While facility and maintenance management roles have traditionally been dominated by men, the tide is slowly shifting as more women step into facility leadership. To help grow women’s successes in cleaning and maintenance, ISSA’s Hygieia Network’s mission is to provide programs, tools and support, enabling women in the cleaning industry to accelerate their careers and achieve their full potential.

Recently, ISSA’s Hygieia Network hosted a webinar called Masterclass Women in Action: Advancing Careers and Leadership in Facility Solutions panel, which explored the growing role women are playing in facility management.

The discussion was moderated by Rachel Patt, strategic account manager at Hospeco, and the panel included:

• April Diaz, vice president of Human Resources at BradyPLUS
• Mandy Copeland, director of Research and Development at GOJO
• Laura Arbore, corporate account manager of Heritage Bag, part of Novolex
• Kiki Katz, chief commercial officer at Aramsco

Here are some of the highlights of that discussion:

• Being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry means adding an authentic viewpoint, leveraging the unique perspective that women offer to connect and build relationships
• Curiosity, confidence, and a willingness to learn were characteristics that resonated, playing an important role in the panelists’ successes, as well as flexibility and managing priorities
• Setting boundaries arose as a theme, helping the panelists to achieve better work-life balance while still successfully leading their teams
• The power of mentorship was spotlighted in the discussion. Women supporting women, advocating for one another, and creating pathways for future leaders was a building block that helped each leader along her journey. Hygieia supports this with a mentoring program that provides structured opportunities for women to connect with mentors inside and outside their organizations.
• Women holding leadership positions is a growing trend, allowing women to innovate, inspire, receive recognition, and make change within the industry.

This session featured actionable advice and real-world examples from female industry leaders on how to grow professionally. The conversation aimed to help professionals break barriers, refine their leadership skills, inspire others to move their careers, and demonstrate how women are driving change and shaping the future of the industry.

For the full panel discussion, please visit this link.