In this episode of Women in Transport, we’re speaking to Dr Emma Langman-Maher, Associate Director for Strategy Plus at AECOM. Emma talks about her career journey from a transport planner to engineering to HR, influenced by synchronicity and building relationships. She shares her approach to managing ADHD, autism and trauma, including EMDR therapy, and is candid about the strengths her experiences give her in the world of work. She emphasizes the importance of adaptive systems, flexible work environments, and understanding individual needs to bring out the best in people.
Dr Emma Langman-Maher has a career path that she describes as "crazy-paving". The word others are most likely to use about her are 'resilient', 'inspiring' and (less kindly), 'intense'. Originally a civil engineer, she became a transport planner before segueing through careers in industries as diverse as Oil & Gas and Retail. Emma is driven by a strong sense of justice and a belief (built upon two decades of fascination with the work of W Edwards Deming), that Joy in Work should be a human right. She has therefore spent much of her career striving to create environments and organsations that help people to be at their best; starting from her early career helping to develop London's Quality Bus Routes. Much of this internal drive for efficiency and justice comes from her childhood experiences of long periods in hospital and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including the loss of one of her siblings. Although, last year, while being diagnosed for ADHD, Emma also learned that she is Autistic.
Emma is now happily employed as an associate director with AECOM - a multi-national infrastructure consultancy. Here she combines her big picture creativity (from her ADHD) with her love of bottom-up detail (linked to her Autism) to lead the Transformation Practice that forms part of their Strategy+ service line. After 20 years she is finally using her PhD in Systems Approaches in the Hydro-Electric sector, working with clients such as the Environment Agency and National Grid's Great Grid Partnership. Emma has won awards from the People and Culture Association for her achievements in transforming workplaces. And she is one of HR Magazine's Top Thinkers 2024. To quote Emma "my CV could never have been predicted, and my life has had plenty of challenges, but it makes sense when I look back from where I am now, and I am grateful for it". Emma continues to champion Customer focus in AECOM's Highways team, and will never give up her love of train sets. She lives in Cheshire and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, including her husband, and 6 children and step-children.
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Women in Transport is presented by Shireen Ali-Khan from Women in Transport.
The series is produced by Emily Crosby Media with editing assistance from Liam Heffernan.