Diane Kazarian considers the relationship-building skills she learned early in her childhood and further developed at Bryant as the key to her success.

Originally from Rhode Island and now living in Toronto, Kazarian is senior partner and the national financial services leader for PwC Canada, a job that includes banking and capital markets, insurance, asset management, private equity, and real estate businesses of the firm.

"When I foster an open environment where my staff is accountable for positive and negative results and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, we all win."

In 2013 the Women's Executive Network named her to Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 list, which celebrates and highlights the professional achievements of women across the country in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. She also received Bryant's Distinguished Alumna Award in 2014.

In addition to growing PwC's business, enhancing the brand in the marketplace, developing intellectual property, and interacting with media, she's focused on leading teams to bring value and insight to their clients, and inspiring her staff to set and achieve ambitious goals.

"My firm provided me with many opportunities to stretch myself professionally, and that has helped me excel," says Kazarian. "When I do the same for my employees, when I foster an open environment where my staff is accountable for positive and negative results and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, we all win—the employee, me as their leader, and the firm."

Personal and professional opportunities brought Kazarian to PwC in Canada after seven years at KPMG in Providence, RI, where she held a senior leadership role. In the time she's held her current position, the practice, which is made up of close to 500 people, has seen a sustained increase in business.