Her Story
About Liliana
Liliana Ospina is a Program Manager at Deloitte with nearly two decades of experience guiding complex federal technology initiatives to successful completion. Based in Aldie, Virginia, she has partnered with eight federal agencies and one state government client, applying Agile delivery methods to modernize systems, streamline operations, and strengthen public service outcomes. Her portfolio includes leading the buildout of a multibillion-dollar state energy grant and loan disbursement platform on Salesforce, driving HR modernization efforts for the Transportation Security Administration, and supporting strategic workforce planning for the U.S. Department of State. Equally at home collaborating with development teams and briefing senior government executives, she has built a reputation for translating technical complexity into practical, actionable solutions. A Certified SAFe® 6 Agilist, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Affairs from The American University of Rome and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.
Alongside her corporate achievements, Liliana has spent eight years channeling her consulting expertise into philanthropic work across Colombia. She founded and continues to lead a Deloitte-sponsored initiative that has mobilized more than 200 volunteer professionals to support organizations including Fundación Juanfe, Fundación Con Cora, and Edumetria 4 Development, helping them build stronger operating models, governance structures, and donor-ready reporting practices. Among her proudest accomplishments is guiding a 22-member Deloitte team through a workshop series in Cartagena, an initiative she pursued despite early doubts about the undertaking, ultimately expanding the firm's international community impact. Under her leadership, Fundación Juanfe now independently operates a full Salesforce CRM system that replaced manual, paper-based tracking with real-time data dashboards, enabling the organization to demonstrate impact to funders such as USAID, the World Bank, and the United Nations.
Liliana's personal philosophy, that a closed door simply means it's time to find another way through, reflects the resilience and adaptability that have defined her career. She credits much of her professional growth to mentors like former Deloitte partner Peter Liu, as well as to her mother, whose work with the World Bank first sparked her passion for international development. A devoted wife and mother of two daughters, Liliana also invests in restoring international properties, including one in Colombia whose proceeds help fund improvements and resources for a local school. Looking to the future, she hopes to grow that property into a sustainable enterprise, expand her restoration work to Italy, and eventually transition into nonprofit leadership focused on education or gender-based violence advocacy, continuing to blend her technology expertise with her lifelong commitment to service.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Liliana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, persistence, and a solution-focused mindset. My philosophy has always been that when one door closes, you find a window to smash — obstacles are simply opportunities to discover a new path forward. I also credit continuous learning, my willingness to take on different roles out of necessity, and my ability to network and seize opportunities as they arise. Persistence in overcoming setbacks, building strong relationships, and the support of mentors — particularly a partner and coach at Deloitte — have all played a significant role in shaping my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the most influential figures in my career has been Peter Liu, a former Deloitte partner, whose leadership and mentorship helped shape my professional development and encouraged me to pursue larger opportunities than I might have on my own. I also carry forward the example set by my mother, whose work with the World Bank instilled in me a lifelong interest in international development and community impact.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to remain resilient, embrace challenges, and never let setbacks define their future. Career paths rarely follow a straight line, so I advise staying adaptable, continuing to learn, and confidently pursuing opportunities even when circumstances become difficult. Persistence and creativity often open doors where others only see obstacles — and it's important to recognize that the personal and professional transitions many women face when pivoting mid-career are part of that journey, not a setback from it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in technology consulting is balancing rapidly evolving technology with the human side of organizational change — successful implementation requires building trust, managing change effectively, and helping organizations adapt to new ways of working. Within large firms, navigating institutional risk-aversion and approval processes for international social-impact projects is a related challenge I've had to work through directly.
At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity in applying blended corporate consulting and IT project-management skills to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their operations, develop clear strategy, and build longer-term roadmaps. Leveraging technology and consulting expertise to improve education and support sustainable international community development remains one of the most rewarding opportunities in my field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I place the highest value on service, resilience, collaboration, integrity, and continuous learning. I believe professional success should extend beyond business results to improve lives and strengthen communities — this includes a deep commitment to social impact, philanthropy, and empowering others. On a personal level, family is central to who I am, particularly raising and exposing my daughters to diverse perspectives, along with cultural connection, generosity, and leaving a positive legacy through service to others.
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