ASHLEIGH LANGMAN SENIOR MANAGER : REWARD MOBILITY
ASHLEIGH
Leading with Compassion
Words by Ree Ntuli
Crafting one’s name while actively working towards dismantling stereotypes about women in leadership roles is no easy feat. Still, there are those amongst us who do it with a panache worth emulating. With over twelve years of experience in Global Mobility Tax, Ashley Langman has solidified her place in the corporate world. As Senior Manager at MultiChoice Group’s Reward Mobility Unit, she oversees all matters relating to tax compliance – a role she is as passionate as she is pliable about. ‘I’m quite passionate about and proud of the work I do, but I also try not to take myself too seriously. One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is that not every work emergency is necessarily a crisis. When you do your work diligently and nurture your professional relationships, mutual trust and reliability become the glue that holds those relationships together so that nobody panics or second-guesses you when you’re unable to instantly reply to an email.’
Speaking of nurturing professional relationships, some of the practical ways Ashley ensures that the support she gives to the staff under her leadership - particularly those who identify as women - is felt and even replicated includes leading with empathy. ‘I think it’s important to lead with compassion. Having recently returned from maternity leave, I remember coming to work with such high expectations for myself to do everything at once and by myself, but it did not take long for me to realise that I could not and that I relied on the empathy and the support of those around me. So, I try to extend as much of that as possible, I tell my junior staff that rather than overextend themselves to their own detriment, they should practice saying no to those tasks they’re unable to perform at a particular time for whatever reasons. I’m also deliberate about giving support to single moms who often have to juggle work and parenthood without the soft landing places afforded to married/coupled moms.
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