Emma Laws
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
Age: 35
“Clinical veterinary neurosurgeon turned healthcare leader with a passion to innovate and drive change.”
Hometown: London, UK
Family Members: My wonderful husband Ben Castle, parents Lesley and Mark, sister Hannah, brother Matthew, two naughty sausage dogs and a ragdoll cat.
Fun fact about yourself: I used to play professional rugby and once met my idol Stephen Hawking!
Undergraduate School and Degree:
University of Bristol, Bachelors in Veterinary Science (BVSc) with Distinction
Where are you currently working? Hospital Director of London Vet Specialists (Linnaeus Veterinary Limited, part of Mars Inc.)
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:
Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS)
Member of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN)
Student Partnership Council (SPC) member for Chicago Booth EXP-30
In terms of extracurricular activities, I love music – writing my own music, playing piano, and singing. I have developed a passion for triathlons and enjoy getting out to the slopes to ski – more importantly to Apres-Ski!
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? It was achieving high honors and graduating as a Wallman Scholar in the top 5% of the class. As someone with no prior formal business teaching and coming from a clinical background, this was proof to myself that I belong in the business world and can achieve anything I set my mind to.
I was also proud to represent the 2025 cohort of Booth EMBA students on the Student Partnership Council. I was honoured to be chosen for a leadership role by my classmates, a deeply humbling experience. This is especially true considering the exceptional leadership qualities that my fellow students possess!
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Passing my board exams and becoming one of only a few hundred Veterinary Neurosurgery specialists in Europe in 2018 was a huge achievement for me.
In 2020, however, life had other plans in store. I woke up one morning, suddenly paralysed in one arm and in excruciating pain. I was diagnosed with Brachial Plexus Neuritis, a rare autoimmune condition affecting all the nerves to my arm. It was unclear whether I would ever regain use of my arm, so I was unable to continue as a clinical neurosurgeon. This prompted my shift into the business world, and I moved into a strategy role within the overarching company, ultimately ending up in me leading a new specialty hospital in London that I dreamed, pitched and designed. It was tough having to forge a new career, but I am proud of how I handled the shift and delighted that it led me to pursue the Executive MBA which has ultimately transformed my life.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? This is a challenging question as we had a plethora of exceptional professors during the program. Professor Kathleen Fitzgerald was both the first (Analytical Methods) and last (Integrated Strategy Management) professor that I had on the course and it was fitting that she framed the whole journey. Her infectious enthusiasm for all things business and how she incorporated all we learnt throughout the program into the final competitive simulation game was incredible. Melissa Harris made ‘Building the New Venture’ practical and incredibly engaging and I learned so much from her. Professor Ayelet Fishbach made us all into stellar negotiators and changed the way I think about negotiations. That’s a top 3 instead of top 1, but I really couldn’t choose!
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? For me, the key differentiators were he flexibility to take quarters in each of the Chicago Booth campuses (London, Hong Kong & Chicago) and the fact that each of the campuses have the same Professors.
I loved the interactive nature of the lectures when I went to visit a class prior to applying. I could sense the calibre of the students and how bonded they were to one another.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? There are so many small nuggets of specific knowledge that I have already utilized at work (in marketing, strategy, negotiations to name just a few), but the biggest lesson is probably one I learnt from my classmates – to dream big, to be fearless and to never give up!
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? The second quarter of the MBA program coincided with the opening of my new hospital, London Vet Specialists. We had a major incident, where the new MRI machine had accidentally had its vital cooling mechanism turned off and I was sleeping on-site trying to sort out the huge impact this was going to have on our opening schedule. I woke up in the morning, rolled the blankets up off the floor, and my husband drove me to campus to get me there in time for my Corporate Finance mid-term. Juggling work, school and family life was a constant struggle and I definitely owe my husband some quality time now it is over to make up for all the hours spent studying and on study group calls.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program?
1. Don’t overthink it – the experience will definitely be worth it in more ways than you can imagine.
2. Ensure you have the buy-in of your family and close friends. It will put pressure on things and take away precious time with them, so it is vital that they understand and will be able to support you through it.
3. Remember to focus on the network, connections, and having fun, instead of just focusing on the academics.
What was your biggest regret in business school? I struggled to think of any regrets, as this was one of the best experiences of my life. I spent one quarter in the Chicago campus which was hugely rewarding, so possibly spending another Quarter at the Hong Kong Campus would be something that I would prioritise if I could go through the experience again.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? What a tough question! I admire so many of them in so many different ways.
If forced to choose, then I would have to pick Yuki Chan. Alongside being an exceptional student, she managed to organise an inordinate number of events and enrich our student experience. She inspired me in so many ways to challenge my own thinking. Despite going through some tough times herself on the program, she was always there to help those in need.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I knew that the enrichment of being physically present with other students would be invaluable to learn about other viewpoints and industries and to build lifelong connections. Hence, it was paramount that I chose an in-person instead of an online course.
I wanted to fully immerse myself in the learning environment, whilst not putting my career on hold. Additionally, the Executive program tends to attract different types of students. Thus, the cohort typically have a wealth of experience in their jobs, coming to the MBA program at a later stage and with valuable insights to share.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I was lucky to receive the Chicago Booth 75th Anniversary Scholarship which partially helped me with my tuition fees. To fund the rest, I received a small award from my company and the remainder required re-mortgaging my house!
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? Long-term, I am committed to having a positive impact on the world in the healthcare space – expanding my influence and leadership across the sector, whether through entrepreneurship or leading change in existing healthcare companies.
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