Why and How We Work: Providence College School of Business Welcomes Laura Lam, Ph.D.
If you’re a college student getting ready to enter the workforce, have you ever thought about the process that occurs before you’re hired somewhere? Have you considered how a workplace is run before deciding to apply? Why are we working anyway?
“Come to this class if you want to understand multiple perspectives on why we work.”
The Providence College School of Business recently welcomed Laura Lam, Ph.D., as an assistant professor of management. She earned her doctorate in industrial relations and human resources from the University of Toronto.
Lam was born in Hong King but moved to Vancouver when she was young. She then lived in Toronto before moving to Providence for this position,
Before she began teaching, Lam started her career in retail, doing strategy work for a fashion company. After that, she worked with tech entrepreneurs and then in consulting. Lam even started her own small business.
Why Academia?
Throughout her experiences, the question of how to treat workers fairly arose often. That’s why Lam chose to teach human resource management: it aligns with her own passions and the PC Business emphasis on dignity— the dignity of workers and the dignity of work.
Lam hopes that her class will instill lessons that are applicable for everyone, whether you’re an entry level worker, an athlete, or a CEO. No matter what, everyone goes through HR at some point in their life. On that note, she aims to make her class a place where different opinions are encouraged. She wants a dialogue about the function of HR, even if students see this function differently.
In class, you can expect to talk about tactical topics in HR, to learn about the steps and procedures required for HR to function, and to understand the relationship between management and worker. This relationship and HR as a whole is especially interesting during a time when AI is responsible for different parts of the hiring process. Because AI can do so much, the skills that are uniquely human become even more important, with a special emphasis on networking and personal relationships.
In her first year of teaching at PC, Lam is excited to get to know her students and the city of Providence more. In true Friar fashion, she can’t wait for a New England fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Laura Lam at Providence College?
Laura Lam, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of management at the Providence College School of Business. She specializes in human resource management and industrial relations.
What did Laura Lam do before becoming a professor?
Before entering academia, Lam worked in retail strategy for a fashion company, collaborated with tech entrepreneurs, worked in consulting, and started her own small business.
Where is Laura Lam from?
Lam was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Vancouver, and later lived in Toronto before moving to Providence, Rhode Island, to join PC’s faculty.
What will students learn in Laura Lam’s HR class?
Students can expect to cover tactical HR topics, the steps and procedures HR professionals use, and the dynamics of the management-worker relationship. The course also encourages open dialogue about differing perspectives on the purpose of HR.
How does AI factor into Laura Lam’s approach to HR education?
Because AI now handles parts of the hiring process, Lam emphasizes that distinctly human skills, like networking and relationship-building, are becoming more valuable, not less.
Who should take Laura Lam’s HR course?
Lam designed the course to be useful for anyone, since everyone interacts with HR at some point—whether as an entry-level employee, an athlete, or a CEO.
