Keynote speech with Professor Laura Empson

Post-pandemic professionals: Unintended consequences and unexpected opportunities

Professor Laura Empson, one of the world’s leading academic specialists in the management of professional services will be joining us for a 30 minute keynote speech and Q&A at 9am BST on Tuesday 8 June 2021.

Professor  Empson  is  the  Professor in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Cass  Business  School,  a Senior  Research  Fellow at Harvard Law School, was formerly an Independent Non – Executive of KPMG LLP and  acts as an advisor to many of the world’s leading professional organisations. She is the author of  books  including  "Leading  Professionals:  Power,  Politics,  and  Prima  Donnas",  presenter  of  a  BBC Radio 4 documentary  "Insecure Overachievers" about elite professionals and she co-hosts  the podcast series “Empson & Morley – Leading Professional People”.

Her  speech  will  examine  the  changes  to  professional  life  and  work  which  were  prompted  or  accelerated by the pandemic. While many practical changes were made of necessity – and with  speed  and  agility – by  professional  service firms  in  response to the  lockdown, their  unintended  consequences present a profound challenge to some established ‘truths’ about professionals and  the  way  they  work  together.  Laura  will  explore  the  implications  for  both  organisations  and  individuals,  focusing  on  issues  of  knowledge,  governance,  organisational  culture and  what  it means to  be  a  professional. The  lecture  will  be followed  by  a  Q&A facilitated  by Simon  Konsta, our global Head of Clients and Markets and former Senior Partner.

This  event  should  be  of  interest  to  senior  management,  GCs  and  those  in  risk  roles  at  professional service firms and to GCs running inhouse teams, as we all reflect on the challenges  and opportunities which lie ahead. resilience@clydeco.com