Laura Empson is a Professor in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Bayes Business School, University of London, and Director of the Centre for Professional Service Firms.

With 30 years of research funded by prestigious government awards, her work focuses on leadership, governance, organisational change, mergers, professional careers, diversity, partner evaluation, and the future of professional work. Laura aims to translate her academic findings for practitioners.

In addition to her role at Bayes, she holds Research Fellowships at Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School. She advises leading professional organisations and serves as a non-executive director and governmental advisor.

Since 2007, she has developed a strong interest in professional organisations, motivated by her experiences as an investment banker and strategy consultant, where she encountered poor leadership. This led her to explore why capable individuals often make unwise decisions.

Laura remains intrigued by professional organisations, which often defy conventional management principles and thrive in complexity. She is dedicated to applying insights from her research to help these organisations and their employees tackle significant challenges.