Coleen Collins

Coleen is a senior business executive with experience developing leaders and organizations in Fortune 300 Consumer, Technology, and Industrial businesses. Her exceptional problem-solving capability has led to remarkable talent expansion and business transformations for teams worldwide.

Coleen’s career reflects several senior roles identifying and developing talent in public, venture capital, and private equity-funded businesses, as well as international HR leadership in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Central Europe, and Africa/Middle East.

As the Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer of a global industrial manufacturing business with nearly 4,000 people, 70% outside the US in 30 locations, Coleen was most recently responsible for “all things people” including Culture and Communications. Her priorities included regular Board interaction on talent strategy, compensation design, and succession planning. She collaborated with senior management and local leaders on Preferred Employer programs, meeting continuous talent demands with record low unemployment levels and skill gaps around the world.

Coleen began her career at Colgate-Palmolive, a Fortune 300 Consumer Products business, where she spent 16 years, ultimately leading Global People Development for over 36,000 people. In that role, she worked closely with the CEO, Board, and General Managers around the world to lead a three-year strategy to develop The Next Generation of Leaders. Coleen’s commitment to make global talent strategy a CEO and Board priority led to the company’s recognition by Chief Executive Magazine as a Top Company for Developing Leaders.

Coleen speaks externally on talent strategy and leadership development. She is also a Managing Director at the Taproot Foundation, applying her HR knowledge and experience to projects benefiting youth and education. Coleen received her master's in Industrial & Labor Relations from Cornell University and her bachelor's in Psychology from Villanova University.