Interested in Joining the SHRM Executive Network?
As Chief People Officer of the NBA, Sabrina Ellis oversees all aspects of the league's global workforce planning strategy and human resources functions – including employee engagement, compensation and benefits, talent acquisition, employee relations, and learning and leadership development – across its offices in 15 markets around the world. With a focus on global best practices and inclusion, she also builds and executes initiatives that address workforce culture to attract and retain a globally diverse group of employees.
Prior to joining the NBA, she spent 25 years in top HR posts within the higher education arena. She previously worked at New York University where she served as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since 2016. While at NYU, she led HR for a global employee population of 26,000 in 13 countries spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. Focusing on inclusive leadership, she collaborated across the organization in the development and execution of numerous groundbreaking programs.
Prior to NYU, she served as Vice President of Human Resources at George Washington University, from 2012 to 2016, as well as Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at the City College of New York from 2007 to 2011.
Ellis earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from NYU.