WICT Next Generation Leader Spotlight – Blog Two - Liberty Global
The voices shaping what comes next
The telecoms industry is in the middle of a structural shift. Networks are becoming more intelligent, services more integrated, and customer expectations more immediate. In this environment, leadership is no longer defined only by technical expertise or operational scale, but by the ability to navigate complexity and bring clarity to constant change.
As the TMT landscape enters a period of rapid consolidation and AI‑driven transformation, the shape of leadership is changing just as fast. M&A is accelerating, business models are being rewritten, and decisions are increasingly made at the intersection of strategy, technology and data. These are the women stepping into that moment - leaders who will help define how the industry evolves, how value is created, and what the future of telecoms leadership looks like in an AI‑powered world.
The WICT UK & Ireland Next Generation Leader Spotlight exists to champion this shift, recognising women at the start of their careers who are already shaping how telecoms evolves and what leadership will look like next.
This edition features rising leaders from Liberty Global. Their paths through technology, finance, strategy and transformation reflect the breadth of experience shaping the next generation of leadership.
The Rising Leaders
Ella Kulisic – Technology Graduate, Corporate Strategy
Ella is a third-year Technology Graduate in Liberty Global’s Corporate Strategy team in London. Rotations across Tech Strategy, Mobile and Cloud, and Data and AI, including time at VodafoneZiggo, have given her a pan-European view of telco strategy. With a background in Mathematics and Computer Science, she is focused on AI and emerging technologies.
Lizzie Williams – Manager, Investor Relations
Lizzie joined Liberty Global through the Finance Graduate Scheme, rotating across several finance disciplines before moving into Investor Relations. Drawn to telecoms for its mix of technology, strategy and regulation, she now helps shape how complex developments are communicated to external stakeholders.
Monice Martins – Transformation Graduate, Liberty Blume
Monice is in the final year of a two-year rotational graduate scheme at Liberty Blume, currently working in transformation. A university careers fair first introduced her to telecoms, sparking a fast-moving career shaped by curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to step forward early.
Esther Willoughby – M&A Graduate
Esther works in Liberty Global’s M&A team, supporting high-stakes, capital-intensive decisions. She holds an MSc in Management (Finance) from Imperial Business School and a BA in Philosophy and Politics from the University of Bristol. This combination underpins her structured, judgement-led approach to complex transactions.
In Conversation
There is no single route into leadership anymore. For the next generation it is defined by judgement, adaptability and the confidence to act without waiting for a title.
Here, Liberty Global’s rising leaders share the moments that accelerated their growth, how they define leadership today and who inspires them as they look ahead.
What early experience or turning point has most accelerated your growth so far?
Ella: Early exposure to senior leadership made the biggest difference. Presenting to the Executive Leadership Team taught me what matters most. A clear “so what”, a sharp recommendation, and the points that actually drive decisions. That trust built credibility, and that credibility opened more stretch opportunities.
Lizzie: Working in Liberty Blume was a real turning point. It was a small team with big ambitions, and because it was so lean, I was given real ownership early on. That responsibility-built conviction in my judgement, strengthened stakeholder relationships across the business, and helped prepare me for a more managerial role.
Monice: Joining the graduate scheme was the key moment. Early exposure to different teams forced me to adapt quickly, build confidence and navigate ambiguity. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me take ownership sooner than expected.
Esther: Working on the acquisition of Netomnia, a £2bn enterprise‑value transaction, accelerated my growth dramatically. The scale and scrutiny involved made it clear that small details could have material implications. It pushed me beyond execution into real ownership: understanding assumptions, stress‑testing outputs and communicating clearly under pressure.
Who inspires you and how have they shaped your ambitions?
Monice: People who stay authentic and lift others as they grow. Leaders who champion inclusion and create opportunities for others have shaped how I think about leadership and impact.
Esther: Senior deal leads who combine technical depth with calm decision-making under pressure. The way they balance risk, stakeholders and long-term value has shaped how I think about progression.
Ella: Mira Murati. Her leadership at OpenAI and decision to build Thinking Machines Lab shows conviction in backing your judgement on hard problems. She combines technical credibility with clear thinking, which is exactly the kind of leader I aspire to be.
Lizzie: John Malone’s legacy in telecoms is hugely influential, particularly his approach to value creation and creative problem solving. Outside the industry, Emma Grede’s honesty about ambition and trade-offs has helped me think more clearly about what I want from my career.
How do you approach leadership at this stage of your career — and what will define the next generation of leaders?
Lizzie: Collaboration is key, but so is timely decision-making. Momentum matters. The strongest leaders will adapt quickly, think critically and balance AI-enabled insight with human judgement.
Esther: Leadership is how you show up every day. Being reliable, prepared and constructive under pressure. Future leaders will need adaptability, judgement and the ability to communicate complexity clearly.
Monice: Leadership is influence, rather than authority. It is about accountability, collaboration and creating space for others. The next generation will be defined by empathy, inclusivity, adaptability and curiosity.
Ella: Leadership is earning trust without a title. It comes down to thinking quality and clear communication. AI fluency will matter, but judgement will matter more. The best leaders will know which questions actually matter.
Different teams. Different disciplines. Shared intent.
What connects these rising leaders is not their job titles, but how they are already showing up in the work. Clear thinking under pressure. Strong judgement in ambiguity. A willingness to take ownership early and move ideas into action.
Georgia & Eve – WICT UK & Ireland Next Generation Co – Chairs