Today we’d like to introduce you to PJ Diamond.
Hi PJ, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I like to say: I’m west coast born, east coast raised, and shaped by the world.
Being bi-racial, I come from two completely different worlds and perspectives. My dad taught me knowledge is power. My mom taught me gratitude and instilled the value of service in my being. Both of my parents share the wunderlust or adventurous spirit, so I’ve been destined to travel the world and know difference well before I was on this Earth.
Growing up the oldest in my household, I am a trailblazer. Since I can remember, I wasn’t just a kid, I was a protector, a role model, a big sister. From a very young age, I’ve been keenly aware of the example I set while recognizing I cannot do everything by myself. The sense of being a part of something bigger has always been in me, and my siblings were among the first to follow my lead in contributing to that something bigger.
As a teenager, I had the honor serving as a People to People Student Ambassador and a Rotary International Youth Exchange Student, which equipped me with the confidence and know-how to serve as a global citizen and international ambassador. Due to these transformational international experiences, I went on to study Spanish, Portuguese, Religious Studies, and Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. I lived in Pittsburgh for 8 years and grew into my adulthood there. I completed my Master’s of Education in International and Comparative Policy Studies, and about 6 months later, I obtained my Certificate to Teach English as a Second/Foreign Language.
I’m an action-oriented person, and after some real introspection, I identified some of my own biases and decided to do something about. Rather than seeking teaching roles in Spanish or Portuguese-speaking countries, both languages and cultures I was familiar with, I applied to teaching roles in Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. Within 3 months, I moved to Japan with the intention to stay for a year, and I stayed for almost 4 years. My role as a kindergarten teacher, to this day, remains my favorite job – I woke up every morning genuinely excited to go to work and see my babes! This experience completely changed my life and sense of knowing. My world view expanded, and my respect for humanity was honed.
I took a bet on me by moving to Bozeman, Montana, in the middle of COVID-era, April 2020. My time in Montana was colorful and challenging: leading accessibility and inclusion programs for 18,000+ students at Montana State University; serving as an instructor for first-year seminar courses; and, establishing my own consulting practice and leading 12 roundtable discussions with HR professionals across the state of Montana. As Founding Secretary I helped to establish English Para Todos, which is now a program within the nonprofit, Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley, Education Para Todos, providing workforce education and English-language lessons across the Gallatin Valley of Montana. I am a Co-Founder and Founding Director of Queer Bozeman as well, which is a resource hub for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks in the Gallatin Valley of Montana.
I packed my sport SUV and drove to ATX about 2 years ago. Since, Austin has been so kind to me. Only after a couple months of living here, I met Jill Goodman, CEO of Leadership Austin, and the rest is history! We vibed, we aligned, and before I knew it, I was asking new colleagues and connections to do Walk and Talks! #iykyk
In the last two years, I have lead and expanded programming with Leadership Austin. I’ve joined the Rotary Club of Austin and have been serving as VP of Brand Image since November 2025. I’ve served as a grant reviewer for The Black Fund of Central Texas and will move into a more advisory role this coming grant cycle. I’ve also become involved with Blackland CDC on the east side of Austin, which helps to provide affordable housing. Though some good work has been done and a strong foundation has been laid, I am excited to continue to see [my] impact ripple in our Central Texas region and beyond.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Grew up with a single mother in a lower-income household. Dad is a Vietnam War vet and is actively dealing with PTSD. I didn’t necessarily grow up seeing many folks like myself doing the things I want/wanted to do, so I’ve done a lot blindly.
Love took me to Montana. Unfortunately, the relationship was isolating and coercive. After that person left (the state), I made the decision for myself that I wouldn’t run from Montana. That I would leave on my own terms, and that is exactly what I did; I left when I was ready.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I develop leaders, strengthen organizations, and build communities. My work sits at the intersection of leadership development, nonprofit strategy, civic engagement, and organizational growth. Whether I’m designing programs at Leadership Austin, facilitating executive conversations, serving on nonprofit boards, or volunteering in the community, I’m most energized by helping people and organizations realize their potential and create meaningful impact.
I specialize in leadership development, community building, and relationship-centered strategy. Throughout my career, I’ve worked across nonprofit, corporate, and higher education sectors, helping organizations navigate change, build inclusive and informed workplace cultures, and create opportunities for people to connect around shared purpose. Much of my work involves convening diverse groups of people, facilitating difficult conversations, and translating ideas into action.
I’m known for being a relational leader who builds trust quickly and brings people together. Whether I’m working with emerging leaders, nonprofit boards, C-suite executives, or community volunteers, I lead with curiosity, authenticity, and a belief that lasting change happens through relationships. People often describe me as a connector, facilitator, and someone who moves at the speed of trust.
I am most proud of championing and helping institutionalize the Chosen Name policy at Montana State University. The initiative required building trust across departments, navigating complex systems, and bringing together stakeholders with different perspectives around a shared goal. What makes me most proud is that the work created lasting, systemic change. The policy continues to support students, staff, and administrators show up authentically and be recognized for who they are across the university experience. It reinforced my belief that the most impactful leadership is about creating systems where people feel seen, valued, and are able to thrive.
What sets me apart, outside the million watt smile, is my combination of global perspective and local commitment.
I’ve lived, worked, and traveled across cultures, which has shaped how I understand leadership, belonging, and community. At the same time, I believe deeply in showing up where I am and investing in the people around me. I don’t believe leadership is about having all the answers. I believe it’s about building trust, creating shared purpose, and helping people move forward together. That philosophy has guided me from classrooms and boardrooms to community meetings and keynote stages, and it continues to shape the leader I strive to be.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Ever heard of the trust trifecta: competence, authenticity, and connection? Or, as I’ve outlined my own trust trifecta times two: accountability/reliability, transparency/integrity, and empathy/humanity.
I am collaborative and relational, so those are the best ways to support me.
Interested in leadership and civic engagement? Come visit me at Leadership Austin!
Interested in service and socializing? Come have Tuesday lunch at Rotary Club of Austin with me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leadershipaustin.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjdiamond/
- Other: https://rotary-austin.org/
