With a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to empowering others, Dr. Eugene Dilan, Psy.D., has made him and his namesake consulting firm DILAN Consulting Group, a dynamic force in the consulting industry. Eugene firmly believes that “Business is human,” and his mission is to help organizations fulfill their missions by developing high-performing leaders and teams that deliver meaningful results.
With over 25 years of experience in organizational development and management, Eugene is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been instrumental in transforming numerous organizations and building high-performing teams. After holding senior leadership positions in several non-profits and working with a UK-based international consulting firm, he realized that he genuinely enjoys the challenge of joining new organizations to help build teams and improve processes. “There is something about meeting new people and working with them to solve hard problems that really gets me excited about life,” he shares.
This desire to assist business leaders and teams in achieving their maximum potential motivated him to establish the DILAN Consulting Group.
Business is Human
Eugene has worked with leaders and teams needing to deliver mission-critical results in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including Kabul and Kandahar during the Afghanistan war and Baghdad, Iraq. At DILAN Consulting Group, he and his team of licensed clinical psychologists specialize in executive coaching, team development, leadership development, organizational change, as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. With a practical approach to solving today’s business challenges, DILAN provides real-world experience and evidence-based tools and strategies to help individuals better understand themselves and each other, enabling them to unleash their full potential.
Resilience is the Key
As an optimist, Eugene believes that resilience is one of the most important characteristics that every CEO should possess, especially in today’s volatile times. “Employees seek leaders that work to build trust, have a clear vision of the future, and are confident enough to recognize their and their employee’s humanity.
Rising to the Challenge of the COVID-19 Pandemic
One of Eugene’s most memorable incidents in his leadership journey was his approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world that we were all living through, it was essential to respect everyone by being as transparent as possible. By being open about the company’s finances and explaining the steps he was taking to ensure business solvency, Eugene created an environment where each employee was empowered to make the best possible decisions for the company and meet the needs for themselves and their families.
Eugene also changed the company’s approach to meetings, scheduling time for team members to meet virtually to share challenges and provide emotional support to each other. As a result, employees chose to make sacrifices that helped DILAN avoid layoffs and grew employee engagement by fostering a “we’re all in it together” feeling throughout the company. The combination of keeping the team intact and strengthening cohesion put DILAN in a position of strength to meet the needs of new and existing clients as the business returned to rapid growth.
Words of Wisdom
Aspiring entrepreneurs often seek guidance from seasoned professionals who have walked the path before them. When asked what advice he would give to entrepreneurs entering the marketplace, Eugene mentions having a bias for action and decision-making as every step taken brings you closer to your goals and helps create momentum. Additionally, fast decision-making provides ample time to recover from any setbacks. Mistakes are inevitable, and learning from them is crucial to keep going in the long run.
He further shares that running a business requires tenacity and perseverance, and giving up is not an option for those who seek success. Asking for help from mentors and peers is also essential, as no one can make it alone.
Eugene also advises entrepreneurs to always have fun while building their businesses.
With a mission to make the world a better place by helping organizations fulfill their missions, Eugene Dilan is a passionate leader who pioneers change with optimism. We are proud to feature him in our edition, “Top 10 Extraordinary CEOs of the Year,” and celebrate his achievements and contributions to the business world.
Company Name: DILAN Consulting Group
Featured Person: Dr. Eugene Dilan, Founder, and CEO
Quote: Our unique, people-centered strategies focus on nurturing, cultivating, and drawing from cultural differences in your organization.
