Laurel Burton is the CEO of Instrument, a digitally native design agency that pushes brands forward through bold creativity and technology. For more than twenty years, she’s been behind some of the most influential digital experiences in the world — shaping work for Google, Instagram, Levi’s, Microsoft, and Red Bull. Today, she’s steering Instrument through industry upheaval, the rise of AI, and the reinvention of hybrid work with a clear point of view and unapologetic conviction. Laurel leads with authenticity and radical optimism, refusing to accept legacy as destiny. She believes leadership is about turning failure into fuel, unlocking potential in people and ideas, and building what doesn’t yet exist. Above all, she’s a believer — in her teams, in the power of creativity, and in technology’s ability to transform what’s possible.
Laurel Burton
