INTHEBLACK December 2025 / January 2026 - Magazine - Page 6
CONTEMPLATING LEADERSHIP
FIVE QUESTIONS
As the chief learning and innovation officer at CPA Australia,
Dr Asheley Jones understands the value of listening to her
team. In the modern arena, a leader’s greatest asset is their
ability to leverage the strengths of others.
C PA AU S T R A L I A
PHOTOGRAPHY TIM JONES
1. What is the difference between a leader
and a boss?
I think the two exist at opposite ends of
the spectrum.
A successful leader is someone who inspires
and influences teams by building a compelling
vision, one that can inspire colleagues to work
collaboratively and with purpose. They prioritise their
team’s wellbeing and provide a positive environment
in which all employees are inspired to deliver on
shared goals. To direct effectively, a leader needs
to empower those around them to exhibit curiosity
and foster continuous learning to build individual
skill sets, capabilities and knowledge.
There is a difference between a leader and
a boss who tends to rely more on directing,
rather than inspiring, employees. A boss uses formal
authority and control to ensure tasks and shortterm goals are achieved. They frequently prioritise
processes and deadlines, as they are focused
on ensuring immediate task completion.
A boss might demand trust and take credit,
whereas a leader builds trust and shares credit.
2. Are the characteristics of future leaders
changing?
Most definitely. Given the advent of the gig
economy, more flexible organisational structures,
the rise of artificial intelligence, automation more
generally and multi-generational workers,
future leaders will need to refocus on what
good leadership looks like. They must be able
6 INTHEBLACK Dec 2025/Jan 2026 SPECIAL EDITION
to inspire curiosity, provide coaching and mentoring,
demonstrate resilience to navigate complex change,
and foster a positive work environment across
an increasingly diverse work population.
3. What are the key ingredients in a leadership
learning agenda?
Self-awareness and humility are essential to
becoming a good leader. Understanding yourself,
your own strengths and weaknesses, and how other
people view you are pivotal building blocks.
Another key ingredient is the ability to create
a culture of respect, so that those around you feel
safe to offer alternative perspectives to yours.
Understanding and incorporating the perspectives
of others is essential if you want those working with
you to feel valued and trusted.
The third essential element I’d mention is integrity.
It is a valuable leadership trait as it sets a tone
of trustworthiness essential to building a
high-performing team. Authenticity and
transparency are key components of integrity.
The best leaders clearly model these qualities,
which in turn creates a positive work environment
where employees feel supported and empowered
to express their own authenticity.
4. How is CPA Australia helping to develop
leaders across the membership?
In the first instance, the CPA Australia Global
Strategy and Leadership subject (the capstone
subject in the CPA Program) focuses on equipping
