From breaking barriers to building better workplaces, women in facilities management are redefining what leadership looks like one conversation at a time.
The Women Who Make It Work panel at NFMT West titled "Why Horseshoes Win: Rethinking Women's Access, Inclusion and Growth in FM" brings together women leaders from across facilities management to have an honest, practical conversation about what it takes to build inclusive and supportive work environments. The session will explore how inclusion shows up in the day-to-day realities of facilities management and how professionals can create stronger teams through mentorship, communication and a culture of belonging.
Joining the conversation are three women panelists with firsthand experience leading and working in the facilities profession. Leah Withrow, assistant field manager at Arizona State University Athletics, brings her experience supporting facility operations in a major collegiate athletics environment. Veronica Rivera, director of facilities, maintenance and operations at the College of the Siskiyous, leads efforts to maintain safe and welcoming campus spaces that support students and faculty. Yanet Vega, director of facilities and environmental services at El Rio Health, brings her leadership experience from the healthcare facilities sector.
The three women panelists answered questions from FacilitiesNet as a sneak peek into similar topics that will be discussed during the session.
FacilitiesNet: What’s one thing you’ve learned about communicating or leading that has helped you create a stronger, more connected team?
Yanet Vega: I’ve learned that being human is one of the most important parts of leadership. We all make mistakes, we struggle and sometimes we deal with things we may not know how to manage. Creating an environment where people feel supported and understood can make a tremendous difference.
Transparency has also been very important to me. I try to communicate what I know, explain why decisions are being made and help my team understand why certain circumstances or challenges may not change immediately. When people understand the “why,” they are much more connected to the work and to each other.
Leah Withrow: The most important thing I think I’ve learned is to always lead or communicate with respect. They showed up and are working hard for me and for the team, the least I can do is show them I respect them as a person and an employee of mine. In return, I find I get respect back so when I ask them to complete tasks, there is an understanding that I’m asking for a reason.
Veronica Rivera: I have worked hard to create a safe environment for all of my team. I have an open-door policy for my team to ask questions, voice concerns or admit mistakes without fear of judgement. Our maintenance team is the backbone of the district. When we are presented with challenges, I empower my team to collaborate and find solutions, fostering true ownership.
FN: What’s your advice or words of wisdom to young women looking to thrive in facilities management?
Vega: Always be yourself. There can be a lot of pressure in this industry to fit in, especially in a field that has traditionally been male dominated, but changing who you are to be like everyone else is not always the answer.
Bring your own values, beliefs, experiences and perspective to the table. Stand for what you believe in, know when to hold your ground and keep building your knowledge and confidence. Being authentic is what helps you stand out and grow into the kind of leader you want to be.
Withrow: Just continue to show up, even if it's just for yourself. Your presence at work is sometimes enough to change standards or how the crew operates. There will be challenges and hard days, but if this is something you enjoy and have a passion for, then just showing up will get you through the day and make it feel worth it.
Rivera: Own your technical competence. Never apologize for taking up space or showing your technical knowledge. Build relationships with all of your contractors, never burn a bridge and make hard decisions when necessary. Back your decisions with proper data and do not change your decision because you are under pressure.
FN: If you could change one thing about the way our industry supports women, from getting started to moving into leadership positions, what would it be?
Vega: I would like to see more intentional mentorship and advocacy. I wish more women entering the industry had access to women who have already advanced into leadership and are willing to answer questions, share experiences and simply provide a trusted person to bounce ideas off.
I also think men have an important role. We need more men who actively advocate for women, bring them onto their teams, recognize their expertise and treat them as peers.
Women are continuing to enter facilities management and move into leadership, but misconceptions still exist about what our roles should be, and our knowledge and decisions can still be questioned in ways that our male counterparts may not experience. The more we intentionally mentor, advocate for and create opportunities for women, the stronger our entire industry becomes.
Withrow: If I could change one thing it would be to stop putting women on a pedestal. We are here to work just like anyone else. The buildings we maintain, the complexes we manage, the fields we take care of don’t know if it’s a man or woman taking care of it. It just knows that there’s work that needs to be done; it doesn’t care by who. It would be amazing if the industry just allowed us to do our jobs regardless of anything else.
Rivera: Create clear, metric-driven career paths that remove subjective "cultural fit" criteria, which often introduce unconscious gender bias. It also helps to have a female leader that believes in you. That truly is the way the old system is broken down, women supporting women.
Elaina Myers is the assistant editor of the facilities market. She has covered various topics from pest management to resilience to sustainability and covers all holidays and special days in the facilities field. She also manages the FacilitiesNet social media accounts.
