The Connector in Liz Cioffi

Raised by her father after losing her mother to breast cancer at a young age, Elizabeth (Liz) Cioffi had a humble upbringing that shaped who she is today. “I grew up fast yet not fast enough,” says the Market Executive for Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Early on, she acquired “a deep understanding that the world is challenging and nothing is guaranteed.”

Her dad taught her to keep going by “putting one foot in front of the other.” A native of Portugal and a bookkeeper for an import-export company, he brought her everywhere, including on the subway from Queens to his office in New York City, where she learned that “if you put in the work, you get rewarded.”

Liz soon fell in love with the vibrancy of the city and the concept of hard work. Thanks to her father, who “always helped me see the silver lining in every challenge,” she felt “the world was limitless for me.”

She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in finance from St. John’s University in New York City and built a thriving career in banking. She continued her education, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, also in New York City.

Today, as part of the sales management team for the Private Banking Group in the Northeast Region, she oversees the efficiency and sales performance of her team of private bankers. Liz is committed to building meaningful connections by understanding people’s life experiences and helping them navigate through challenges, stating, “because I’ve experienced them myself.”

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER MOST

Over the course of two decades, Liz has mastered the art of connection by listening deeply, synthesizing data, analyzing client needs and delivering tailored solutions. She believes relationships are the bedrock of client service. From her early days as a retail bank teller to her current leadership position, Liz has focused on earning client trust and loyalty. With over 15 years at the firm, she remains passionate about her work and interactions. “Relationships make it worth coming to work,” says Liz.

Whether working with a client or colleague, a mentee or a mentor, Liz knows that people just need to feel seen and heard. “I genuinely care about getting to know them and what’s important to them,” she insists. “That helps me create pathways for them to achieve their goals.”

Opening up to others involves demonstrating authenticity and embracing vulnerability. Liz advises her mentees that “if you want real, applicable advice, you must first identify what you want out of life,” and be open to recognizing areas of personal growth. For Liz, this meant working on her self-confidence, particularly in public speaking, and overcoming impostor syndrome with the help of an executive coach.

A CHAMPION FOR OTHERS

Her passion for mentoring and bringing others up “is something I hold near and dear to my heart,” grateful to pay forward what an “army of other voices” did for her over the years. “It’s never a solo journey.” She’s quick to champion the good work of others, especially when they’re not in the room.

She encourages everyone, including those just starting out in their careers and seasoned professionals, to have a “genuine curiosity” about others, approach every interaction with authenticity, build meaningful relationships and help others succeed.

Liz also emphasizes the importance of taking risks, a quality to which she attributes her own success. “If I’m learning, growing and contributing in a way that is greater than myself, then I feel I am successful,” she explains.

She has long appreciated the firm’s open-door policy. “I’ve been able to connect with leaders in senior executive roles who were very open from a cultural perspective to talk about what it was like to be a working parent, to grow in their careers and achieve their objectives,” says Liz. “It's not difficult to find someone here who is willing to share their story with you and give you direct feedback.”

In turn, her door is always open. “Others have shown me grace and reinforced that we are all humans with dreams and aspirations beyond our day jobs.”

GIVING BACK

In addition to mentoring multiple bank employees, Liz dedicates her time to co-chairing Morgan Stanley’s Women Leaders of Private Banking Group (PBG) Distribution, an affinity group focused on supporting and building a community for women and allies within the Bank’s sales organization. She also participates on several regional diversity committees and the Northeast region’s giving back committee.

Outside of work, Liz gives back in numerous ways, volunteering for the Nassau County Chapter of Food Rescue US and fundraising for the American Cancer Society, honoring her mother, who was a recipient of their services.

For these efforts and more, Liz was named a Morgan Stanley MAKER, Class of 2025—a distinction reserved for innovators, advocates and groundbreakers in inclusion, all nominated by their peers. As a MAKER, she’s most excited about paying it forward and nominating others for recognition next year. “I want to highlight the amazing people who helped me along the way,” says Liz, excited “for them to hear how much they've impacted the lives of others.”

And with each step, one foot in front of the other, she not only keeps moving herself forward—but, just as importantly, those around her as well.