CEO & Founder, Lau Acquisition Corporation
Joanna Lau is an accomplished entrepreneur and board member with over 20+ years of experience serving on public, private, and non-profit boards. As the founder and CEO of Lau Acquisition Corp, an Executive Consulting and Investment Company, she led the company from 1990 to 2022, overseeing multiple M&A transactions and pioneering the introduction of facial recognition technology in driver's licenses, secure documents, and access control. Joanna was AABDC’s Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business honoree in 2021.
Her expertise spans IPOs, M&A, cybersecurity, and risk management, making her a valuable asset in navigating complex business challenges. Throughout her career, Joanna has demonstrated exceptional leadership and received numerous accolades. She has served on prestigious boards, including DBI (as Chair of the Technology Committee) and RPT Realty (as Chair of the Audit Committee), showcasing her proficiency in corporate governance and risk management. Joanna's commitment to empowering women is evident through her founding of the Women for Women Summit at the College of Charleston Business School. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as Ernest & Young's National Turn Around Entrepreneur of the Year and an MBE bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II for her work with the Marshall Scholarship in the US.