Sarah-McGowan

Sarah grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Michigan State University where she studied Sociology and obtained her first Master’s Degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources. She spent several years as a Change Management consultant at Accenture, working across a variety of industries including automotive, financial services, and consumer products.
In 2000, Sarah joined Stop & Shop/Ahold and found her true passion in retail. She started in the organizational development function, and quickly moved into the strategy & business improvement area where she developed a formal strategic planning process, and overhauled and improved several key merchandising processes.

While working, she pursued her MBA from Boston College graduating in 2003, and progressed through several roles in HR and Operations, making a positive impact on associate engagement, talent development, and customer satisfaction. She eventually took on the role of SVP Human Resources for Ahold USA’s retail divisions, and then spent 5 years as the global head of talent, leadership & diversity.

Currently, Sarah works as a Partner at August Leadership, a global search and leadership advisory firm. She provides deep expertise in the areas of strategic talent management and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sarah is energized by learning from and collaborating with amazingly talented and diverse colleagues from across the globe, and believes that inclusion is the key to competitive advantage, growth, and innovation within retail and beyond.

Sarah resides in Harrisburg, PA with her family.