Diana Fernholz
Consultant - United States
Diana Fernholz has over a decade of experience leading organizational change, learning strategy, and stakeholder engagement across government, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations. She brings deep expertise in designing and delivering human-centered transformation initiatives that align people, processes, and systems to drive measurable outcomes.
Diana has worked extensively with large, complex institutions, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ashoka, and the MetLife Foundation. Her work spans leadership development, change management, and adaptive program design, often supporting organizations navigating shifting priorities, distributed teams, and cross-sector collaboration. She has led the design and facilitation of interactive, remote-first learning experiences and workshops for more than 700 stakeholders, serving as a trusted advisor and coach to teams and senior leaders.
Throughout her career, Diana has overseen major learning and leadership-development initiatives, coordinating complex stakeholder networks across public and private sectors. She has led more than ten communities of practice, creating durable forums for peer learning, problem solving, and professional growth. Her approach emphasizes transparency, participation, and equity, with a strong focus on building collaborative structures that bridge sectors and communities.
Diana holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where her thesis focused on change management in large government institutions, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Economics from American University. She was a Presidential Management Fellowship finalist and remains deeply committed to inclusive leadership, gender equity, and social impact through both her professional work and volunteer efforts.
Awards and Recognition
- Presidential Management Fellowship Finalist, 2019
Public Speaking and Service
- KMWorld, Communities of Practice & Gatherings for Peer Learning & Knowledge Sharing, 2024
