Jillian Grennan

Professor Grennan’s research focuses on how corporations create value and emphasizes the role informal and formal governance systems have in value creation. She offers novel computational techniques for quantifying corporate culture, sustainability, and DEI objectives. Her recent work examines how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are changing the future of work. This research helps to inform debates about optimal regulation and best use cases for such innovations.

Professor Grennan received her Ph.D. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. from Georgetown University, and a B.A. from Wellesley College. Grennan was previously on the faculty at Duke University, and prior to academia, she worked at the U.S. Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the World Trade Organization, and KPMG.

Academic interests:

• Finance, Culture, Law, Sustainability, Corporate Governance, FinTech, AI, Blockchain, DAOs, DeFi, Patents

AWARDS

2023

• Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative Grant for "Scaling Decentralized
• Autonomous Organizations"
• Convergence Research (CORE) Institute Fellowship for "Tackling Climate-Induced Challenges with AI"
• Leavey Center Grant for Sustainability Research

2022

• Ripple's University Blockchain Initiative Grant for "Control of Decentralized
• Autonomous Organizations"
• HKU-SCF FinTech Academy Grant for "The FinTech Workforce"
• Center for Growth Markets Grant
• Institute for Humane Studies Grant for "Inclusivity in the Metaverse"

2021

• INQUIRE Europe Research Grant for "ESG Integration Across Funds and Debiasing Data"
• Paris-Dauphine FinTech Research Award for "ESG Integration Across Funds and Debiasing Data"
• IBSI-Haas Lab for Sustainable Financial Services and Innovation for "FinTech Regulation"

2020

• Best Paper in Corporate Governance awarded by IRRC for "Corporate Culture: Evidence from the Field"

2019

• Duke Intellectual Community Planning Grant for "Big Data and Social Interactions"

2017

• Thomas Edison Innovation Award, George Mason University
• Fuqua's Junior Faculty Recognition Research Grant

2016

• Best Paper in Corporate Governance awarded by IRRC for "A Corporate Culture Channel: How Increased Shareholder Governance Reduces Firm Value"

2015

• KPMG's Global Valuation Research Grant for "Decomposing the Value of Corporate Culture"
• Duke's Center for Financial Excellence Research Grant
• AEA's CSWEP Cement Fellow

2014

• WFA's Cubist Systematic Strategies Award for Outstanding Research for "A Corporate Culture Channel: How Increased Shareholder Governance Reduces Firm Value"
• Best Finance PhD Dissertation Award, Olin Business School for "A Corporate Culture Channel: How Increased Shareholder Governance Reduces Firm Value"
• Mack Institute for Innovation Management Research Grant for "Patent Value and Citations: Creative Destruction or Strategic Disruption?"