The Channel Marketing Association (CMA) presented its 2026 Founders Award to Diane Brode, senior director of partner marketing for North America at Palo Alto Networks, in recognition of her exceptional leadership, generous support, and lasting contributions to both the channel marketing profession and the CMA community.
Presented at the CMA Marketing Summit 2026, the Founders Award is a special honor reserved for individuals whose impact goes beyond results on paper. It recognizes those who help shape the profession through leadership, service and a genuine commitment to building community.
“When we first launched CMA, we knew we wanted to bring together the best of the best for our inaugural board, and Diane was exactly that,” said CMA co-founder Kathryn Rose. “She has been instrumental in helping us grow, introducing us to sponsors, bringing in new members and always being a trusted sounding board for ideas. She has given her time, her energy and her belief in what we’re building. And somewhere along the way, she became more than just a board member; she became a friend.”
Brode has been part of CMA’s story since its earliest days. A member of the inaugural board, she attended the organization’s first summit and quickly became a trusted advocate, connector and sounding board. Through her support of sponsors, members and new ideas, she has helped expand CMA’s reach and strengthen its foundation as a community created by and for channel marketers.
Brode recently joined Palo Alto Networks where she leads the North American Ecosystems marketing strategy and guides a high-performing team of partner marketing professionals. In her new role, she is instrumental in redefining the company’s partner-first approach, driving demand, increasing market share, and accelerating revenue growth for both partners and customers.
Previously, Brode spent 25 years in leadership roles at Dell Technologies and EMC. Over the course of her career, she has helped shape investment strategies, modernize infrastructure, and advance AI-driven innovations designed to deliver measurable pipeline and return on investment.
A widely respected leader in the technology industry, Brode has been recognized as one of CRN’s Women of the Channel and named to Channel Insider’s Marketing Leaders 100.
