Laurence Knell is an experienced Programme Director and leadership expert at the Irish Management Institute (IMI), specialising in enabling leaders to think strategically, lead change effectively, and drive meaningful organisational transformation. With more than 14 years of facilitation experience and over 20 years working across global industries, Laurence brings a rare blend of academic depth, practical business insight, and real‑world leadership experience to his work with IMI participants.​

​At IMI, Laurence designs and delivers leadership, innovation, and change programmes for senior leaders across multinational organisations, semi‑state bodies, and high‑growth companies. His approach combines behavioural science, strategic thinking, and applied innovation – giving leaders the tools they need to navigate complexity and lead people through continuous change.​

​Laurence’s leadership and transformation experience includes:​​

• Designing and directing strategic leadership development initiatives for large organisations, including custom IMI programmes and graduate diplomas.​
• Facilitating across programmes such as the MSc in Leadership in Healthcare and the Professional Diploma in Organisational Development & Transformation, working with cohorts ranging from early‑career leaders to senior executives.​
• Teaching leadership, organisational behaviour, and innovation at Trinity Business School, University College Dublin, and the Open University Business School.​
• Co‑founding Brain for Business, where he translates neuroscience and behavioural science into practical insights that strengthen leadership decision‑making and organisational performance.​​

Laurence also draws on extensive industry experience, having held senior roles in Microsoft’s global operations and supply chain environment, regional and trade management positions with Maersk Line, and leadership roles within international learning and consulting organisations. This background allows him to bring rich real‑world examples to his classroom—covering strategy execution, large‑scale operational change, innovation, global team leadership, and navigating complexity in fast‑moving environments.​

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