About Me
Strategic, technical, analytical, and innovative executive. Over 20 years’ experience working in research, new product development, and manufacturing operations. Proven ability to lead; catalyzing business growth through collaboration, engineering management, competitive positioning, market analysis, and product commercialization. My specialty is creating and integrating the innovative strategies that drive product development and operational excellence. A proactive problem solver, I resolve product development, cost structure and release timing challenges to enable businesses to consistently achieve the highest level of efficiency, performance and success.
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Solving Complex Problems that Integrate Strategy, Operations, People, and Technology
Noted for:
Technology Investment Sourcing
Bring the best inorganic opportunities to my firm through proactive outreach to private equity and venture capital networks. Drive the sourcing and evaluation of current and future inorganic opportunities. Identify and proactively develop new strategic and business development opportunities.
Relationship Management
Cultivate relationships with management teams in industries aligned with my firm's strategic priorities, with a focus on new technology investments.
Strategic Analysis
Lead strategic and financial analysis of inorganic opportunities. Build financial models to assess returns on invested capital and impacts to my firm's P&L under various financing scenarios.
Executive Recommendation
Recommend strategic transactions to my firm's senior leadership at the Executive Leadership Team and Board-level. Lead negotiation of transaction consideration, structure, integration and retention plans.
Thought Leader
Act as a thought partner and trusted advisor to senior executives and business leaders by staying abreast of global investment events, macroeconomic trends, regulatory developments and other public market information. Lead strategic prioritization though diverse partnerships with technologists, investors and business managers.
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Due Diligence & Integration - Revenue Growth - Organizational Restructuring - Business Development - Market Analysis - Commercial Strategy - Change Management - Process Improvement - Resource Rationalization and Management - Supply Chain Operations - M&A - Venture Capital
Thought Leadership
Inspiring Business Women
Diana Grauer shares some impressive advice about networking and what we need to do to get more women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers.
SharpCloud Pathfinder
Diana Grauer talks about using SharpCloud to implement a clear strategy for product and project management, leading to improved transparency, accountability and efficiency across the organisation.
Inside Unmanned Systems
Diana Grauer introduces the new corporate venturing, open innovation, and technology watch programs at TechnipFMC, and discusses how collaborating with start-ups spurs and accelerates innovation.
CERAWeek
Diana Grauer discusses the tipping point where economics and technology allow for resident deep-water drilling and how the confluence of new technologies drive the future supply chain for offshore E&P.
All Videos
Energy Tech: Is our Startup Scene Sustainable?
How Does Oil & Gas Tech Play into Energy Transition? | Energy Tech Night IV
My Experience
Director - Research & Development
February 2020Â - Present
R&D | New Product Development | Winning Strategies │ Team Leadership │ Long-Term Business Planning
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Promoted to manage the global TechnipFMC R&D organization. Highly motivated, entrepreneurial leader of global team conducting internal R&D, Technology Demonstrations, and Product Deployment in collaboration with customers, suppliers, partners, and start-ups. Manage communications, budgets, and network of internal and external resources to develop the next generation of oil-field technology.
Sustainable Investment
Create sustainable development with collaboration among product lines, Business Development, and Sales. Facilitate intense R&D efforts. Implemented best practices for R&D, product development, product strategy, and marketing strategy; metrics and KPIs to evaluate performance.
Market Analysis
Create and deploy strategic marketing and market analysis programs; lead portfolio-level financial analysis. Presentation of approach to executive leadership and steering committees.
Roadmaps
Develop product roadmap for hardware and software development. Implemented programs for product marketing, strategic direction and continuous improvement; lead cross-functional business development efforts. Set KPI and reporting benchmarks for investments.
Strategic Sourcing
Develop a keen understanding of and monitor key technology and market trends and startup ventures in specific areas of interest to TechnipFMC. Maintain firm view of market landscape of industry participants including emerging startup companies, market shares, relative competitive advantage, and business models.
Creative Problem-solving
Deliver analytically rigorous insights to support strategic direction and prioritization. Work collaboratively across organizations to support cross-company strategy efforts. Drive key strategic initiatives spanning growth strategies and new business development.
