Authentic leaders don’t look for affirmation
MPUME Langa is a business leader who is dynamic, driven and successful both professionally and personally. She heads two critical business portfolios in KwaZuluNatal, Absa Private Bank KZN and the Business Women’s Association.
She attributes her drive and success to living by human values that best define who she is.
“My motto is simple: I believe people will treat me the way I treat them. I respect you and will treat you the way I would like to be treated. It’s simple – there is no need for arrogance, competition or titles.”
Langa has two children aged 7 and 9 and is married to Ndabo Langa, an architect and businessman. She is frank when it comes to the question of how to achieve balance in her career.
“I have a purpose in my personal and professional life, but nothing and no one takes the place of my family. I put my family first, then me, and then my career.”
The couple work hard, yet take time out to enjoy their children. “We like the beach, and family time is important. We travel a lot because we want to expose our children to life and the world. We sit down as a family and two or three times a year choose a new country or place to visit. Our next trip is to Asia – Malaysia and Singapore.”
Langa is an accomplished business executive with more than seventeen years’ experience in portfolio and stakeholder management in the financial services industry.
A pioneer and innovative thinker, her leadership skills have shaped high-performing teams she has built in the service industry.
She is the first African woman to head private banking in Absa, and previously worked at Standard and First National Bank.
She is also a qualified image, etiquette and protocol consultant from The European School of Protocol in Belgium and Colourworks International.
Her tips for anyone who wants to succeed are simple: “Good leaders lead by example. You have to know your inner self, your value and your truth. Real leaders do not look to others for affirmation.”
Langa is an active driver of women and youth empowerment advancement programmes and a speaker on business skills and motivation. She also serves on the executive of the Women in Business Forum at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“We live in a challenging time. The government and the political sphere alone cannot provide all the solutions to our economic challenges. We must all do our bit.”