Patia McGrath

Patia McGrath’s research interests include corporate strategy, organizational learning, firm scope, post-acquisition integration, corporate restructuring and firm innovation.

One of her current research projects focuses on organizational learning and its firm performance implications in the context of corporate divestiture.

Dr. McGrath joined academia from GE, where she was global director of innovation and strategic connections. In that role, she drove major strategic imperatives and radical innovation projects as part of the chief marketing officer’s core team. Prior to a stint as an investment banker with Credit Suisse First Boston’s technology group, she spent several years with WhiteLight Systems, a VC-backed business intelligence software startup headquartered in Palo Alto, and J.P. Morgan’s Private Client Group.

She received her PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her MBA from Harvard Business School, MS in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT, engineer’s degree in mechanical engineering from MIT, and BS in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School (2009 — 2016)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Harvard Business School (2000 — 2002)
• Degree of Mechanical Engineer Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1995 — 1997)
• Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1993 — 1995)
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Columbia University in the City of New York (1989 — 1993)

Companies

• Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2015)
• Ph.D. Candidate The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2009 — 2016)
• Global Director - Innovation & Strategic Connections GE (2004 — 2009)
• Research Associate Harvard Business School (2002 — 2004)
• Investment Banking Summer Associate Credit Suisse First Boston (2001 — 2001)
• Senior Business Analyst WhiteLight Systems (1999 — 2000)
• Associate, Private Client Services J.P. Morgan (1996 — 1999)
• Intern, Scientific Research Laboratory Ford Motor Company (1995 — 1995)