The Heels Forward Podcast powered by Montea

In the second episode of The Heels Forward Podcast, hosted by Francesca Vanthielen, we sit down with Lieve Creten to discuss her remarkable career, her experiences in the boardroom, and the challenges of leadership. As an experienced board member and former managing partner at Deloitte, she shares insights on navigating the upper echelons of business and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This article highlights key takeaways from the podcast, including some of Lieve’s most inspiring quotes. 

From Deloitte to a new path 

After 32 years at Deloitte, Lieve Creten decided to take a new direction and regain control over her own schedule. “You’re driven by an organization and its KPIs, and at some point, you realize you want to spend your time differently,” she explains. Still, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Deloitte had a policy requiring partners to start planning their succession around age 56, giving Lieve the opportunity to carefully consider her next move. 

A strong woman or just yourself? 

While this podcast series spotlights strong women, Lieve puts the term into perspective: “I never really saw myself that way. But as you get older, you realize you’re a role model.” For her, strength means staying true to yourself and doing what you love with passion and joy. “Being a strong woman—or man—isn’t just about success. It’s also about showing vulnerability.” 

Entrepreneurship and curiosity 

During her student years, Lieve and her friends started a group-buying initiative for computers. “We started with 40 and ended up selling 500. So, the entrepreneurial spirit was always there,” she says with a laugh. Yet, after graduating, she chose Deloitte over launching her own company. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted yet, and Deloitte gave me the chance to explore different businesses.” 

A significant career shift 

One of the biggest turning points in her career was moving into mergers & acquisitions (M&A) at Deloitte. “I had always found auditing fascinating—as long as I kept learning. But when the opportunity arose to transition into M&A, I knew it was the right move.” Some warned that switching fields would jeopardize her path to becoming an audit partner, but she followed her gut. “It felt like running a startup within a large organization, and that gave me so much energy.” 

Balancing career and family 

Alongside her career, Lieve and her husband raised three children. “I was fortunate to have an incredibly supportive husband and parents. Without them, I couldn’t have done it.” She emphasizes the importance of outsourcing tasks: “You can’t do it all. Housekeeping, cooking, cleaning—if those things don’t give you energy, delegate them and focus on quality time with your family.” 

New challenges and the boardroom 

After leaving Deloitte, Lieve built a career combining board positions with project-based work. Today, she serves on the board of Montea and is actively involved with Doctors Without Borders. “I wanted to give back to society, but in a way that aligned with my expertise.” Her experience in both corporate governance and the non-profit sector has broadened her perspective. “At Doctors Without Borders, you see pure dedication. It’s incredibly inspiring.” 

Montea developed The Heels Forward Podcast to give inspiring leaders a platform to share their stories and show who they are beyond their professional roles—aligning with Montea’s focus on entrepreneurship, expertise, and team spirit. Lieve Creten embodies this perfectly: as an independent board member for leading companies, including Montea, she brings valuable experience and vision to the boardroom, inspiring not only businesses but also the next generation of leaders.