Liza Engel: The Treasurer

People are emotional beings; they want their concerns and needs to be taken seriously and to feel fully understood. Only then can they reach their full potential and contribute effectively. More than 2,200 people work for the audit and consulting firm Deloitte Switzerland. People from over 60 different countries work together every day. Everyone should feel at home. Liza Engel, as Chief People Officer (CPO), makes sure of that. She asks probing questions and isn’t satisfied with empty platitudes. She reads between the lines and perceives the person she’s talking to in a holistic way. Where does this gift come from?

Liza Engel was born in Canada and grew up as an only child, lovingly cared for by her mother. She was a rather shy child. She enjoyed observing people and discovered her ability to holistically grasp nonverbal behavior. She looks beyond the surface and is thus able to develop an understanding that allows her to recognize people’s needs and concerns without them having to tell her about them. From her mother, she learns that you can achieve anything if you work hard for it. She develops ambition and discipline, working on weekends alongside her schoolwork. After graduating from high school, Liza Engel studied economics, marketing, and finance in Alberta. She married a Swiss man and moved with him in 1999 to the country where she has now lived for 23 years: Switzerland. «I was curious and wanted to see Europe. Back then, I never could have imagined that I would never return to Canada,» she says in an interview.

Work Experience

At PwC in Zurich, she gained her first insights into professional life, then moved to Swiss Life, where she worked her way up to Senior Marketing Manager. She also developed her language skills through regular interaction with people—her initial need to catch up linguistically simultaneously sharpened her awareness of nonverbal communication. Her childhood shyness quickly faded, giving way to her talent for communication, which she gradually perfected. Liza Engel moved to Swisscom and helped shape the company for over 14 years during a time of major change. She is interested in diversity, inclusion, agile leadership, human-centered design, and customer experience design, and has been able to implement key initiatives in various roles, consistently achieving success. She plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Swisscom brand and successfully positioning the company.

«I'm surrounded by smart people who are passionate about what they do.»

In 2019, Liza Engel joined her current employer, Deloitte. The role of Chief People Officer gives her the opportunity to bring together all her skills—both those she has acquired and those she possesses naturally. She now has 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and human resources at all management levels. She feels a deep sense of gratitude for being able to serve employees, help them unlock their potential, and provide them with targeted support. She has seen firsthand what happens when people believe in others. «I see something in you; you’re special; I believe in you.» These are the words that have shaped and strengthened her throughout her own career.

Liza Engel is 47 years young, a mother of three, and married for the second time. She is now a partner at Deloitte Switzerland, works full-time, and moved with her family to the Bernese Oberland last May. Her husband supports her in all areas of life. Together, they juggle family and work life.

Years of Maturity

When asked how motherhood has changed her management skills, she says it has been a profound experience that has completed her personality like a missing piece of a puzzle. Every day is full of the unexpected; she has to react, be flexible, and above all, not be perfect. «Learning that wasn’t easy for me,» she says, her gaze turning inward for a moment. «I’m a product of the »Martha Stewart generation’: always in a good mood, always perfectly made up, always with a smile on my face. The house perfect, the kids perfect, everything a breeze! I had to let that go.” Being honest with herself and communicating that to the outside world has made her stronger.

Within her team of 65 employees, she has also fostered a work environment characterized by open and genuine interactions, with everyone treated as equals. Transparent communication, combined with a positive attitude, has also been essential for collaboration during the pandemic. In an internal survey, employees described management’s communication and actions as «fair»—a compliment, as Liza Engel sees it. Ever since she and her family moved to the Bernese Oberland and have been experiencing the benefits of nature every day, Liza Engel has felt a growing desire to advocate for greater sustainability. She wants to place a stronger focus on this issue both in her personal life and at work—as treasurer of Natur und Mensch.

Deloitte is one of the leading audit and consulting firms in Switzerland and worldwide. The company offers industry-specific services in the areas of Audit & Assurance, Consulting, Financial Advisory, Risk Advisory, and Tax & Legal. With over 2,200 employees across its six locations—Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, and its headquarters in Zurich—Deloitte serves companies and institutions across all sectors of the economy.