I'm Laura Smith — a researcher, speaker, adviser and problem-solver exploring how we can better understand, connect, resonate, align and work with ourselves and one another. UPWARD is where I investigate human questions in public— through research, experiments, conversations, and real-world work.
CURRENTLY ANSWERING
What makes people compatible as a team?
Work · Wondering
Here's what I'm considering, what I'm actively exploring, and what I've learned already. See what applied curiosity has opened for others -- and note if any questions or findings resonate with you, as well.
In practice
We often consider whether someone fits a role, but less often whether a particular combination of people fits together. Which forms of compatibility—and difference—help people communicate, collaborate and perform well as a team?
In practice
Under consideration
Why do we immediately click with some people and not others? An exploration of the characteristics, contexts and interactions that predict interpersonal resonance—and whether we can know in advance who we're likely to connect with.
In practice
The Friendship Experiment
I publicly recruited new friends — a real application process, written assignment and group interviews — to test whether adult friendship could be approached more explicitly and intentionally, while also enabling connection among the other participants.
In practice
The Belonging Experiment
A June 2026 first-person public experiment asking whether I actually belonged where I lived, what belonging consisted of, and whether it could be strengthened.
What should I explore next? Add your question →
I ask questions, gather people, run experiments, and build things — usually because I've encountered some human problem I don't think we should simply accept. I'm mostly interested in connection and alignment: with ourselves, with one another, within communities and at work. I work with individuals and companies to help them connect and align, as well.
BETTER TOGETHER
Want to discuss or explore a human solution? I'm here to help.
ONE:ONE CONVERSATION
Bring a question, a problem or a possibility that would benefit from an intelligent outside perspective.
A single focused session. You bring the situation; we take it apart and put it back together with something useful to do next.
A room of people
Speaking, lectures, workshops, facilitation, and moderated conversations.
Sessions built around a real question your people already have, not a generic keynote. Designed so the room does some of the work.
WIDER WORK
Research, advisory, connection and community design, employee experience, communication, collaboration and unusual human problems.
Experiments, tools and structures that outlast the engagement — the same method as the public questions, pointed at your organisation.
Longer-term
Interested in working together longer-term? I'm potentially open to in-house opportunities with interesting people solving interesting problems.
Not everything is commercial
There are many ways to support -- and all of them help us work UPWARD.
Join in
If you're curious, kind, and respectful, you're invited to show up, add something, or share what you know.
Gather
Public events, in real rooms, with real strangers who become less strange.
See upcoming events on Luma ↗Contribute
If you know something I don't, or someone I should know, that's genuinely useful.
COMING NEXT · NOVEMBER 2026
I'm developing the next stage of the Friendship Experiment: a live pilot event exploring whether we can help adults find people they genuinely want to know — through thoughtful matching, relevant and shared experiences, and better conditions for connection.
Thursday, November 26, 2026 from 17:30–21:30.
If you might want to attend, facilitate, partner, sponsor, host, document, or otherwise help make it happen, leave your details and I'll keep you posted.
