What are the parallels between the worlds of espionage and professional services? Laura and Tony talk to David Bickford, previously General Counsel to MI5 and MI6, about his role as the agencies’ Legal Director and Under Secretary of State. They explore how to build trust when professionals are working remotely, how to collaborate when knowledge is shared on a need-to-know basis, and how to stop powerful professionals from going rogue.
Spies as Professionals
In their "Leading Professional People" podcast, Professor Laura Empson and Tony Hall, Lord Hall of Birkenhead, have been exploring the crucial leadership questions facing professional organisations and their leaders. They uncover the complicated, messy and surprisingly emotional challenges of leading professionals.
By CBS Executive EducationIn their podcast "Leading Professional People", Professor Laura Empson and Tony Hall interview senior leaders from some of the most successful global professional organisations.
And they build on their own insights from their lifetimes of researching, leading, and advising professional organizations.
Each episode reveals the complex realities that lie beneath the ‘professional’ veneer that these highly successful organisations, and their leaders, present to the outside world.
This podcast is for any professional who has, or aspires to have, a leadership role – who wants to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and develop solutions.
Laura Empson is Professor of Leadership and Organisation at Copenhagen Business School. She is in charge of the Leadership and Organisational Behaviour course on the Executive MBA.
Laura is also Professor in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Bayes Business School, University of London, and holds Research Fellowships at both Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge.
Did you find this content interesting? Sign up for our newsletter and gain access to more of our research findings and events.
With the world’s grand challenges awaiting us, we need to continuously evolve, gain new knowledge and insights, and upskill.
Dive into a world of knowledge by signing up below. You will get:
- Personal event invitations
- Pertinent research-based insights on business and society
- Information about the next intakes of our Executive Education programmes and courses
Executive MBA
Learn moreCBS EMBA’s unique programme design and real-world applicability provides the platform for you to navigate a turbulent global business environment and become a leader in business who can steer your organisation to sustainable impact and success.
Master of Business Development
Learn moreThe degree for those who are passionate about creating new, innovative solutions and want to take responsibility for elevating and developing the business - for those who want more.
Organisations in transition
Learn moreLearn to understand and influence the development of today’s and tomorrow’s organisations. In the course, you will be introduced to current trends in society and analytical tools to understand how these trends can transform an organisation. This course is offered in Danish 🇩🇰.
Diversity and inclusion mangement
Learn moreGet better at ensuring diverse representation in management and subject-specific groups and get tools to manage diversity in a way that requires an inclusive work culture with room to develop the individual's unique skills.