Available to book
Laura Empson
Transform leadership dynamics with Laura Empson, speaker and professional services expert. Laura works with organisations to enhance governance, manage change, and develop effective leadership strategies, delivering research-backed insights trusted by Harvard, Cambridge, and global professional firms.
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.
Topics, sessions and talks
In her session, Laura Empson delves into the collective leadership ecosystem, addressing many professionals' reluctance to embrace leadership roles. Often, individuals believe leadership is confined to formal titles, viewing their primary responsibilities as serving clients and managing teams. Empson challenges this notion, exploring how leadership can thrive in such environments. Attendees will learn how to recognise their leadership purpose and foster a culture of shared leadership within their organisations.
Laura Empson addresses the challenges of change management, highlighting the delicate balance between rapid growth and maintaining organisational integrity. Leaders often fear that exponential growth may jeopardise their success. Through her research, Empson presents a model that illustrates how firms evolve through various stages, where each crisis can catalyse transformation. Attendees will learn how to navigate these challenges and leverage opportunities for sustainable growth.
Laura Empson highlights the profound changes in the professional landscape, where traditional norms are being questioned and new realities emerge. Leaders often express frustration with older colleagues resistant to change and younger professionals with differing values. This generational divide poses significant challenges for the future of work. Empson aims to equip attendees with insights into these challenges and strategies for fostering collaboration, ultimately preparing their organisations for an uncertain future.
In her session, Laura Empson will explore the importance of rebuilding collective culture within organisations. She will discuss how senior professionals can reconcile individual needs with those of the collective, fostering a thriving workplace in today’s evolving professional landscape. The pandemic has led many to reassess their connections with their organisations, prompting a reflection on the beliefs and behaviours that unite their communities. Attendees will learn strategies to strengthen their organisational culture and enhance collaboration.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Blaire Palmer
Leadership Development
Transformational Leadership
Company Culture
Erik Qualman
Artificial Intelligence
Future of Work
Effective Leadership
Lisa Bodell
Innovation
Creativity
Effective Leadership
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Laura Empson, email laura.empson@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Prof Laura's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Laura Empson draws on 30 years of government-funded academic research to present evidence-based models — such as a staged framework illustrating how firms evolve through crisis-driven transformation — translating findings from her work on professional service organisations into practical guidance for practitioners.
Professor Laura Empson speaks on collective leadership systems, change management and organisational growth, and the generational divide shaping the future of work. She holds a professorship in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Bayes Business School, University of London, where she also serves as Director of the Centre for Professional Service Firms, backed by 30 years of government-funded research in the field.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
