DIANA DIACO CERVANTES

"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions." Stephen Covey

ABOUT

My Background

After a more profound introspection into my life, resilience and determination are probably the best ways to describe myself. As the only daughter of an immigrant family coming from a former communist country, I constantly remind myself of what great accomplishments one can achieve every day with the right frame of mind and openness to take on new opportunities.

In my very early years as a non-English speaking teen, all I wanted was to understand the new world around me and totally immerse myself into it. As a young adult, I wanted to make my parents proud and graduate a prestigious university here, in the United States of America. Now, as a working and proud mother of twin toddlers, all I want to achieve is to lead by example and be a role model, showing them that hard work, resilience, and determination are indeed the backbone of the American Dream that so many of us, former immigrants dream of.

Every step I took to accomplish my dreams has required meticulous planning, execution, hard work, and sometimes heartache and tears, which I would gladly experience again and again if faced with similar tough decisions. Working my way through and overcoming these obstacles, I have become the product of my environment and the people that have made it possible for me to thrive.

And for that, I am, and always will be eternally grateful.

My passion for maximizing the positive outcomes has continuously driven me to expand my knowledge, experiences, and the relationships, both personal and professional. My background and diversified skill-set I have acquired through curiosity, hard work, as well as the generosity of my peers, friends and family, has given me the full confidence that my next endeavor will be even more rewarding and exciting!

Keep exploring my site to learn more information about me, and reach out directly with any questions.

MY EXPERIENCE

Background & Expertise

SOLUTION CONSULTANT - CUSTOMER SUCCESS, TACTON SYSTEMS

October 2021 - PRESENT

Tacton is the leading Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) SaaS partner for design to sales automation for industrial manufacturers. Our trusted configuration engine provides the backbone for your customers’ fast and flawless digital experience.

In my role as a Solution Consultant, I collaborate with our clients to better understand their business and the products they make and sell, to support their digital transformation process, exceed competitive advantage, and, above all, make them successful in their business.

SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST - CUSTOMER SUCCESS, CONFIGURE ONE

October 2020 - September 2021

Configure One's enterprise CPQ product enables customers to increase sales while reducing costs by automating much of the sales, order entry, and engineering processes.

In my role on the Customer Success team, I have the opportunity to work with a team of experts that together, we feel like we can solve any problem coming our way. From on-boarding new clients with training and support until a successful go-live, to helping established clients bring their configurator to the next level, the root of their success is for us to understand their business and to help match the best functionality so they can shine to their own clients.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, EXPLORANCE

February 2019-March 2020

As a Community Engagement Manager, my primary goal was to increase our customers' engagement with our products, services and community.
This role has taught me about the complexity and challenges (and also the triumphs) of client engagement, the technical aspects of supporting a community website, the tedious and rewarding work involved in driving a successful event attendance, and the satisfaction and joy that comes along with the realization that all the hard work has culminated in a successful event.

SOLUTION ENGINEER, GARTNER

December 2015 - February 2019

As the Solution Engineer for a team of sales professionals, I have provided subject matter expertise (SME) when completing RFP (request for proposal) requests, delivered product value demos to prospective clients, represented our product at industry events and provided sales enablement to my team. Working remotely has taught me a great number of valuable lessons about teamwork, relationships, and self-discipline. I can now comfortably say that I can thrive in a mosaic work environment and feel comfortable with the modern virtual office trend that has been sweeping the HR world.

PRODUCT MANAGER, PROMOTED FROM PRODUCT SPECIALIST, KNOWLEDGEADVISORS/CEB

May 2007 - March 2015

My professional career journey has begun as a Product Specialist, with the mandate of improving the quality of the products released, streamline and modernize the way the company supported our prospective clients once they became clients through Online Help and Support. Over time, as the company matured, my career goals focused more and more on product management. After I was presented with the opportunity to be mentored, I have developed the necessary skills to be promoted to Product Manager. In my new role, I have applied my product knowledge, attention to detail, and project management skills on highly customized functionality to our clients.

EDUCATION

What I’ve Learned

2003 - 2007

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

With a clear mind and my eyes set on my future, I have embarked on my education at DePaul University, and successfully earned my Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems. Throughout my journey, I had the opportunity to experience a few valuable and humbling life lessons, to care for someone with debilitating mental health issues, and mend family relationships. The very day I walked across the podium was one of my most proud moments in my life, right up there with being sworn in as an American Citizen alongside my mother and father.

August 2000 - May 2003

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

After watching many high school friends graduate and go through the traditional path to college, and later returning disoriented, with mixed career feelings or with a foggy sense of direction, I have decided to focus my attention on finding the right career for me. Maintaining a pulse on the love of technology, I spent a few years exploring business, law, health sciences, and literary arts while attending Elgin Community College close to home, and then Harold Washington College in Chicago. After some time, it became crystal clear to me that technology is in my blood, and I felt most excited to focus on pursuing the technology career path.

1995 - 1998

ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL

I moved to the United States just before starting 6th grade, and without being able to utter a full sentence in English. However, that did not last too long, and by the time I enrolled in high school, I was participating in classes with no “English as a Second Language” (ESL) assistance and yet thriving. In high school, by junior year, I have completed all the credits and required curriculum to graduate early, in just 3 short years. During my experience at St. Charles High School, I was a proud member of the debate team, I have contributed to the Chrysler Auto Design Project, and became a proud founding member of the Student Technology Association, focused on exploring and introducing new technologies to my fellow students, as they became more and more mainstream, such as robotics, automation, lasers applications, and computers, just to name a few.