Professional Biography
Emma G. Grigore is a seasoned leader in human resources and currently heads the department at the Wharton School. As a key member of the school's leadership team, she not only provides strategic direction and support for HR functions but also excels in organizational design and people operations. Her proactive leadership has helped create a high-performance workplace culture that encourages growth, innovation, and inclusivity.
In her current role, Emma goes beyond typical HR responsibilities. She excels in interpersonal conflict management, coaching both managers and employees through various professional challenges. By assisting staff and faculty in managing performance, resolving conflicts, and providing consultative support on strategic decisions, she has proven herself to be a critical asset to the institution. Emma is also adept at handling intricate aspects of human resources, such as investigating discrimination claims, interpreting policies and regulations, and offering guidance on recruitment and compensation issues. Her hands-on approach in these areas has helped shape the organization into a well-coordinated and compliant entity. Before joining Wharton, Emma had the honor of being the inaugural Chief People Officer at Penn GSE. There, she leveraged her people operations leadership skills to positively influence the institution's culture and operational efficiency.
With over a decade of experience at the University of Pennsylvania, she holds a Master’s in Law from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, with a specific focus on employment law. Her advanced legal knowledge lends a unique perspective to her work in HR, further reinforcing her position as a leading figure in the field.
