The ABQ Accent · City of Albuquerque - Office of Civic Engagement

The ABQ Accent | Ep 34 - Diane Harrison Ogawa

August 21, 2025·34 min·1 clip

The secret to Albuquerque leadership: see what could be, show up, do the work—they'll listen.

Mariah opens by introducing Diane Harrison-Ogawa and naming the many chapters of her career. Diane laughs at the shared-name coincidence and settles into a thoughtful conversation. She reflects on years in corporate law and the later shift into philanthropy and community relations. She also talks about her work at CNM, where she led executive coaching efforts across the institution. The pace stays unhurried. Mariah invites her to fill in the gaps, and Diane does so with a calm, practical tone. She describes a career that keeps evolving rather than ending in a clean line. A lot of her language centers on investing in people. She says she spent much of her time connecting people to one another. That idea becomes one of the main threads of the interview. She names leaders she admires and describes the satisfaction of watching others grow. The conversation keeps circling back to the nonprofit community in Albuquerque. Diane suggests that real leadership often looks like support, resources, and steady encouragement. She does not frame her work as self-congratulation. Instead, she points outward, toward the people and organizations doing the day-to-day work. Mariah follows that thread and asks what it means to invest in others. Diane answers by mapping her life into chapters. She speaks about the pull of the next stage and the sense that retirement may not be quite her thing. There is humor in the way she says she holds Mondays sacred. The episode closes with appreciation for civic engagement and the shared commitment to community. It feels less like a victory lap than a careful accounting of a life spent helping other people do their best work.

As heard by us

A grounded portrait of leadership as connective work in Albuquerque.

The conversation treats leadership as a form of connective work. Diane Harrison-Ogawa traces a path through corporate law, philanthropy, higher ed, and coaching, but the throughline is consistent: helping people and institutions in Albuquerque do their jobs better.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a warm look at Albuquerque leadership built through connection, press play.

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