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Women of Distinction


          Diana Kelly                                         majored in psychology. She had   me peace of mind, knowing that my
                                                                  Diana attended College and
                                                                                         son was being looked after while my
                                                              always been interested in behavioral
                                                                                         husband and I worked on building
                                                              psychology and knew this was the
                                                                                         for our family, especially my son and
                                                              career path she wanted to pursue.  A   our careers to ensure a stable future
                                                              dedication to this type of career takes  mother.”
          MAKING A DIFFERENCE                                 many years to complete. Even after   attributes, including resilience,
                                                                                             Diana's various skills and
                                                              graduation, there are residency and
                                                              training requirements; in Diana’s   intelligence, courage, emotional in-
                       By Judith A. Habert                    case, life got in the way. “I faced dif-  telligence, and determination, played
                 Photo By Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions      ficulties in my life when my mother   a significant role in her achievement
                                                              fell seriously ill and had to be hos-  of an executive level position in the
                                                              pitalized. In order to support her, I   corporate sphere.
                                                              had to start working three jobs while   In addition to striving to be-
                                                              also attending school. Despite the   come a successful executive and bal-
                                                              challenges, I successfully completed   ancing the responsibilities of being
                                                              my studies, but had to put my dream  a loving mother, wife, and daughter,
                                                              of becoming a doctor on hold and   she also had a personal aspiration.
                                                              began searching for a full-time job to  “One of the objectives I set for myself
                                                              continue providing for my mother's   when I reached 20 was to achieve
                                                              care.” Diana was presented with an   early retirement by the age of 50, and
                                                              opportunity to work at Home Depot,  I successfully achieved this goal.”
                                                              and she recognized that she required   Diana views her main accom-
                                                              a job that could provide stability,   plishment in life to be her son, “I'm
                                                              which the company seemed to offer   just so, very proud of the man that he
                                                              at this stage in her life.  has become.  I couldn't be happier.
                                                                  Although it was not the plan at   The kindness, awareness, strength,
                                                              the time, Diana’s job at this multibil-  and humbleness that he shows make
                                                              lion-dollar company turned out to be  me a very proud mother. He has
                                                              a career and a very good one at that.    such a kind heart and is always will-
                                                              “With my major being behavioral   ing to help anybody and everybody.
                                                              psychology, it turned out to be ideal   He left work one night and got home
                                                              for the position I held working with   a little bit later. And then we started
                                                              a lot of different personality types.   talking about why he was late, and he
                                                              This job was a complete change for   explained that when he left work, he
                                                              me. At first, I thought it would offer   spotted a homeless person sitting on
                                                              me some good experience in a large   the curb and asked him if he needed
                                                              work environment, but I soon found  help. The gentlemen told him no;
                                                              out that I was very good at personal   he was okay.  Her son told the man,
                                                              relations. My education gave me a lot  why don’t we do something? Let's go
                                                              of insight into dealing with people,   to Walmart. So, he got him in his car,
                                                              which helped to make me a strong   took him to Walmart, went shopping
                                                              leader.  I quickly moved up in the   for toiletries and some non-perish-
                                                              company.”                  able food, paid for everything, got
                                                                  Diana vowed to herself that   him back in the car and dropped
           While traveling in Thailand, Di-  glish. Through her perseverance and   once she achieved financial stability,   him off back at the same spot where
        ana Kelly came upon a quote that has  determination, Diana conquered   she would invite her mom to live   he had met him. I almost panicked a
        stayed with her ever since. “You have  challenges related to language and   with her and provide her with   bit when he relayed the story to me,
        to make choices to take chances,   adapting to a new environment. She   lifelong support. “It has been 27   as it was late at night and the man
        or your life will never change.”  For   credits her resilience and concentra-  years since my mom moved into   was a stranger, but he said Mom, I
        Diana, this was a turning point and   tion to the guidance and inspiration   our home. She has been a tower of   could tell this man had a good heart,
        a concept that caused her to make   of her grandmother. Diana success-  strength and was instrumental in   and I needed to do something to
        some important changes in her life.  fully graduated from high school at   helping me achieve higher levels of   help him out even in this small way.”
           Diana was born in South Amer-  the young age of 16 and secured a   success. I was able to travel for work   After retiring, Diana embraced
        ica and moved to the United States at  full scholarship for college, achieving  and fulfill the demands of my career   a new chapter in her life, filled with
        the age of 12. Upon settling in New   this milestone with a sense of accom- as I progressed in the industry. Hav-  purposeful and rewarding activ-
        York, she had to start learning En-  plishment.       ing her around in our house gave   ities. She has dedicated herself to

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