Allecia Mcdonald is a Facilities Senior Manager at Cushman & Wakefield and current President of the IFMA Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter where she volunteers because of her “love for all things related to buildings”. Host Mike Petrusky talks with her about her journey in facilities management, the impact of the IFMA community, the future of the workplace, and the role of FM in environmental sustainability. They explore the challenge of engaging young professionals in the FM community today and the need to demonstrate a high-value vision to attract them.
Agenda
- The role of IFMA in Allecia’s professional growth
- The challenges in engaging young professionals in the FM industry
- The importance of sustainability in the built environment.
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: The importance of building connections and learning from others in the workplace
During the episode, host Mike Petrusky and Cushman & Wakefield facility manager Allecia Mcdonald emphasized the value of networking and learning from others within the industry. They shared their excitement about the potential for meaningful connections at industry events such as IFMA’s World Workplace 2024.
“I get excited about the connections. You just meet so many people in such a short period of time and get ideas based on what others are doing,” said Mcdonald. This sentiment was echoed by Mike, who highlighted the importance of the facility management community gathering to share ideas and inspire each other.
Mcdonald also touched on the significance of getting involved in industry associations like IFMA, stating, “I truly believe in having that networking connection and those valuable resources and the learning opportunities.”
Takeaway 2: The need for engaging young professionals in the industry
The episode also addressed the challenge of attracting and engaging young professionals in facility management. The speakers acknowledged the changing work-life balance priorities of young professionals and the need to demonstrate the high value of professional involvement outside of work hours.
“I think it really has to have high value to take more time outside of your life, outside of work, to do more volunteering or more learning,” said Mcdonald, suggesting that they are focusing on engagement and discussing ways to bring high value to members. However, she admitted that the perfect answer for engagement was still elusive, “I don’t have the perfect answer for what that is. I think that we’re all discussing and trying to figure that out.”
Takeaway 3: The role of facilities management in sustainability and environmental impact
The speakers highlighted the role of facilities management in sustainability and reducing greenhouse emissions. They noted the potential for young professionals to be attracted to the profession due to its impact on the environment and its potential for the future.
“I personally am very interested in how we can reduce greenhouse gas,” states Mcdonald. “That’s been a big topic as well as what newer technologies are coming out. I think it’s ever evolving and has developed a lot recently and will continue.”
Mike agreed, suggesting that the FM community’s mandate to have a positive impact on the environment could be a key selling point for younger professionals. “We do have something to say about sustainability and about the mission to have a positive impact on the environment and therefore the lives of this generation and the next one and those that are to come,” he said. They both agreed that the profession’s potential for environmental impact could be an enticing factor for young professionals.
Workplace management insights
- The importance of having a passion for what you do in the FM industry, which involves constant change and problem-solving.
- The value of networking and learning opportunities provided by IFMA for career growth.
- The challenge of engaging young professionals in IFMA and the FM industry, possibly due to changing priorities around work-life balance.
- The impact of COVID-19 on workplaces, with organizations struggling to entice people back to the office while recognizing the benefits of remote work.
- The importance of data in understanding how people use different types of office spaces and in informing change management strategies.
The role of FM professionals in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to sustainability.
