Elizebeth Varghese
Principal / Partner - Human Capital in Space Leader
Deloitte
Co-Leader Cloud Enabled Workforce Practice
Elizebeth Varghese partners with Boards and C-suite leaders to create powerful business outcomes and experiences for organizations operating around the world. Elizebeth has over a decade of business and operational experience and managed significant P/Ls. As a business leader, trusted C-suite advisor and board director, Elizebeth transforms organizations and furthers People and Technology strategies with solutions in artificial intelligence, blockchain and robotics. She is a Board Member of the Columbia Business School Women’s Circle and the Co-Chair of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship committee. She is on the Council of Advisors for The SETI Institute, which works with NASA and other space agencies to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe and the evolution of intelligence.
She recently published her internationally acclaimed book “Stellar Singularity—Navigating the Spacefaring Economy”. Global experts ranging from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) program leaders, the US Space Force Command, and The UK Space Agency reviewed and praised the book as providing a roadmap for the historical and technological developments through to shifts in democratization, policy, and value chain realization. Elizebeth has been called the “Space Philosopher”—because she integrates the technological aspects of our expansion into space with imperatives for economic, diplomatic, and ethical behavior.
“This timely, thoughtful book is the perfect guide and roadmap..to make sense of the new spacefaring age. In her spirited second book, futurist Elizebeth Varghese brings clarity, concision, and a human-centric lens to this critical conversation”, said Scott Stalker, Command Senior Enlisted Leader at United States Space Command, Senior Fellow Irregular Warfare Initiative. Marshall Goldsmith said, “Fascinating! A revolutionary take on the future of space and technology, Elizabeth teaches companies and leaders how to keep pace with the innovation that will take us farther than we thought possible. Well researched and brilliantly explained, you won’t want to put this book down!”
Elizebeth also authored a bestselling book on the application and implications of blockchain, titled “[Block]Chain Reaction—The Future of How We Live and Work”. The book was received with reviews like those from Dave Ulrich (Rensis Likert Professor), University of Michigan as “This outstanding book demystifies blockchain, shows its many applications, especially to assure human capital for the future, and will become THE reference guide for its use”. Gur Huberman, (the Robert G. Kirby Professor of Behavioral Finance), at Columbia Business School said, “The go-to book if you want to understand what permissioned blockchains can do for you”. Jake Thomas, (Williams Brothers Professor of Accounting and Finance), School of Management, Yale University, said, “Will the real Satoshi please stand up!”.
Elizebeth is also a bestselling author for “Significant Women: Leaders Reveal What Matters Most”. She is recognized as among the Top Experts and Inspirational Leaders of 2022 per The HR Gazette, and “The Outstanding Asian Americans in Business” awardee in 2021. She was also recognized as among the Top Global Influencers of 2022 (and 2020) for HR Strategy and Analytics.
Elizebeth is a Principal and co-leader of the Cloud Enabled Workforce team at Deloitte. She also leads Human Capital Services for the Space Sector. Prior to joining Deloitte, she was the Partner leading IBM’s Talent and HR Transformation Strategy client services for the Americas, and globally. She has also been the community leader for IBM’s Space Exploration Services, and a member of IBM’s “Good Technology” team. Prior to IBM, Elizebeth was at Ernst & Young (EY) where she was a senior Partner in various roles including leader of the Americas (North America, South America and Israel) practice for HR Performance Improvement and Americas market leader for Talent Management. Elizebeth was also a Senior Vice President at Aon-Hewitt and led the Talent Solutions practice (Assessment, Test Development & Technology Platforms, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, HR Transformation, Call Center Performance, Engagement). She has been a Principal at Hewitt Associates and led the North American Corporate Transformation consulting team.
Elizebeth has MBAs from both, the Columbia Business School, New York and the London Business School, UK. She also has a Master’s in Management from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mumbai, India. She lives in NYC with her husband, two daughters, and their Yorkie—Chutney.
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