Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh Sports Alumna Cathy Engelbert ’86 Delivers Address at 150th Lehigh Commencement
5/21/2018 4:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Support
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – "You are a role model, and you establish others' perspectives of the expectation of what a professional career looks like. Be careful." Those were just some of the words of Cathy Engelbert '86 that echoed throughout Goodman Stadium on Monday morning during the University's 150th Commencement Exercises. Engelbert, a Lehigh alumna and former student athlete, returned to campus to deliver the commencement address.
After graduating from Lehigh, she went to work for Deloitte in New York City, rising through the ranks before being named the company's CEO in 2015. Deloitte is one of the "Big Four" accounting agencies, providing audit, tax and consulting services to more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. She has been recognized in many publications for her work including being named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women three years in a row, has made Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards list of 50 Highest Rated CEOs, been recognized as one of New York's 50 Most Power Women by Crain's, and was named on Working Mother's 50 Most Powerful Moms. She is the first female to be appointed CEO of a Big Four firm.
Engelbert graduated from the University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She was a member of the Engineers women's basketball and lacrosse teams and served as a senior captain for both squads. On the court, she played for former Lehigh coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw, helping lead Lehigh to an East Coast Conference title in 1986 and was a Second Team All-Conference Honoree in 1985. She finished her career with 861 career points, an average of 8.8 points per game, averaged 2.9 rebounds per game and held a career field goal percentage of .498.
Engelbert shared many lessons and experiences throughout her approximately 15 minute speech, including three general life lessons that have helped her throughout her postgraduate life.
The first was to do what has not already been done, saying that "reinvention at every stage will not only still matter, but will matter even more because of the pace of change today," citing a future that will be a bit more tech focused.
The second was to schedule your personal updates, imploring students to be aware of the upgrades and advances in life and technology and to get out ahead of the curve, because the real world does not give you notifications of new upgrades and changes like your receive on your phone.
Lastly, Engelbert stressed staying anchored on what matter most to you. Referencing her own family, including her husband and two children, Engelbert talked about blurring the lines between work and purpose, and that purpose can continued to be carried through everything that students pursue after graduation.
Included in her speech was a letter she wrote for her younger self on her graduation day, outlining the lessons she learned from her life after Lehigh, including many examples from her days as a student-athlete.
"You picked up valuable advice from (head coach Muffet McGraw) along the way such as 'be your best, not just when it counts, but in ordinary moments,'" Engelbert said as part of her letter. "That advice later will help you prioritize people over tasks and keep you calm among the chaos and adapt. Remember, how you respond during the challenging times really defines who you are."
"We are very proud of Cathy and her accomplished career," said head women's basketball coach Sue Troyan. "It is a special opportunity to deliver the commencement speech at your alma mater and it speaks volumes about the impact her Lehigh experience has had on her personal development and leadership while CEO at Deloitte."
After graduating from Lehigh, she went to work for Deloitte in New York City, rising through the ranks before being named the company's CEO in 2015. Deloitte is one of the "Big Four" accounting agencies, providing audit, tax and consulting services to more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. She has been recognized in many publications for her work including being named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women three years in a row, has made Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards list of 50 Highest Rated CEOs, been recognized as one of New York's 50 Most Power Women by Crain's, and was named on Working Mother's 50 Most Powerful Moms. She is the first female to be appointed CEO of a Big Four firm.
Engelbert graduated from the University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She was a member of the Engineers women's basketball and lacrosse teams and served as a senior captain for both squads. On the court, she played for former Lehigh coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw, helping lead Lehigh to an East Coast Conference title in 1986 and was a Second Team All-Conference Honoree in 1985. She finished her career with 861 career points, an average of 8.8 points per game, averaged 2.9 rebounds per game and held a career field goal percentage of .498.
Engelbert shared many lessons and experiences throughout her approximately 15 minute speech, including three general life lessons that have helped her throughout her postgraduate life.
The first was to do what has not already been done, saying that "reinvention at every stage will not only still matter, but will matter even more because of the pace of change today," citing a future that will be a bit more tech focused.
The second was to schedule your personal updates, imploring students to be aware of the upgrades and advances in life and technology and to get out ahead of the curve, because the real world does not give you notifications of new upgrades and changes like your receive on your phone.
Lastly, Engelbert stressed staying anchored on what matter most to you. Referencing her own family, including her husband and two children, Engelbert talked about blurring the lines between work and purpose, and that purpose can continued to be carried through everything that students pursue after graduation.
Included in her speech was a letter she wrote for her younger self on her graduation day, outlining the lessons she learned from her life after Lehigh, including many examples from her days as a student-athlete.
"You picked up valuable advice from (head coach Muffet McGraw) along the way such as 'be your best, not just when it counts, but in ordinary moments,'" Engelbert said as part of her letter. "That advice later will help you prioritize people over tasks and keep you calm among the chaos and adapt. Remember, how you respond during the challenging times really defines who you are."
"We are very proud of Cathy and her accomplished career," said head women's basketball coach Sue Troyan. "It is a special opportunity to deliver the commencement speech at your alma mater and it speaks volumes about the impact her Lehigh experience has had on her personal development and leadership while CEO at Deloitte."
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