In episode 397, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Lorri Rowlandson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at BGIS. She’s a strategic and operational real estate executive with global experience delivering integrated real estate services across a distributed portfolio of diverse assets. Lorri shares her updated perspectives on delivering practical innovation in the workplace with a focus on measurable results rather than just ideas or “innovation theater.” She explains how AI and automation are rapidly evolving and encourages FM professionals to view change through three distinct lenses: personal productivity, organizational efficiency, and client value creation. Drawing on humor, references to the Canadian band The Tragically Hip, and insights about staying connected with industry peers, Lorri explains how a vibrant and innovative workplace culture contributes to professional success.
Agenda
- Why practical innovation focuses on measurable results rather than “innovation theater”
- How AI and automation require FM professionals to think through three strategic lenses
- Why curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving matter more than static knowledge in an AI-enabled world
- How humor, pop culture, and peer connections contribute to thriving workplace cultures
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Practical innovation means pushing ideas into results, not innovation theater
Lorri’s philosophy has evolved to emphasize practical innovation, a concept that resonates especially well when working with engineers and results-driven teams. The focus isn’t on generating exciting ideas for their own sake, but on converting those ideas into outcomes that move the needle for organizations and clients.
At BGIS, this practical approach extends to the goal of having the world’s healthiest employees — both internally and for client organizations — demonstrating how innovation must be grounded in meaningful, measurable improvements that truly advance organizational missions.
Takeaway 2: AI adoption requires viewing change through three strategic lenses
Lorri says organizations should think about AI and adoption in three ways: improving employee literacy with desktop tools like CoPilot and OpenAI, enhancing organizational efficiency by changing how processes are executed, and creating client value through enhanced service delivery.
Her multi-lens approach recognizes that technology transformation isn’t just about individual productivity gains — it’s about systemic change at multiple organizational levels. Each lens requires different strategies, change management approaches, and success metrics, giving FM professionals a comprehensive roadmap for implementation.
She also talks about her concerns about the pace of AI advancement, describing the current moment as “chimpanzees with Lamborghinis.” She also expresses concerns about the ethical implications and responsible governance of these rapidly advancing technologies. Yet she emphasizes that organizations must “get on the train or be left behind,” making ethical and responsible adoption imperative rather than optional.
Takeaway 3: The future belongs to continuous learners with strong change management skills
“It’s not what you know today, it’s how you learn and how you change and how you influence. So, all of those skills around creativity and influence and problem-solving are way more important than what you know.”
Process documentation and change management become critical success factors, Lorri points out, because “all of those technology tools come down to process change.” Anyone with Six Sigma or quality management experience in documenting processes has a significant advantage, as the future is “around identifying those processes or friction points that are not efficient,” she says.
Lorri encourages FM professionals to embrace micro-learning as a consistent practice for reinventing themselves and keeping pace with rapid changes, while also developing emotional intelligence to lead people through transformation. The combination of technical process expertise and human leadership skills creates the foundation for successful innovation adoption.
Workplace management insights
- Practical innovation focuses on converting ideas into measurable results rather than engaging in innovation theater.
- AI and automation adoption requires thinking through three strategic lenses: employee literacy, organizational efficiency, and client value.
- Process documentation and change management skills are increasingly valuable as technology adoption accelerates.
- Emotional intelligence remains a critical leadership competency when implementing new technologies and managing change.
- Creativity, influence, and problem-solving skills matter more than static knowledge in an AI-enabled workplace.
- Continuous learning through micro-learning approaches helps professionals reinvent themselves and stay current.
- AI tools require ethical implementation frameworks, as organizations must balance advancement with responsible use.
- FM professionals must “get on the train” of AI adoption or risk being left behind in the evolving industry landscape.
Learn more about Eptura’s Flex/26 New York and explore the full library of Workplace Innovator podcast episodes for an in‑depth look at workplace insights.
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J
