Laila worked at Gavekal Fathom China from its founding in 2009, developing broad expertise in China's corporate landscape. She led the development of Fathom China’s Chips Watch series on the Chinese semiconductor industry, which has been expanded into the Chips sector module of Gavekal Technologies.

She grew up in Hangzhou, studied international relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and has a master’s degree from Harvard University. She is currently based in Miami and travels frequently to China and other countries. She plays piano, and is self-learning violin and Kpop dance.