Her mother died when Conta was young, and her brother Vasile became an important influence[2] on her sense of responsibility to address societal issues.

[5] Conta obtained her degree, magna cum laude in 1888[1][2] and in 1891, married poet Gheorghe Kernbach, who encouraged her to begin writing and publishing both poems and prose.

Taking courses in art history, pedagogy, and philosophy, she studied at the University of Paris and the Collège de France.

[6] In 1895, she completed her doctorate, again graduating magna cum laude, and returned to Iași, where she began teaching pedagogy and psychology at the Mihail Sturdza Normal School [ro][3][7] and would remain there for more than 20 years.

[3] During World War I, Conta-Kernbach became involved in the feminist movement and began publishing articles about wage equity and protecting women's rights to be professionals.

[11] That year, universal suffrage for men over the age of 21 was passed by the legislature and women were promised that at a future date their right to vote would be considered.

[12][13] In 1920, Conta-Kernbach petitioned the legislature to grant political rights for women[14] who had demonstrated their public service, participated in the war, or who were wives and mothers of soldiers who fought in the conflict.

[3][7][8] In 1925, when Adela Xenopol established Revista scriitoarei (Woman Writer's Magazine), Conta-Kernbach was one of the featured feminists, whose writings were profiled in the influential journal.