THE FINE LINE | with Cate Luzio
The Fine Line | CATE LUZIO
Cate Luzio is a builder by nature — of businesses, communities, and bold female leaders. As the founder and CEO of Luminary, a global membership-based career and personal growth platform, Cate is redefining how women connect, grow, and thrive in the workplace. After two decades as a banking executive, she made the bold leap into entrepreneurship, self-funding Luminary with a vision to create a space where women and allies could advance on their own terms.
Cate’s leadership is grounded in action. Through Luminary, she has created a vibrant, inclusive ecosystem that empowers professionals across industries to invest in themselves, expand their networks, and achieve success that aligns with their values. She is a frequent speaker, advocate for equity in the workplace, and trusted advisor to both rising talent and corporate leaders navigating change.
A former Global Head of Multinational Corporate Banking, Cate brings the discipline and perspective of corporate leadership to her work — but with a personal mission rooted in impact. Her approach to mentorship and community-building is pragmatic, transparent, and deeply human. She doesn’t just talk about lifting others up, she builds platforms that do it in real time.
As a proud aunt to 10 (and counting!) nieces and nephews, Cate is passionate about modeling confidence, resilience, and authenticity for the next generation. Her own journey — from boardrooms to building something from scratch — is a masterclass in reinvention. Along the way, she’s learned to measure success not just in milestones, but in the ripple effect of people you empower.
In this conversation for The Fine Line, Cate shares the lessons that shaped her most, from betting on herself after 20 years in finance, to navigating the challenges of launching and growing a business during a global pandemic. With clarity and candor, she offers her philosophy on leadership, self-advocacy, and why it’s never too early (or too late) to build influence. Her story is a powerful reminder that when women define success for themselves, they pave the way for others to do the same.
With 10 nieces and nephews (and counting!), you’ve mentioned how much joy they bring you. What advice do you hope to pass down to the next generation of young women stepping into their careers?
Don’t make yourself small. Take up space. And when you get a seat at the table, be visible, stay engaged, and invite others to join.
Listen and learn. Then listen and learn some more. Be prepared to work hard and prove yourself, but don’t second-guess your abilities. You’re there for a reason.
Be your best advocate. It will not only help you navigate your own career, but also make you a stronger advocate for others.
Remember that you’re a role model — someone is always watching and learning from you, too.
Promote yourself and share your achievements. It’s not bragging if it’s based on facts.
And finally, you can build influence at any stage of your career. Don’t wait until you feel like you’ve “made it.” Invest in relationships and build your influence every step of the way.
What has been your biggest lesson in resilience and reinvention throughout your career?
Two clear examples come to mind immediately. The first was making the choice six years ago to leave a two-decade career in finance, where I had “made it” — only to find myself without a calling card, big title, or clear identity when I decided to take the leap and launch Luminary. I self-funded it. I had to bet on myself and leverage my skills, experience, and background to take the biggest risk of my life: adopting a new identity as an entrepreneur.
The second was leading and managing through the pandemic, when the business was only a year old. I had to adapt quickly and come out stronger. I really embraced the mantra “never waste a good crisis.” I stopped worrying about what others thought and didn’t question where we were going. Instead, I focused on what we were building. It’s a lesson I constantly share with others:
Run your own race.
Has your definition of success evolved throughout your career? What does success look like to you today?
Absolutely. In my prior career, I had goals and milestones that were presented to me — a roadmap of titles, levels, and numbers — and I’m very proud of achieving them.
But now, I believe success evolves regularly.
It could be hiring the right person, bringing on a new enterprise client, or simply hearing from a Luminary member that we made an impact in their life.
I remember a coach once telling me that all the small wins add up. It’s not just about that one big win. Don’t get me wrong: I’m still competitive, ambitious, and driven to accomplish big wins, and I don’t shy away from those traits. But real success, for me, is about the impact I’m having — the impact we’re having at Luminary. Because it means we’re progressing our mission and advancing women and allies in the workforce in a purposeful, intentional way.
FOLLOW ALONG
Follow Cate at @cateluzio and follow Luminary at @weareluminary.
Follow Brigade Events and stay tuned for the next iteration of The Fine Line at @brigadeevents.
We’d be honored to include you — or a woman you admire — in this series. If you or someone you know has a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at carly@ingoodcompanypr.com. Together, we can uplift, support, and redefine leadership for the next generation.
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