Tim Coleman (M’90) has been with Eli Lilly for three decades, having started after graduation as a systems analyst. During his career, he has held numerous positions, spanning human resources, IT, manufacturing, marketing, and research & development. Today, Coleman serves as vice president and information officer for Medicines Development Information & Digital Solutions at Lilly, where he is responsible for delivering IT strategies and solutions for research & development business areas.

Projects delivered within his portfolio have been recognized nationally for digital innovation and visionary leadership, including the 2020 FutureEdge 50 Award and the Bio-IT World Best Practices Award in Clinical Research.

Looking back on his time at Purdue, Coleman credits the Dr. Cornell Bell Business Opportunity Program as playing an influential role in his development.

“As part of this experience, I most appreciated the mentorship of Dr. Cornell Bell,” says Coleman. “I was inspired to learn about opportunities in computer science and the promise of a career in information technology. I was able to blend a concentration in business and computer science that provided a strong educational and career foundation that has served me well up to today.”

Today, Coleman is a passionate advocate for STEM youth programs and enjoys giving to support his community, including the Indianapolis chapter of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), the TechPoint Youth Foundation, and as a board member with the Krenicki Center for Business Analytics & Machine Learning at the Purdue Krannert School of Management.

Coleman earned his MBA from the JL. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. In addition to digital corporate leadership, he is an author, entrepreneur, Biblical finance enthusiast, and philanthropist. Coleman is married and the father of two sons.

Asked what advice he has to share for today’s students, Coleman says, “Work hard and smart. Your passion and perseverance — grit — will make the difference between achieving average and exceptional outcomes.”