Kristina Skopas

Co-Founder, People & Operations Director

A talent leader, founder, and lifelong athlete, Kristina brings more than 14 years across talent, operations, and executive support to EMBR, where she leads the people and operations behind the standard: building the team, culture, and systems that set EMBR apart.

Talent & Culture Leader NPC Wellness Competitor Goldman Sachs Alum Goldman Sachs Alum
Portrait of Kristina Skopas, Co-Founder of EMBR HYROX Training Zone
14+ Years Across talent, operations & executive support
5,000+ Employees supported at Michael Baker International
NPC Wellness Competitor and two-time national qualifier
Lifelong Athlete Multisport competitor since 2001
01

The Athlete

Originally from New York City, Kristina learned work ethic early, working in her family's restaurant through college. She is a lifelong multi-sport competitor, with five years on Junior Olympic volleyball teams, four seasons of USASA soccer in the New York Metropolitan Women's Soccer League, and spots on Virginia Tech's club volleyball and slalom snowboard teams.

She has completed 10+ half marathons and most recently competed as an NPC Wellness bodybuilder, qualifying for nationals twice. Today she trains across strength, running, and conditioning with one goal: to stay athletic, stay healthy, and get a little better every day.

02

The Operator

Kristina holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Investment Management from Virginia Tech and joined Goldman Sachs in 2013, where over eight years she managed more than 100 projects for the firm's GSTV studio and supported executives in technology and finance. When her division spun off to become MN8 Energy, now one of the largest renewable energy platforms in North America, she moved into Human Resources and stayed on to build its Talent Management function from the ground up.

At MN8, she created programs that didn't exist before her, including performance management, learning and development, succession planning, leadership training, and career development, and led the company's HRIS implementation during its Oracle ERP transformation. Today she is Senior Manager, Talent Management at Michael Baker International, where she drives talent transformation for more than 5,000 employees.

She also holds a Certificate in Leadership & Strategic Thinking from Georgetown University and a certification in high-ticket remote sales. Through her sales consulting practice, she helps founders grow through remote closing and sales team assessments, and mentors young women in sales to build confidence, advocate for themselves, and develop the mindset that carries into every aspect of life.

03

The Vision

Kristina and Alyssa met at Goldman Sachs before the division became MN8 Energy. They quickly realized they shared the same goal: build something that meant something to them personally, own it, and put their passion for athletics at the center of it.

At EMBR, Kristina leads people and operations because she believes people are the most important part of any business. Her restaurant years taught her that the experience matters more than the product, and that how a place makes you feel about yourself is what brings you back time after time. Her corporate career taught her that great processes free people to focus on the work that matters, and that teams do their best work when they have direction and feel heard and supported.

That's the standard she holds for every EMBR team member: people who build confidence, lead with inclusion, bring competitive fire, and push every athlete to become the best version of themselves, with the character to back it up. Her goal is to build a team that makes every member feel welcomed, supported, and motivated.