David’s Bridal SVP Diana Takach: “Let’s create a sustainability initiative for prom goers”
…it would be amazing to create a sustainability initiative for Prom goers. If you’ve purchased a prom dress from us, help to offer someone who may not have the opportunity to purchase a dress from us, by donating your gown and paying it forward. Hopefully more things like this to come from us in an effort for sustainability and human kindness.
I had the pleasure to interview Diana Takach, an SVP at David’s Bridal. For over 15 years, Diana Takach has been working with first-class companies such as Staples, L’Oréal Luxury, Camuto Group, and now proud to be an executive member of David’s Bridal to transform digital experience. Under Diana’s leadership, L’Oréal Luxury Brands, Kiehl’s, Lancôme, YSL Beauty and shu uemura, were able to successfully replatform, rebrand digitally and launch sequentially in a year, resulting in 30% growth following implementation. In her downtime, Diana launched her own children’s adaptive, seamless, unisex brand, Me Do.® aimed to help children ages 1–6 build confidence in learning to dress themselves and beyond.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in digital since day one. I started my career at Staples, Inc. and the foundational elements I gained there as it pertains to big data and personalization at an early onset have been highly valuable to me as I’ve grown my career.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
I’m sure there will be many stories to come, as I’m only 3 months in, but the opportunity to work with so many smart and talented individuals has been beyond motivating, thus far. I can only imagine the potential ahead.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
In my past role, the company had very specific decorative social norms (I should have known the place had them because it was SO overly clean and scarce). I brought a neon pink photo frame for my desk, and noticed people oddly whispering — to which I learned, there are photo frame ‘guidelines’ for the desk. In my first 5 minutes I made a lot of instant friends, and removed the neon pink frame immediately. I’d argue it would have looked better than the norm!
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Our people. The passion, the work ethic, the tenure and desire to make an impact is extremely motivating and I’m honored to be among this community.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
So much! We continue to leverage our dominance in the industry to drive growth. Our recent acquisition of Blue Print Registry’s assets has me most excited currently. The ability to partner with a digital first and differentiated online registry provider brings a new conversation not only internally but to our customers as well.
What advice would you give to other female leaders to help their team to thrive?
Never stop asking questions and looking to push the envelope. You have to have a voice at the table, but ensure that your views are with purpose and results. Additionally not every impact has to be big, sometimes the small ones over the longer term have the larger impact.
What advice would you give to other female leaders about the best way to manage a large team?
You have to build trust. No trust, no action. I find it most important to take the time to understand how things are done, get to know the individuals as best you can, and understand their motivators as individuals and as a group. I’m currently in the throes of this process being new to David’s Bridal and hope to lead the team in a way that we all feel a sense of accomplishment as a community, no matter what comes our way.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are so many. My mom, first and foremost. She instilled that you can be a mom and have your career — she is an amazing nurse. (I’d faint at the sight of a needle so we’re different there). I have to say, there were so many powerful strong women that I had the great pleasure to work with at L’Oreal who really taught me how to work in a very demanding culture, yet use your resources to be able to manage workload and also manage life balance. The idea of working and having children and driving a career in my 20s seemed less than possible, but in watching each of these women at different stages in life and career — they taught me more than they’d ever know. I’m so proud of the foundation in my career I’ve established, and in parallel the family I’ve been blessed with. Everyday is a juggle, and I try to lead by example in the same way these women did for me. It’s my way of paying it forward.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Yes, this past year I feel as though I’m finally accomplishing my main objective — how can I use my career in digital to make a difference. Recently I launched my own children’s clothing line — Me Do. Inspired by my now 4yo son, Dean, he struggled with sensory processing delays and it inhibited his ability to do basic tasks without challenge. One of them getting dressed. Me Do. Is Special basics aimed to educate children how to dress themselves while learning front vs. back in a creative way. The fabrics are purposeful to children with ASD/SPD, but beneficial to all. This is my drive, my purpose, my passion and if it helps one or more children alleviate struggle and find empowerment, I’ve won.
What are your “5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience” and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)
· LISTEN FIRST
· Keep listening — there is too much history to be ignored before you make a decision
· Demonstrate consistency and results in order to build trust
· Have fun! You spend more time with your team/coworkers than your family — make it worth your time
· Don’t be afraid to fall. Especially in digital, things are changing every second, there will be wins and losses, but the losses are what teach the lessons.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Free, quality education for all. The gift of information and education is just that. The more you know the more can achieve — I believe.
I also think at DBI, it would be amazing to create a sustainability initiative for Prom goers. If you’ve purchased a prom dress from us, help to offer someone who may not have the opportunity to purchase a dress from us, by donating your gown and paying it forward. Hopefully more things like this to come from us in an effort for sustainability and human kindness.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Honestly, I live by the fact that “Everything Happens for a Reason”. It’s true at any given moment where you are is exactly where you’re meant to be. If you truly believe in that, it gives one a sense of purpose and being and grounding. There is so much noise in life, in work, in parenting, you have to trust. If you trust that what’s happening is for a reason, it boils everything into its simplistic form so that you can focus on being present and moving forward. Its easier to get stuck in doubt, so instead I aim to focus on the now and trust in it. It’s led me this far. I couldn’t be more grateful.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
@lady_di_tak (Instagram)