Biography

Lisa Coulson is senior vice president and chief human resources officer of Principal Financial Group®. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources (HR) for the company’s 19,000+ employees worldwide—developing and implementing HR strategies and delivering total rewards solutions that drive a high-performance culture. Coulson joined Principal® in 2007 and has held several senior roles in HR, including most recently serving as vice president of the function. Her deep expertise spans HR strategy, executive compensation, total rewards, performance management, and executive coaching. Coulson combines strategic insight with operational excellence, helping to align HR functions with the company’s business goals and cultural values. Her leadership has positioned the company as a top employer, recognized for competitive and holistic rewards solutions that attract, motivate, and retain top talent. Prior to Principal, Coulson was at Hewitt Associates for 15 years where she focused on total rewards, performance management, management development, leadership assessment and development, and change management. Coulson received a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and her MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. She is also a Certified Compensation Professional and a Global Professional in Human Resources, and Certified Executive Coach.