Laura Sparks serves as Head of Corporate Engagement at FS Investments and President of the FS Foundation (the philanthropic arm of FS Investments).
As Head of Corporate Engagement, she oversees and develops strategic approaches to several key functions of the business, including the firm’s global offices. She also carries leadership responsibilities across the firm’s shared services groups, helping the firm to operate more efficiently and effectively, extend its global brand, and meet its ambitious plans for growth.
In her role as President of the FS Foundation, she works to advance equitable opportunity across our communities through the firm’s various civic engagement, philanthropy and employee engagement initiatives.
Ms. Sparks has an extensive background in both financial services and civic leadership. Prior to joining FS Investments, she served as the first female President of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Laura previously served as Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation, a then $2 billion private foundation dedicated to improving the Philadelphia region. Earlier in her career, she held roles in community development finance at Citi as well as roles in public and private finance at UBS and Goldman Sachs, respectively.
She earned a BA from Wellesley College, a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
As Head of Corporate Engagement, she oversees and develops strategic approaches to several key functions of the business, including the firm’s global offices.