Cathy Engelbert

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Records

Engelbert's career is defined by firsts. She broke the glass ceiling at Big Four accounting firms when she became CEO of Deloitte in 2015. Her leadership at the WNBA has modernized the league, with a new CBA that tripled player salaries and the creation of the Wubble during the pandemic. She has been consistently recognized by Fortune, Forbes, and Working Mother for her influence and impact.

AwardsEngelbert has been recognized multiple times on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list, including in 2024. She was named to Forbes' 50 Over 50 in 2021 and Adweek's 40 Women to Watch the same year. Working Mother Magazine honored her as one of the 50 Most Powerful Moms for three years. She also received the Lehigh University Excellence in Industry Award in 2024.

Honours & Distinctions

Collingswood Athletic Hall of Fame

Collingswood High School·1993

Inducted for basketball and lacrosse achievements.

First Woman CEO of a Big Four Firm

Deloitte·2015

Became the first female CEO of Deloitte, a Big Four professional services firm.

First Woman Chair of the Catalyst Board

Catalyst·2015

First woman to chair the board of Catalyst, a nonprofit promoting inclusive workplaces.

First Commissioner of the WNBA

WNBA·2019

Appointed as the first commissioner in league history.

Rankings & Lists

#Listed

Fortune's Most Powerful Women

Fortune·2024

#Listed

Forbes' 50 Over 50

Forbes·2021

#Listed

Adweek's 40 Women to Watch

Adweek·2021

#Listed

Crain's 50 Most Powerful Women in New York

Crain's·2019

#Listed

Glassdoor's 100 Highest-Rated CEOs

Glassdoor·2018

Records & Feats

First woman to lead a Big Four accounting firm

Career Milestone·2015

Became CEO of Deloitte in 2015, the first female CEO of any Big Four firm.

First commissioner of the WNBA

Historic First·2019

Appointed as the league's first commissioner in 2019.