When I started my career in facilities management, I thought about choosing between being a dedicated professional and a present mother. Twenty-three years later, I've learned that the skills that make me a better mother actually make me a better facilities manager.
During the early days of my facilities career and motherhood the reality of early career tradeoffs sunk in. I remember major reorganizations, global trends, natural disasters and other emergencies –all while having to commute two hours each way, for a non-flexible, on-site job. I was raising a six-year-old son, and just when I thought it couldn’t get more difficult, my mother suffered a brain aneurysm and was sent to the ICU.
In a field full of unique challenges, I had to adapt, pivot and elevate myself through it all while caring for a young family. Yes, quality time with my son was indeed sacrificed, unfortunately. But I knew that the demands of the industry coincided with those of motherhood, and I had to keep moving.
Early on, I had to make strategic lateral moves that didn’t always involve a pay increase just for flexibility just to maintain consistent childcare arrangements. These short-term sacrifices were made in the hope of long-term growth. But mentally and physically I was depleted. So, I had to learn how to work smarter.
Expanding my family felt like an unrealistic goal. The rising cost of childcare and the persistent lack of flexible work arrangements made each request feel like a battle. I remember the frustration and sadness of being repeatedly rejected for flexibility, even after doing everything by “the book.” But, somehow, some way, I didn’t quit. My now homebound mother reminded me, “Just rest, this too shall pass. You’ll persevere because you are a mother.” That message carried me through the hardest and darkest days during the beginning of my facilities management career.
As a woman and a parent in facilities, working across contractors, stakeholders and executives, I developed collaborative communication styles and asked for help without guilt. Because without a solid team backing you up, this job becomes much harder.
That’s where elevation begins. Reaching leadership meant it was time to give back and help others navigate this path without fear. Sacrifice is one thing. Tradeoff is another.
My family became my village. They too, sacrificed weekends and stepped in during emergency calls so I could do my job. Yes, I missed little league games and birthday parties, but I also showed my children what perseverance looks like.
Now, in my leadership role, I don't just ask for flexibility—I grant it, advocate for it, and normalize it for others. I mentor working parents in facilities management because I know the power of one voice that says, “It’s possible.” I've helped shape inclusive team cultures where family isn’t a burden—it’s a badge of resilience. We don’t just succeed in facilities—we redefine it. Not through balance, but integration. Through it all, humanity remains the glue that brings us all together so as much as I was helped and as much as I was mentored in my early days, I now have the platform to help other women in our field to lead with that clarity.
Let’s open doors for the next generation to walk through with confidence and compassion.
Maria Ruiz is a Facilities Operations Manager at UNICEF USA with 15+ years of cross-sector expertise. Overseeing multiple national offices, she applies Lean Six Sigma methodologies to create sustainable, efficient workspaces supporting humanitarian missions. Her writing champions women in facilities management by blending technical knowledge with practical insights that empower professionals in this traditionally male-dominated field.
