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Diana Maldonado
Founder and CEO of Candidate School is a former Texas state legislator and best-selling author The Unlikely Candidate: Breaking Barriers to Elected Office and Beyond. Her writing draws from a rich tapestry of experiences campaigning, politics, traveling the world, and running marathons — all shaped by her identity as a proud Latina.
Candidate School is a national digital program that helps women explore, run for, win, lead in, and remain in elected office. Participants work in cohorts or at their own pace, with coaching provided throughout the process. Through partnerships, Candidate School expands opportunities, shares practical lessons, and empowers women to approach their campaigns with clarity and confidence.
Diana was the first Latina elected to represent Williamson County’s House District 52 in the Texas House of Representatives and raised $1.7 million for her campaigns. Her legislative work focused on education, business, and public safety. She authored or coauthored 88 bills, secured nearly $27 million for her district, and was named “Freshman of the Year.” Previously, she served two terms on the Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees, including as president during her second term, when she helped shepherd a $349 million bond.
After leaving elected office, Diana became a financial advisor at a major investment firm, where she continued to support and mentor women in financial education and empowerment. She later served as CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and remains active in her community, advising nonprofits, small businesses, and emerging leaders.
Diana is an accomplished global marathon runner with race completions in Tokyo, Berlin, London, New York, and Paris. She is also an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for travel. Diana is the parent of two adult children, Alex and Denise, and values her role as a grandparent to Camila.
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