From first-generation employee to visionary CEO, Liza Streiff shares how she grew a small training firm into the gold standard for Wall Street exam preparation while reshaping what leadership can look like for women in finance.

As the youngest and first female CEO of Knopman Marks, Liza has built her career on purpose, resilience, and a belief in what people can achieve with the right support. She joined the company straight out of college planning to stay only a year, yet quickly connected with the mission of helping students pass high stakes exams that unlock life changing careers. Today she is known for a transformative approach to learning and high performance coaching that helped quadruple the company’s size and earned her recognition as Female Executive of the Year at the 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

In our conversation, Liza shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, including stepping into the CEO role just before the pandemic. She describes guiding the company through a swift move to digital learning, a shift that expanded their national reach and strengthened their impact. She also reflects on how her own learning disabilities became an advantage in creating training that blends structure, empathy, and innovation.

Liza offers practical insights on leading in fast changing environments, supporting Gen Z professionals, and cultivating entrepreneurial thinkers inside large organizations. She highlights the lasting importance of human connection in education and the mindsets needed to build meaningful careers. We also talk about her work through the Betty Kiernan Foundation, which provides targeted support to women pursuing nursing degrees and families in crisis.

This episode is a powerful reminder of what is possible when women lead with clarity, heart, and conviction. Tune in to hear Liza’s full story and the lessons she hopes will inspire the next generation of leaders.

Chapters
👋 00:56 Meet Liza Streiff the Transformative Leader🚀 02:29 Liza’s Path to Becoming CEO🌱 06:34 Navigating Challenges and Leading Growth🔭 21:20 Liza’s Future Vision and Personal Impact💛 26:02 Honoring Legacy with High Impact Grants🌟 27:14 Empowering Early Career Professionals🧭 29:01 Guiding Gen Z Through Today’s Workforce💡 33:37 Building Proactivity and Entrepreneurial Thinking📈 43:36 Advancing and Retaining Women in Finance
Links
Website:https://www.lizastreiff.com/
( https://www.lizastreiff.com/ ) Social Media:https://knopman.com/performance-training
( https://knopman.com/performance-training ) LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-streiff/
( https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-streiff/ )Explore Liza Streiff’s work, connect with her on LinkedIn, and follow her leadership resources to support your own growth and impact.
Sponsor
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Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com ( hello@sheleadsmedia.com )Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com ( https://www.sheleadsmedia.com/ )Join us at the upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC on November 6th & 7th. Learn more at sheleadsmedia.com ( https://www.sheleadsmedia.com/ )

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The She Leads Podcast | Rewriting the Rules of Entrepreneurship
Episode 184
December 5, 2025

★ Episode details: https://share.transistor.fm/s/308f161c

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