Leadership Series: Diana Block

Note: To register for the Leadership Salon with Diana Block on Monday June 9th at the New Hazlett Theater, click here.


“My leadership,” she cracks, “is getting everybody out the door in the morning.”

Well, not quite. Schenley Farms resident, wife, mother of two toddlers, Diana Block calls herself “an emerging leader.” But the Post-Gazette co-publisher and general manager--just named president two days ago, succeeding retiring David Beihoff,--not only leads the region’s longest-lived newspaper, but also sits on multiple boards. That includes   the United Way, Pittsburgh Symphony, Heartwood Institute, Pennsylvania Economy League, and Inland Press Association – and receives high marks all around.

“She’s an intense, inquisitive, and insightful person,” offers Bob Nelkin, United Way president, “who’s not afraid to ask tough questions. Will we get the results we’re looking for? Are we solving our marketing and communications puzzles? The first time we got a chance to talk there were no preliminaries. She got right to it.”

Sitting in her wood-lined office in the Post-Gazette building Downtown, Block reflects about leadership, about changing the city. She admits that the idea has great puissance for her, in part because her grandfather, Bill Block, long time Post-Gazette publisher (1942-89), did just that, taking a positive tack on then-revolutionary 1940s’ Smoke Control and Urban Redevelopment.

Known for his steady, seasoned, progressive voice, Bill Block was legendary for his gentility and intelligence. But by any standards a legend is a tough act to follow, a tough role model to emulate. While everyone admires self-made people – their paths are often strewn with stones and thorns -- sometimes inheritors of wealth and/or position have what Spenser termed “a far unfitter task,” living up to, then succeeding, a departed hero.

Born in New Jersey, raised in Toledo, home of the Block newspaper The Blade, Diana Block recalls that Northwest Ohio “was a nice place to grow up.” Then the quick smile, the characteristic wry wit. “There weren’t a lot of places to get into trouble.”

Off to Yale, where she majored in English lit, then Virginia for an MA, she followed a dream. “Since high school,” she recalls, “I wanted to teach high school English.”

And she did, mentoring English at Andrews Osborne, an Ohio women’s school, 1997-98. “There are parts of teaching I still miss,” she says. “I really loved it.”

But it was not to be. As her grandfather aged, the family was not certain how long he would continue at the newspaper. Concerned that she might miss the opportunity to work with him, Block signed on. “I thought if I ever wanted to have that experience,” she recalls, “that was the time. I was so glad to be here when he was here.” (Bill Block died in July, 2005.)

Learning the newspaper business from the bottom up, Block spent two years as a copy editor (“which I loved,” she recalls) and reporter (“I did an adequate job,” she admits). Drawn more to the business side of publishing, but without any financial background, Block earned a Tepper MBA.

She needed it, she says, not only for her own perspective, but also because “you work for credibility in a family company,” she says. “The MBA dramatically changed my thinking. I took things like probabilities and finance into consideration.”

Back at the Post-Gazette, “we needed a systems director,” she says, “so I stepped into that role. It turned out that I was a good fit.  he department accomplished quite a bit.”

By January ’02 she was named to the newspaper’s executive committee. “We talked about important things,” she says, “big-picture strategy. It was exhilarating.  Every major decision came before that group. It was fun,” she smiles, “and difficult and a heavy responsibility.”

Rising through the ranks, Block became director of operations, with responsibilities for circulation, production, systems, labor, and human relations.  Then general manager. Vice president, too, handling advertising and marketing. Finally, in May ’07 she was named co-publisher. “Newspapers are facing big challenges,” she says, “difficult, complex problems. It’s a time of great change and great opportunity.” She pauses. “I have a good idea of flow and strengths and what might be improved upon. What I’m most proud of is getting us to think a little more playfully.”

Playful? The Post-Gazette?

“Playful,” Block nods, “dynamic, responsive. It’s been energizing.”

Speaking of energy, she’s found the time – and energy – to sit on all those boards. Not merely to sit. To serve.

“I am an emerging leader,” she laughs. “I sit in big rooms with a lot of leaders.”

“We were looking for some younger people for the board,” says Larry Tamburri, Pittsburgh Symphony CEO, “and Diana was very interested, really cared. After a year on the board, she was appointed to chair our artistic affairs committee. They’ve done a wonderful job of isolating issues critical to maintaining excellence. Do we receive invitations to perform at international festivals and international halls? What type of reviews do we receive, particularly when we’re touring?

“She’s a clear thinker,” Tamburri adds, “and seeks to develop consensus. She does it quietly; she doesn’t force her opinions on people. She has a very good way to manage the conversation so that everyone has an opportunity to speak. We feel very fortunate to have her.”

Says Block, “Leading involves participating in what you enjoy. It’s about being present where you live. I love the public things that I do. I like to make things happen. My grandfather did this really well. He was engaged. He helped to make a difference.”

His style was quiet leadership, suggesting rather than strong-arming. Hers? “I like it when people are candid,” Block says, “when they’re going to tell me what they think. And I’m collaborative. I work better working with people, making decisions with people. And I like to lighten things up. There’s no reason for things not to be fun.

“Leadership,” she adds, “makes for a great place to live. I love being in the city, being in the heart of things.”

“She cares deeply about Pittsburgh,” offers Ellie Childs, co-founder and president of Heartwood Institute, whose read-aloud children’s books teach ethics. “I’m really glad she came here. We’re lucky to have her.”

“How do we move the region forward?” Block asks. “I think we focus on this green stuff,” she smiles, “buildings, parks, rivers. We have this great way of life. Why don’t we turn that into who we are? We have a great potential to speak louder there. I think that’s the easiest way to generate lot of progress on a variety of different fronts. Personally,” she adds, “I’m delighted that I can help the region define itself. That’s so exciting.”

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Abby Mendelson’s latest book, Ghost Dancer, a collection of short stories, is available at amazon and bn.com.

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All photographs copyright Brian Cohen