Barb Cowan is the Executive Director of Talent for Comcast Spotlight. In this role, she focuses on the organization’s talent strategies – from acquisition through career development and succession planning. She has developed and facilitates the organization’s premier leadership development program, LEAD, and launched a national women’s program in 2010.
Barb began her career at Spotlight as a Recruiting Manager in 2004, where she helped shape the Talent Acquisition Strategies for the 3,400 employees nationwide.
Prior to Comcast, she was Director of Professional Development and served as a recruiter, trainer and sales coach at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Philadelphia. There she created several leadership programs, focusing much energy on the support of women in business.
As part of her commitment to developing young professionals and expanding diversity and inclusion in the media industry, she managed the Emma Bowen relationship for Comcast. With nearly 70 students nationwide, Comcast is the largest employer of Emma Bowen interns. She is also active with the T. Howard Foundation and the Media Sales Institute.
Barb is passionate about mentoring young professionals. Her commitment takes her to many associations, speaking to organizations and coaching on professional and personal growth and development, goal setting and career advancement.
She is a Birkman International Consultant and leverages the profile to help leaders identify their core talents, to build stronger teams and impact productivity. She is also an active Board member of the VA Chapter of WICT (Women in Cable Telecommunications) and a member of the Central VA Chapter of the MS Society, chairing the annual Women on the Move fundraising event.
Barb is a 1993 alumnus of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She and her husband reside in Richmond, VA.
