Women in Business

Academic Focus

Professor Raina Brands focuses on the importance of informal relationships in inspiring change and influence and managing stakeholders. She leads on the change-maker network diagnostic.

Experience

Professor Brands is an expert on the informal side of organisational life. She studies how informal networks of friendship, advice and communication help or hinder the change efforts of managers in the workplace, by underpinning collaboration, performance and leadership. Her work is published in Administrative Science Quarterly, Organisation Science, and the Journal of Organisational Behaviour and has been featured in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times and Glamour Magazine.

Academic Focus

Professor Gillian Ku's internationally recognised research and teaching are in the broad area of negotiations and decision making. Her research has focused on influencing and persuading change at both the individual and group level.

Recent Clients

Oman Oil, Roche, Rabobank and eBay.

Experience

Previously a financial analyst for Disney Corporation, Professor Ku is now a corporate trainer for a number of corporations worldwide.

Academic Focus

Dr Selin Kesebir’s research interests include co-operation, competition, gender, inequality and cultural transmission. Her research papers cover topics such as gender differences in response to competition with same-gender co-workers, how the growing disconnect from nature is evident in cultural products, and the effects of disclosing personal information on ethically distinct newcomers to a team.

Experience

Dr Kesebir teaches Executive Leadership and Negotiations at London Business School (LBS). Prior to joining LBS, she was a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. She is an editorial board member of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and was previously editor-in-chief and associate editor of In-Mind Magazine. Dr Kesebir has also reviewed various journals including Basic and Applied Social Psychology, British Journal of Social Psychology, Emotion Review, European Journal of Social Psychology and Merrill Palmer Quarterly. She has an MA in cognitive psychology from Northwestern University and a PhD in social psychology from the University of Virginia.

Academic Focus

Jill trains business people to increase their personal presence and the impact they have upon others through body language, posture and vocal work. 

Experience

She is a specialist dialect coach working with actors, including; Meryl Streep, Javier Bardem, Dame Vanessa Redgrave and Dame Maggie Smith. Jill studied Drama at university and holds a distinction in the Advanced Diploma in Voice Studies from the Central School of Speech and Drama. As a voice and dialect specialist she has worked extensively within the theatre.

Jill has designed and run courses for IPC Magazines, Lloyds of London, The Association of MBA.s, the Metropolitan Police, Standard and Poors, Beddows & Co, The BBC, KPMG and others, as well as one-on-one executive coaching sessions for clients from a wide range of companies and sectors. She has also worked extensively with the Young Presidents Organisation in England and internationally.

Jill was an Adjunct Professor at Yale University.

Experience

SJ is an Executive Coach and Learning Manager at LBS. She works with individuals and groups in the context of LBS’ Executive Education programmes - particularly those focused on women. She supports individuals and teams as they learn, grow and flourish. She has more than 15 years’ experience as a leader for international conglomerates, management consultancy, media and education, and a long period living and working in the more challenging corners of the Middle East.