At Programmed, we are committed to supporting and building the careers and capabilities of our team members. Mentoring is a great way to build on skills, professional networks and gain different perspectives. Gail Tracey, Strategic Sales Manager for Programmed Facility Management, shares her experiences working in the FM industry for 20 years and the benefits of having great mentors.
At the end of this year, I will have spent two decades in the Facility Management (FM) industry. From humble beginnings answering calls on a help desk, I have gone on to travel the world, working with a diverse range of clients on some weird and wonderful projects. The latest turn in my career journey brought me to Programmed and to sales which has proven to be another exciting chapter in my professional development.
After completing a degree in Fine Art, the entry point for this unexpected career was a temporary role at Siemens (UK), in the FM division.
I didn’t know what FM was, but I got my head around it pretty quickly – essentially, we were there to take care of the health, safety and well-being of staff and building users. A vital service but one I didn’t know existed. The industry is thought to be worth USD 39.5 billion globally and offers incredible career opportunities, yet most people still don’t know what it is!
I spent seven years with Siemens, where natural aptitude and enthusiasm helped me progress, along with a couple of great mentors. I held operational roles, overseeing everything from the maintenance, to catering, cleaning and security, responsible for all in-house and subcontracted trades and specialist providers.
After that, I set up a consulting business with one of those mentors. It was a leap of faith, but it paid off, the move expanded my horizons and gave me opportunities to work in the Middle East, Asia and Australia where I settled eight years ago.
In my experience, qualifications and technical ability only get you so far. Passion takes you further, but if you throw a good mentor into the mix, the possibilities are endless. Over the years, my mentors have sparked ideas and opened my mind to so much, real light-bulb moments brought about through a simple conversation. I would encourage everyone to seek out a mentor, either formally or informally. It can be life-changing.
I’ve seen a significant transformation in FM and maintenance over the last 20 years, but nothing excites me more than the growing interest of women in trades roles. How I would have loved a few more women in my team back in the day. By challenging the status quo and encouraging true diversity of thought and approach, we raise the bar for our industry – let’s keep elevating.
Be open-minded and think who you might want to approach to be your mentor to help support, guide and encourage your career development. To find out more about mentoring or if you would like to reach out to Gail directly, email womenintrades@programmed.com.au