Director - External Technology Engagement
January 2019 - February 2020
Inorganic Growth | Private Equity | Venture Capital | Corporate Strategy | Business Development
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Lead a core group of professionals who develop strategic plans of record, address key cross-business-unit strategic questions, and find opportunities for strategic partnerships and investments helping the company realize its growth goals.
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Strategic Sourcing
Develop a keen understanding of, and monitor key technology and market trends in specific areas of interest to TechnipFMC. Maintain firm view of market landscape of industry participants including emerging startup companies, market shares, relative competitive advantage, and business models.
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Creative Problem-solving
Deliver analytically rigorous insights to support strategic direction and prioritization. Work collaboratively across organizations to support cross-company strategy efforts. Drive key strategic initiatives spanning growth strategies and new business development.
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Due-diligence
Develop strategic rationale, create business cases, and conduct company and industry due diligence to support investment and strategic business development activities. Manage due diligence and integration planning in partnership with teams across Finance, HR, Operations and Legal.
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Process and Governance
Create processes and governance, as well as metrics and KPIs for newly created Corporate Venture Capital and Open Innovation programs.
Vice President Engineering
August 2017 - January 2019
Process Improvement │ Quality Control │ Issue Resolution │ On-time Project Planning │ Product Launch
Provided strategic leadership, focusing teams on innovative engineering for engine, compression, automotive, and transportation technology. Enthusiastic, hands-on leadership of team throughout post-acquisition integration and reorganization, new management, budget and product management practices. Refined and improved engineering processes for peak impact on quality and cost controls.
Customer Satisfaction
Responsive to customer and client needs with newly product-aligned organization, ensuring product ownership by executive leadership team. Resolved issues with project management, meeting target dates, and product pricing targets. Led volume from one yearly release to three releases in Q4 2017 and five in Q1-Q3 2018.
Increased Market Share
Led strategic negotiation of business direction and business development. Submitted timely and effective competitive positioning and introduction of new engineered products and services increasing market share.
Commercial Management
Proven track record; provide strategic direction and collaborate with sales operations and commercial leadership for analysis of competitive landscape; resourceful and accountable executive leadership team for management of P&L. Led regulatory compliance and audit efforts.
Organizational Restructuring
Guided team throughout post-M&A integration and reorganization, gaining momentum with new management, budget, and project management practices. Ensured product ownership by managers and accelerated on-time delivery.
International Team Management
Managed more than 60 engineers in 4 locations in 3 countries, plus budget. Infused team culture with value engineering, cost control and release improvements. Positively influenced engagement with clearly defined roles, implementing a technology career ladder, and focusing staff amounting to a 100% retention rate.
Corporate Technology Manager
June 2016 - August 2017
Next-gen Planning and Design │ Cost Control │ Process Improvement │ Patents │ Operations │ Due Diligence
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Developed Mechanical, Modeling and Materials Technology organization for oilfield services company. Created and deployed strategic roadmaps, heading technology development. Shaped next-gen mechanical, mechatronics and modeling practices. Furthered technology process and future strategy, reviewing new technologies for strategic decisions.
Profitability
Created profitable operation with efficient product introduction, performance, and VAVE cost savings. Saved costs with new, robust product design and development processes behind successful launch, performance, and cost controls. Identified and resolved obstacles to success.
Organizational Development
Directed engineers and scientists; managed budget. Developed department into thriving business, incorporating 3 organizations (including Cameron) into R&D Centers. Created new product design and cost control processes improving product development saving 5% in costs. Develop and mentor junior researchers, engineers and scientists.
Roadmaps
Developed product roadmap for hardware and software development. Implemented programs for product marketing, strategic direction and continuous improvement; led cross-functional business development efforts. Set KPI and reporting benchmarks for investments.
M&A and Venture Capital Due Diligence
Assessed start-up companies and technologies for M&A and Venture Capital investments; directed due diligence culminating in development of successful strategic plan for expedited integration while allowing continued business profitability.
Patents
Managed intense R&D and innovation efforts by experts in physics, chemistry, material science, and engineering. Led virtual team, including legal resources, through patent application process, leading to six patent applications – three patent awards and three patents in review.
