Background

I was raised in southern Massachusetts, United States. I hold a B.Sc. in Economics and a M.Sc. in Management Science, both from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where I concentrated in Strategic Management and minored in Fine Arts.

Education

Ph.D. in Management Science (2027)

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Supervisor and Chair of Dissertation: Mae McDonnell

Dissertation Committee: Mae McDonnell, Witold J. Henisz, and Brayden King

M.Sc. in Management Science (2025)

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

B.Sc. in Economics (2017)

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Strategic Management (Concentration), Fine Arts (Minor)

Work Experience

Before entering academia, I spent nearly five years working in the corporate buying department of a multinational retailer in New York City, where I gained firsthand exposure to vendor, manufacturer, and consumer-facing operations. That experience, sitting at the intersection of corporate strategy and stakeholder relationships, ultimately shaped the questions I bring to my research.

Work Authorization Disclosure: I am authorized to work in the United States and do not require visa sponsorship.

Awards & Distinctions

  • Finalist for AOM Best PhD Paper, SIM Division

  • Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation Emerging Scholar

  • President’s Education Award

  • Harvard Prize Book Award

Service

Peer Reviewer

  • Journals: Strategic Management Journal

  • Conferences: Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS), Strategic Management Society (SMS), SMS Special Conference on Stakeholder Governance, Wharton-INSEAD Consortium

The Wharton School

  • Management Dept. Ph.D. Admissions (2026)

  • Management Dept. Ph.D. Alumni Experience (2024-2025)

  • Management Dept. Ph.D. Social Committee (2022-2023)

  • The Wharton Society for the Advancement of Women in Business Academia Board Member (2022-2025)

Personal Interests

The arts are an important part of my life. Between photography and drawing, I work with film, pencil, charcoal, and (sporadically) watercolor. I try to see as much theatre, ballet, and opera, as time allows. More recently (slowly), I have also taken up chess.

As an athlete growing up, I continue to stay active through tennis, running, yoga, and (somewhat begrudgingly) hiking. I follow Formula 1 closely and have recently gained interest in endurance racing.

Travel continues to be formative. Over the years, I have visited more than 35 countries and lived outside the United States in Germany and the United Kingdom.

Contact

Emily M. Ulrich

emulrich@wharton.upenn.edu