Meet Deborah Diamond, President at Campus Philly.
How do you define success?
Working up to your potential and helping others work up to theirs as well. Success is different at different stages of life. When my kids were little, it meant one thing and now that I’m at a more “mature” stage of my career, it means something else.
Do you have a quote, song or person that inspires you?
There is a Raymond Carver quote that is above my desk at home: “And did you get what you wanted out of life even so?” It reminds me to always be thinking about getting the most out of life, but also be kind to myself - that circumstances sometimes mean not charging so hard and taking it easy (on myself and others) instead…like during this Coronavirus pandemic for instance.
In moments of self-doubt, how do you build yourself back up?
You know that quote from investment advisors: “History is no indication of future performance.” Well, I think it’s the opposite with people. And so that’s what I tell myself when I’m doubting myself or scared: a lot of the time (most of the time) things work out and even those times when it doesn’t, I’ve had the support and the wherewithal to get through it. So I just remind myself of that and it strengthens me.
What’s your favorite thing about living or working in Philly?
I love so much about this city that it’s hard to pick a favorite. It definitely includes the people and the “built environment” which I think are connected: row houses with front stoops; neighborhoods that are also communities; corner stores that are locally owned and have real character. I also love being 90 minutes away from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?
That the real meaning of your work and your legacy have much more to do with your connections to other people than to a specific thing you leave behind. Very few people are going to look at their careers and point to something where they can say “I alone did that and it changed the world.” Our impact is really on the people we meet and worked with and worked for along the way. Did we make their lives better? Did they enrich ours?
Our impact is really on the people we meet and worked with and worked for along the way. Did we make their lives better? Did they enrich ours?
Where’s your favorite place to recharge or network in Philly?
Recharging and networking are two very different things for me! I recharge best at home, with my family and maybe at the gym. I get a lot out of many communities I’m a part of: other women leaders; those working in economic development in Philadelphia; the students I meet at Campus Philly events.
How and where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in reflecting on where I come from: a family history with strong women; a commitment to caring about others; and a strong intellectual tradition where being informed, well-educated and questioning things are all values. These are also the values of my Jewish faith, which is also a source of inspiration and a foundation for me.
What advice would you give to someone hoping to break into your career path/industry?
I think of my industry as “mission driven” work. So, if that’s where your interest lies, make sure you’re informed about the mission or issue you want to work on and that you have your own ideas about how to advance that mission. Then, connect with others who are working on that: write an article on LinkedIn so others can read it; ask to meet with people who are working on that issue; follow media that covers that issue.
make sure you’re informed about the mission or issue you want to work on and that you have your own ideas about how to advance that mission.
What’s an accomplishment you’re most proud of?
I think this goes back to Question 6: it’s all about people and the connections you have with them. I’m most proud of my kids, two young men who are kind and thoughtful and taking life seriously and making good choices. And, I’m most proud of the people I’ve hired at Campus Philly …those who are there now doing great work and the others who have launched their careers from there and I feel have become better professionals and colleagues because of the time they spent at Campus Philly.
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