Laura Empson

Laura is Professor in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), as well as Senior Research Fellow at Harvard Law School.

She has dedicated almost 30 years to researching professionals, professionals, and the professions. Her research focuses on issues of leadership, governance, culture, identity, and complex change processes, all in a professional context.

Alongside her publications in leading academic journals, she has published a series of books with Oxford University Press – her latest is Leading Professionals: Power, Politics, and Prima Donnas.

She published regularly in Harvard Business Review, has made a documentary for the BBC, and co-presents the podcast series, Leading Professional People.

She advises many of the world’s leading law, accounting, and consulting firms. From 2013 to 2016 she served on the Board of KPMG LLP (becoming Chair of the Independent Non-Executives).

She was previously Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. She has a PhD and MBA from London Business School.