Many driven leaders in early to mid-career face a painful reality: cultural and systemic barriers stand in the way of their leadership goals. Whether it’s the invisible “broken rung” in promotions, being passed over for high-visibility projects, or navigating self-doubt in rooms dominated by men, the obstacles are real—and exhausting.
Renee Zaugg understands this deeply. Born into a large, working-class family without access to higher education, she began her career hanging tapes in a remote Aetna data center. No degree. No connections. Just hard work, sharp instincts, and a relentless drive. She rose through the ranks to become Global CIO of Otis Worldwide, managing $1.4B in assets and leading enterprise-wide digital transformation.
Throughout her 40+ year career, Renee saw countless brilliant leaders stalled in their careers. That’s why she founded RisERZ Consulting—a leadership coaching and executive development firm focused on helping leaders in tech, business, and healthcare break through the noise, claim the spotlight, and lead with impact.
Through keynote speeches, corporate workshops, and 1:1 executive coaching, Renee teaches her signature three-step leadership practice—Sense, Center, Lead. This proven framework empowers leaders to:
At Aetna, Renee founded the Women’s Leadership Alliance, increasing VP-level female representation from 23% to 33.6% in just a few years. She’s been honored with the CIO 100 Award, named an ORBIE Super Global CIO finalist, and continues to mentor the next generation of women leaders across tech, Fortune 500 companies, and healthcare organizations.
Renee’s mission is simple: help high-potential leaders go from overlooked to unstoppable. Because leadership isn’t about permission—it’s about power in motion. And the fire? That’s where the opportunity lives.
Explore how Renee can support your growth through Executive Coaching, Leadership Workshops, or Keynote Speaking.
Get my proven 3-step “Sense, Center, Lead” framework to transform high-stakes moments into career-making opportunities.
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