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Colleen France
Career Coach & Leadership Development Professional in Higher Education
Colleen France is the Head of Career Management for the MBA Program for Executives at The Wharton School. She joined the Philadelphia team in 2021, bringing over 20 years of experience in recruiting, coaching, career strategy, leadership assessment, training, and program management.23
Professional Background
Prior to her current role, Colleen worked with Wharton's full-time MBA and JD/MBA students for 12 years, providing career preparation and advising services.2 She also served as the Director of Penn's Carey JD/MBA Program, a collaboration between Wharton and Penn Law.1 Before joining Penn in 2010, Colleen spent over 10 years in legal recruiting and professional development.1
Education and Certifications
Colleen holds a BS in History & Political Science from Drexel University and a Certificate in Human Resources Management from The Wharton School. She has also completed numerous courses in executive coaching and leadership development in the Organizational Dynamics Program at The University of Pennsylvania.1
Current Role and Responsibilities
As the Head of Career Management, Colleen:
- Guides students in making career decisions by helping them sharpen technical and soft skills
- Connects students to Wharton resources, such as the McNulty Leadership Executive Coaching and Feedback Program
- Helps students identify skills to elevate their contributions and reach the "next level" in their careers
- Provides one-on-one coaching and educational programming
- Assists students in leveraging Wharton's global alumni network of over 100,000 members2
New Initiatives
Colleen has been instrumental in launching new programs, such as the Alumni Career Fellows (ACF) Program. This initiative provides students with access to alumni who offer industry-specific knowledge through one-on-one advising and coaching appointments.2
Personal Approach
Colleen emphasizes a holistic approach to career management and is passionate about serving students. She particularly enjoys one-on-one coaching, where she can work with students on an impactful level, discussing their long-term goals and what's important to them as both students and job seekers.2
