At pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, Tim Coleman ’93 MBA helped pioneer the use of artificial intelligence in drug development and led a team to deploy the fastest, most powerful supercomputer in his industry. Recently retired, he’s still promoting the promise of technology and encouraging young people to explore STEM careers.
Kellogg: You developed an interest in technology at an early age. How did you get your start?
Coleman: Growing up in Indianapolis, I was passing a storefront at the corner of East 46th Street and College Avenue when the owner came out and asked me a very simple and important question: “How would you like to learn about computers?” Engaging with him started a lifetime of curiosity. The more I learned about tech in high school and then college, the more I wanted to work on cool things to help people and make their lives better.
Kellogg: One of your early AI projects automated data collection, sped up a formerly manual process by 50% and significantly lowered costs. What further potential do you see for AI in revolutionizing healthcare?
Coleman: There’s never been a more exciting time to be at the intersection of science, medicine and information technology. AI is the lighthouse in accelerating how we discover drugs and make better use of all our information sources that we have to find new molecules. It will help us speed up clinical trials and develop our understanding of the human body. AI will also help healthcare companies more personally engage patients. Agentic AI is the next leap forward that will help us to reimagine business workflows and operate faster, with lower costs and potentially higher quality.
Kellogg: At Eli Lilly, you started as a summer intern and moved up through the ranks. How did Kellogg help prepare you for executive roles?
Coleman: Without a doubt, pursuing an MBA at Kellogg was a career accelerator. One of the Kellogg leadership and change management courses had the biggest impact on me personally. Early on, I learned that the hardest problems aren’t meant to be solved alone. Real breakthroughs — ones that are fast, truly innovative and durable — come from leveraging the diverse strengths and perspectives of those around you. Collaborative leadership is a differentiating superpower.
Kellogg: You’re passionate about mentorship and promoting STEM youth education. Why are these causes so important to you?
Coleman: I firmly believe every one of us should invest in giving back some of the fruits of our experiences to the next generation. I’m involved with the board of the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation and with the TechPoint Foundation for Youth, which trains students in robotic technologies. I was a keynote speaker at the 2026 Kellogg Business of Healthcare Conference, which focused on the impact of AI and technology on healthcare. By far, my proudest moments have been when I see individuals that I’ve mentored and coached achieve their career goals.
Tim Coleman's Career Advice
Play big.
The business landscape is being remade in real time. This is exactly the moment to be bold — to think big, take intelligent risks and drive value in ways that haven’t been done before. Don’t shrink to fit the moment. Rise to it.
Embrace technology as an equalizer.
AI is collapsing timelines that used to take years. Capabilities that once required years of study are now accessible to anyone willing to learn the tools. Use that to your advantage. The leaders who move fastest won’t necessarily be the ones who know the most. They will be the ones who leverage technology to contribute at the highest level.
Invest in people like your career depends on it … Because it does.
At the end of the day, business is a team sport. The best business outcomes are almost never solo achievements. Technical skills and strategic thinking will open doors, but relationships are what sustains a career. Invest in people, build trust and find ways to make others better. That’s what great leaders do.
You came to Kellogg after leaving a high-pressure job in investment banking. How did your education pave the way for a career pivot?
Roxanne Hori, who led the Kellogg Career Management Center, really changed my life. After a summer at HP, I told her that I missed the pace and dynamic nature of the deal world but I also wanted to focus on innovation and product and company building. She challenged me and asked me if I’d heard of the Kauffman Fellows program. I said, “Yeah, but they pick fewer than 10 fellows each year.” She pushed me and said, “Why can’t you be one of them?” And she helped me navigate that.
How should professionals think about earning trust to then gain greater ownership in their careers?
When you work with senior leaders, they’ll see how capable you are and how you can help them deliver results. Over time, you will earn a reputation for being right a lot, and the more right you are, the more ownership you will earn and your scope will expand.