Corporate R&D Manager
March 2014 - June 2016
Winning Strategies │ Team Leadership │ Long-Term Business Planning │ R&D │ Product Development
Managed new program, structuring organization charter, motivating teams and heading long-term development including R&D. Drove product line, competitive strategy and IP growth. Managed $2.75M R&D and product development budget.
Strategy
Drove broad changes in product and engineering strategy – creating in-house, effective R&D organization. Leveraged in-house talent bringing outsourced R&D in-house ensuring involvement in idea generation saving $4M a year. Led teams of researchers, engineers, physicists, materials scientists, and chemists. Created program to employ analytical skills of cross-functional subject matter experts for research portfolio reviews.
Sustainable Investment
Created sustainable development with collaboration among product lines, Business Development, and Sales. Facilitated intense R&D efforts leading to new patent applications and awards. Implemented best practices for R&D, product development, product strategy, and marketing strategy; metrics and KPIs to evaluate performance.
Market Analysis
Created and deployed strategic marketing and market analysis programs; led portfolio-level financial analysis. Presentation of approach to executive leadership and steering committees.
Industry Partnerships
Strengthened and built relations at top universities, expanding alliances beyond recruitment to support technology development and new Master’s programs.
M&A and Venture Capital Due Diligence
Assessed start-up companies and technologies for M&A and Venture Capital investments; directed due diligence culminating in development of successful strategic plan for expedited integration while allowing continued business profitability.
Program Manager - Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA)
November 2010 - March 2012
In collaboration with the US Department of Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office, managed AVTA research efforts at Argonne National Laboratory's Advance Powertrain Research Facility, Oakridge National Laboratory, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Researching impacts of all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and charging infrastructure across the US. Responsible for collaborations with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the US Department of Transportation, and academia. Extensive consulting and writing experience on related policy making.
Program & Portfolio Manager - Energy & Industrial Technology
August 2010 - March 2012
Managed $150M program and portfolio of projects to develop hybrid energy systems for the US Department of Energy and US Department of Defense. Fundraising to research impacts of localized generation on forward operating bases and Defense Department installations, allowing for the development of case-specific load profiles for use in technology development and university research. Extensive consulting experience on government regulations. Responsible for financial operations, laboratory health, safety, environment, security, and sustainability program.
Education
Master's Certificate - Venture Capital
University of California, Berkeley
Venture Capital Executive Program
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Kansas State University
Summa Cum Laude
Engine simulation software for performance characterization in the Turbocharger-Reciprocating Engine Simulation (T-RECS). Developed computer model to simulate multi-cylinder intake air delivery and exhaust blow-down for large bore turbocharged reciprocating engine. Conclusion of graduate research resulted in a comprehensive set of new guidelines to optimize manifold design by controlling pulsation and allowing for optimal cylinder scavenging.
Graduate research assistant at the National Gas Machinery Laboratory. Patent award for Graduate Research.
"Outstanding Graduate Researcher" by the College of Engineering for Distinguished Research. "Best Paper" the Fall 2007 ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference. Paper later published in the ASME Journal of Gas Turbines and Power.
Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering
Kansas State University
Top 5%
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Nuclear Society, Society of Women Engineers, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Women, Alpha Chi Omega
Mechanical Engineering Department Class President. President of Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Committee.
Course work focused on thermal systems, fluid dynamics, and combustion.
Worked at the National Gas Machinery Laboratory as a undergraduate research assistant. Member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Played intramural basketball, softball, and flag football.
My Skills
Executive Collaboration & Direction
M&A Due Diligence & Integration
KPI & Development Benchmarks
Division Growth & Profitability
Business & Team Restructuring
Patented Technologies
Research & Product Development
Technical Strategy
Industry Partnerships
Market Analysis
"New initiatives need a proper framework, leadership and motivation, to prevent strain on an organization. The team must understand why the change is needed, why they should be involved and what they can do. Implementing shared decision-making, responsibility and accountability within your team will affect change more quickly. Give your team incremental, but critical changes within the initiative to champion. Reinforcing these small steps in multiple systems and processes while empowering the team to implement how these changes are made leads to ownership of the innovation and behaviors that will eventually become inherent in the organization."
How do you lead large-scale change initiatives effectively?
Diana K. Grauer, Ph.D.
