There is a lot of uncertainty right now. It almost seems like every day that a new piece of breaking news lands in our inbox and we must figure out ways to deal with and process new pieces of information. While it seems scary, there is no feeling that facilities managers know better than fear.
Fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If anything, it should be a part of the job description. It can be scary to climb high ladders or having to contort your body to fit into tight areas where machinery is tucked away. For some, though, that fear is felt when they are the only woman in the room or if they aren’t trusted to do a “man’s job.” Being a woman in facilities management means that you must follow your fear every single day in order to be treated the same as their peers. Having this bravery allows women to build their confidence and further grow their careers in more meaningful ways.
“It’s really just about having that confidence that you can do it, even if you don’t know how to do it,” says Tia Freiburger, director, facilities and operations, corporate Real Estate Under Armour. “There’s been plenty of times where I’ve been in a meeting and it’s passive learning. I absorb it all, and when I leave, I can put it into such concrete way that I know more. I never feel unconfident in a meeting, and I can’t remember the last time that I actually felt nervous, and I think it’s because I go in thinking like I actually know more than everyone in the room.”
At the Women in FM event at NFMT Baltimore on March 26, Freiburger, Katie Gramajo, senior industry marketing manager, Brightly Software, A Siemens Company, and Maria Ruiz, manager, facilities and operations, UNICEF USA will join together to discuss how women can utilize their bravery to cultivate a meaningful and authentic career in facilities management. Discussion topics will also range from honing in on that confidence and how to manage change during a tumultuous time.
All Pro and Elite attendees are welcome to join the event and are encouraged to participate in the discussion. The panel discussion will be followed by the Women in Industry reception that will bring attendees from NFMT and the Clean Buildings Conference together to continue the conversation over drinks and appetizers.
Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
