Joelle Emerson
About Joelle Emerson
Joelle Emerson is the CEO of Paradigm Strategy Inc. and has extensive experience in civil rights law, diversity, and inclusion advocacy, serving on various advisory boards and holding leadership roles in multiple organizations.
Work at Paradigm
Joelle Emerson serves as the CEO of Paradigm Strategy Inc., a company she co-founded in 2014. Under her leadership, Paradigm has partnered with over 1,000 companies to design and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. The firm focuses on creating sustainable change within organizations to promote a more inclusive workplace culture. Emerson's experience as a civil rights lawyer informs the company's approach to addressing issues related to discrimination and bias.
Education and Expertise
Joelle Emerson earned her Doctor of Law (JD) from Stanford Law School, where she studied from 2008 to 2011. Prior to that, she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Southern California, completing her studies from 2003 to 2007. Emerson's educational background provides a strong foundation for her work in civil rights law and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Background
Before founding Paradigm, Joelle Emerson worked as a civil rights lawyer, focusing on discrimination and harassment litigation. She served as a Skadden Fellow at Equal Rights Advocates from 2013 to 2014 and completed a legal internship at the ACLU of Northern California in 2010. Additionally, she was an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University Graduate School of Business from 2016 to 2017, where she shared her expertise in civil rights and inclusion.
Achievements
Joelle Emerson has been recognized for her influence in the business sector, being named to Recode’s list of the 100 most influential people in business. She has also been included in Marie Claire’s 'New Guard' list of 50 women changing the world. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Harvard Business Review, and Fortune, highlighting her contributions to discussions on diversity, inclusion, and workplace equity.
Current Board Memberships
Joelle Emerson is currently an Advisory Board Member at Greenhouse Software, a position she has held since 2017. She also serves as a Board Member at Tipping Point Community, a role she began in 2024. Additionally, she has been an advisor at Textio since 2015. Her involvement in these organizations reflects her commitment to advancing equity and inclusion across various sectors.