Diane Strohfus

Diane Strohfus

Diane Strohfus, an NSU alumna, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business, majoring in Management and Marketing. Continuing her education, she pursued a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Her career began in finance, but after a few years, she transitioned into human resources. Reflecting on her business degree, Diane appreciates its broad scope, allowing exploration across various fields. She identifies strongly with the philosophy of trying different things, a mindset that extends beyond academics and career. Trying diverse experiences is crucial to discovering what resonates professionally and personally.

Diane shares her journey from finance to sales, initially feeling intimidated but eventually finding success in the sales world as a headhunter, later moving her career to human resources. Emphasizing the value of hands-on experience, she encourages others not to fear diving into new opportunities. Diane's small-town upbringing in northeast South Dakota and education at Northern State University instilled a strong work ethic, desire to pursue new experiences, and an openness to explore different fields.

Even if one discovers they don't enjoy something, Diane advocates for perseverance before moving on and giving new opportunities a chance to unfold. She is passionate about helping underrepresented communities and believes representation is crucial for aspiring to roles and opportunities one may have yet to encounter. Drawing inspiration from her grandmother, who pursued formal education in a timeframe when it was rare for women, Diane emphasizes the value of education and life-long learning.

Diane has called Silicon Valley home since graduating from Northern State University in 1986. Her career path has evolved from finance to sales to executive human resource positions. Her shift to human resources was a way to leverage her finance, and business background to drive human capital strategies for companies. She also sits on the board of directors for a start-up software company.

For Diane, continuous learning and contributing to communities matter the most. Having experienced the evolution of the tech industry, and the importance of the evolving employee experience, she values adaptability and a growth mindset in every professional and personal endeavor.