Cate Luzio is redefining community and career growth for women. She didn’t set out to build a movement, but that’s exactly what she did. After two decades climbing the ranks in banking and tech, Luzio launched Luminary in 2018, not as a co-working space, but as a platform for community, connection, and career growth, especially for women and underrepresented groups. Today, Luminary spans the globe both digitally and in person, and Luzio is more determined than ever to make sure no one gets left behind.
From Corporate Corridors to Community Catalyst
“I spent almost twenty years in finance,” Luzio reflects, “but I was building community long before it was a buzzword.” Whether leading internal employee groups at Bank of America, JPMorgan, or HSBC, or mentoring emerging leaders, she was always asking the same question: “Why don’t we do this for everyone?”
Feeling the urge to take action and so something about it, that seed then grew into Luminary. Luminary is a membership-based professional development hub that skips exclusivity and replaces it with authenticity. “There’s no application process to join,” Luzio says. “We remove barriers intentionally because too many women already feel like they don’t have a seat at the table.”
Luminary’s approach is grounded in five pillars: Advance, Build, Connect, Develop, and Expand, which Luzio calls: “a whole-person model for growth.” It’s a roadmap that supports members whether they’re launching businesses, leading teams, or navigating career transitions.
“Your version of success doesn’t have to look like mine,” Luzio notes. “But all versions deserve to be nurtured.”
Members access everything from skills-based workshops and strategic branding support to resume clinics and financial literacy bootcamps. It’s not just about knowledge transfer, it’s about connection. Each word forms a practical and philosophical backbone to deliver value to members.
Advance is about equipping members with the skills and tools they need to move forward; whether that’s in their current role, a new venture, or a career pivot. Luminary offers workshops, bootcamps, and on-demand content focused on everything from negotiation to resume writing, all designed to help members take actionable steps forward. “We believe in progress over perfection,” Luzio says. “Advancing doesn’t always mean a leap—it can be a nudge in the right direction.”
Build refers to the construction of both personal and professional brands. For business owners, this means strategic planning, marketing, and visibility. For professionals, it may involve leadership development, crafting a compelling narrative, or increasing internal influence. “We’re constantly building, whether it be our networks, our confidence, our businesses,” says Luzio. “This pillar is about giving people the foundation to do that with clarity and consistency.”
Connect underscores Luminary’s emphasis on relationships as reciprocal and transformative. More than networking, it’s about cultivating meaningful exchanges. Through community meetups, digital events, and peer mentoring, members connect across industries, backgrounds, and geographies. “We don’t believe in transactional networking,” Luzio explains. “It’s about investing in each other, learning and lifting as we go… You can’t just take. You have to give too.”
Develop focuses on the whole human, not just the resume. Luminary integrates holistic wellness, mental, physical, emotional, and financial, into its programming. The idea is simple but often overlooked: people thrive when they’re supported holistically. “We’re all juggling so much,” Luzio notes. “This pillar is about not leaving your well-being behind while you chase your goals.”
Expand is both internal and external; it’s about expanding your mindset, your skillset, and your reach. Whether it’s stepping into new leadership, entering new markets, or simply gaining the confidence to take up more space, this pillar challenges members to think bigger. “Growth starts with belief,” says Luzio. “We want our members to stretch… into new conversations, new opportunities, and new ways of seeing themselves.”
Together, these five pillars form a scaffolding that supports Luminary’s mission: to ensure everyone, especially those historically excluded, has the resources and community they need to thrive and define success for themselves.
While these pillars underpin the community framework, technology has played a pivotal role in the expansion of Luminary. While currently we see technology reshaping the workplace, Luminary continues to invest in physical spaces and face-to-face interaction. “We were in-person-only before the pandemic,” Luzio says, “but now we balance that with digital. Flexibility matters, especially for working parents and caregivers.”
Luminary’s approach is grounded in five pillars: Advance, Build, Connect, Develop, and Expand, which Luzio calls: “a whole-person model for growth.”
Cate Luzio
With pop-up events in eight cities and a robust online programming calendar. People are important and Luzio emphasies the need for peer-to-peer interactions and the power of in-person events. Luminary proves that technology and humanity can complement each other, not compete. “They’re not mutually exclusive,” Luzio insists. “They’re partners.”
While other brands compete for attention, Luminary cultivates partnerships—with corporations, nonprofits, and peer organizations alike. “There’s enough pie to go around,” Luzio says. “Collaboration is where change happens.” This is a principle Luzio lives by, Not only does Luminary partner with large organizations and offer its members access to top-tier experts, it also gives members the opportunity to grow and participate as experts themselves.
It’s not always easy. “Sure, competition is faster. But collaboration is deeper, and more sustainable,” she says. “Short-term pain for long-term gain.”
The Rise of the Stiletto-Strapped Entrepreneur
One of Luzio’s most resonant phrases, “stiletto-strapped,” speaks to the reality of women bootstrapping their businesses in a world that still doesn’t fund them equitably. “Seventy percent of small businesses are self-funded,” she says. “And for women, that means navigating even more barriers.”
That’s where Luminary comes in again: providing tools, networks, and financial insights to help entrepreneurs grow sustainably and on their own terms. “Know what strings are attached to money—whether from a bank or an investor,” Luzio advises. “Read the fine print.”
When asked what she wishes more aspiring founders and professionals understood, Luzio doesn’t hesitate: “Have a plan!”
“A business plan is your North Star,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be 50 pages, but it should guide your financial goals, your growth strategy, and your accountability.”
She also stresses knowing your numbers, which for her is not just revenue, but includes profitability, break-even points, and expenses. “Many businesses survive without really understanding their metrics,” she says. “But imagine how much more successful they’d be if they did.”
For those navigating traditional careers, her message is just as clear: “No one cares more about your career than you do. Don’t wait to be tapped. Invest in yourself, take ownership of your path, and speak up about your accomplishments.”
“Accomplishments don’t speak for themselves,” she says. “You have to make sure they’re heard.”
It’s no surprise Luzio finds inspiration in Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog, the memoir of Nike’s founder. “It reads like fiction,” she says. “But it’s real and it shows the grit, resilience, and belief in oneself that it takes to build something lasting.”
She gives the book to every new employee at Luminary and re-reads it regularly. “Nike didn’t become Nike overnight. It took decades of risk, failure, and relentless perseverance. That’s the part of entrepreneurship people don’t see enough, but it’s what defines the journey.” What drives Luzio? “Impact—and a bit of competition with myself,” she admits. Her own wins come in many forms, from helping a member become cash flow positive to seeing someone land a dream role after a Luminary class. And when the moment comes to celebrate? Luzio’s walk-up song is Guns N’ Roses’ Welcome to the Jungle. “It’s chaotic, energetic, and powerful,” she laughs. “Just like the world we’re navigating, and thriving in every day.”
No one cares more about your career than you do. Don’t wait to be tapped. Invest in yourself, take ownership of your path, and speak up about your accomplishments.
Cate Luzio
Cate Luzio is an energetic force who leaves everyone she encounters feeling seen, inspired, and empowered to take action. Luzio has built a movement that has allowed many to grow, find purpose, and excel. A conversation with her echoes the Luminary pillars, and in her determination, the clear sentiment to not take “no” for an answer.
