Human Resources is NOT the next obvious step if you began your career as a nutritionist. Yet for Colleen Bowman, VP of HR at IAC, her unconventional path took her exactly there. And when you hear Colleen’s story, it really does all make sense.

Colleen started as an athlete. So being competitive and working as a team came naturally. She always had high expectations – of herself and of others. Key skills needed for leadership – building trust, having empathy, having confidence in yourself – these are core to who Colleen is. Nutrition is where she started but then she loved the complexity of what she started learning in the world of Human Resources. Complex benefits design, needing to work across functions like finance and legal and senior management.

Colleen also goes back to those first times when she was making the big leap to a management role. Even for her, confidence was not as strong as she wanted. So “Faking it” until she made it became her mantra, and for Colleen, it worked. Colleen has a lot of responsibility in her leadership role today, but it’s really quite likely that she has only just begun!!!

Key Leadership Takeaways from Colleen Bowman:

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• Lead with Empathy: Understand your team’s perspective while setting clear expectations.
  
• Build Relationships: Foster strong partnerships to navigate complex challenges and gain support.
  
• Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay curious, seek knowledge, and adapt to evolving industry trends.
  
• Fake It Til You Make It: Project confidence, even when nervous, to build self-assurance and inspire trust.
  
• Proactively Seek Opportunities: Advocate for your needs and take initiative to advance your career.
  

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About Colleen:

Colleen Bowman is the Vice President of Human Resources at IAC, a diverse holding company with brands spanning media, publishing, and technology. In this role, she partners with IAC’s portfolio of companies to provide HR, benefits, and talent acquisition support, with a particular focus on navigating the complexities of healthcare benefits and ensuring employee well-being. Colleen is dedicated to simplifying complex information, fostering employee engagement, and optimizing HR practices to drive business success.

Prior to joining IAC in July of 2024, Colleen served as Vice President of Human Resources at Related Companies, a leading real estate and lifestyle company, where she oversaw total rewards, HR technology, and HR operations. Her extensive career also includes leadership roles at Revlon and Tiffany & Co., where she honed her expertise in benefits and wellness.

Colleen’s career began in the nutrition and corporate wellness space, reflecting her long- standing commitment to promoting health and well-being. Colleen holds a Masters of Public Health in Public Health Nutrition from the City University of New York-Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Boston University. Her unique background and diverse experience have shaped her empathetic and strategic approach to HR leadership. Colleen is passionate about building trust, fostering transparency, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in the HR field.

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