We are back, with another issue of #MakingHERStory, an initiative to empower women leaders with life stories and testimonies. In this issue, we chose to have a chat with Ella Lantang, a Senior Legal Manager from our team in Jakarta. Learn more about how we can be our full authentic selves, as leaders in the workplace.
Influence and inspiration
Tell us about a leadership lesson that you’ve learnt that’s unique to being a female leader.
Leadership is the combination of empowerment and authenticity. I have learned that it is essential to empower and motivate my team to achieve the goals and for the team to continuously grow at the same time. I have also learned that in doing so I need to be as authentic as possible so that I can create a trusting environment that will help me to understand them truly for me to help them reach their full potential.
Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you
I am inspired by my mom. She has been a very influential female character in my life. She is a mom and also a hard worker. Her personal life (as a wife and as a mom) did not stop her from continuing and pursuing her dreams. Still remember how she would take me to her office when I was a kid, how she would teach me in the evening and make sure I could understand the things I studied in school. It was not easy for me at that time but now as a wife and a mom I learned that it was not easy for her as well, yet she managed everything very well. My mom inspires me to be the woman I am today.
Career
What energizes you about work?
Challenges that will require me to keep on learning new things.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Believe in yourself, speak up for yourself, and do not be afraid to make mistakes – learn your lesson out of them.
Women empowerment
How has FSMK empowered you to #breakthebias and be the leader you are today?
FSMK has already started some initiatives that have actually empowered me and that includes flexibility to choose when to work from home and work from the office, training/supporting group/discussion that aims to empower women, and creating a culture that gives me room to speak my mind.
How should women support other women in their organizations?
I think we can support other women in the workplace by inspiring them or by being the role model for other women, by encouraging other women to speak up their minds, by speaking up to the organization when seeing women being treated differently/unfairly in the workplace, giving them constructive input that will help them perform better and/or by asking them to join the supporting group/training/discussion that aims to empower women.
John F. Kennedy once said, “leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” The goal is to keep growing, into great leaders. Gender aside, we hope this series helps you continue to grow into an amazing leader.