving other peoples’ lives. Make a positive difference. All leaders have a role in creating a corporate culture conducive to diversity.
Eve le blog: Do you think that being a woman makes you a “different” leader ? According to you, what are the skills and qualities of the leader of the future ?
Diana Einterz: I think it’s a question of individuals, not gender. Practicing leadership as an example, a leadership with values; a sense of the collective.
A female leader generally (but not exclusively) displays efficient communication, participatory decision making and is often able to make people feel valuable to an organization. Leaders need to operate in a world that is evolving faster than it ever did before: digital natives are pushing more flexibility at work, new business models are sprouting up.
Employee commitment and employee wellbeing in the workplace are becoming increasingly important. To stay ahead, businesses need to rethink their ways of managing, job descriptions, way of recruiting and change the way they perceive and evaluate talent.
New management systems are appearing in a new world. Emotional intelligence will take on more importance. Some businesses are recruiting Happiness managers, putting in place Happiness KPIs! To quote Bill Gates : “leaders will be those who empower others”.
Eve le blog: Do you have one or several messages for women who want to professionally succeed?
Diana Einterz: Believe in yourself. Have confidence in your ability to succeed. Don’t let fear hold you back. You can be anything you want.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help or support from friends, family, colleagues and hierarchy. And above all, be happy and help others. Make a difference!
Let the world be a better place tomorrow because you are in it today!
Interviewed by Roxane Adle, Christelle Cloarec (Orange), with the help of Marie Donzel.
