Jo Larbie

Jo Larbie

Jo is a leading thinker in the world of talent management for professional services. In this book she draws on her twenty years of professional and personal experience as a lawyer, consultant, academic and senior international executive in global firms. Jo has a deep understanding of the professional services sector, and specialises in identifying and developing future talent and leaders. She has been personally responsible for many hundreds of professionals successfully taking the step up to partner.

Early in my career, aged 26, I decided to fulfil my ambition to become a lawyer. I was delighted to find a place at a leading law school and after four years qualified as a solicitor specialising in corporate law in private practice. To say that I was disappointed by the reality of being a lawyer is an understatement. Why had no one told me about the timesheet and the long hours? You may well ask, "Didn't you do your research on what a career in the law would involve and require of you?" Yes, I did, but I only heard about the 'good bits'! I hated it and stopped practising after two years.

As an Business Consultant and Executive and business coach, I am passionate about helping clients, both individuals and firms, achieve their goals drawing on my unique experience as a lawyer, consultant, human resources and Development director, academic and senior executive. I have an MSc in human resources development, a NLP Practitioner and an accredited business coach, a graduate of the universities of East Anglia and Warwick; I am a qualified social worker, worked in public relations in the oil industry (!). Before turning to a career in the law, I worked as a researcher and developer and co-authored a book, "Training in Health and Race".

In recent years, as a senior executive/director within professional services firms, in addition to juggling financial objectives, budget and people development, I specialise in organisational development and talent management - helping firms to get the best from their people. To deliver this, I work closely with directors, partners and managers to develop their ability to analyse current business issues, finding solutions to improve business performance, enabling and developing future leaders.

I am an Affiliate member of the CIPD, and a member of the Society for Human Resources Management. I served as a Council and Standards board member of the Law Society of England and Wales, and Chair of its Education and Training Committee for four years.

I am on the editorial board of the leading professional services magazine, "Managing Partner" and a regular contributor.

I have enjoyed working at international and national levels for firms such as DLAPiper, Andersens, Eversheds, BDO, and Bircham Dyson Bell LLP.