Sarah McGowan

Sarah McGowan is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 25 years of experience in creating and implementing strategic talent, leadership development, and diversity, equity & inclusion programming. She has a deep understanding of HR theory and the practical, impactful application of theory in the workplace.

Professional Background

Sarah is a strategic advisor and HR consultant, serving clients in the nonprofit, tech, and retail sectors. Previously, she spent 22 years at Ahold Delhaize, a $75 billion, 400,000-employee global retailer. She has held leadership positions including Senior Vice President of Human Resources for US divisions, VP of Operations Strategy & Planning, VP of Talent Management, and more. Prior to joining Ahold Delhaize, Sarah was a management consultant at Accenture, completing large-scale transformation projects in the financial services, CPG, and automotive industries.

Education

Sarah earned her B.S. in Sociology and a Masters of Labor Relations and Human Resources from Michigan State University, and an M.B.A. from Boston College. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Executive Leadership at Clemson University.

Motivation for Teaching

Sarah has a passion for developing the next generation of human resources leaders, sharing her philosophy of centering the employee in all business decisions by advocating and championing the employee, and operating as a strategic HR business partner who can effectively align business & HR strategy and deliver results. Sarah also brings to her students a deep expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, showing students how to create a diversity strategy that works.

Helping Students Be Successful

Sarah teaches her students foundational HR theoretical concepts, supplementing this with real-life examples, practical techniques that make an impact, and case-studies and activities that enrich the learning experience. She is always available via email and virtual office hours to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer insights from the business and HR world.