Breaking Barriers and Advocating for Women in Leadership

11/13/23 • 27 min

Beyond Buildings: Exploring Facilities Management

In this episode, our host, Brian Gregory, sits down with Dr. Gabriella Blakey, Chief Operations Officer at Albuquerque Public Schools. Together, they discuss the importance of advocating for yourself and others. They cover:

[00:00:42] Gabriella's background and why she chose education as her career path
[00:04:45] Gabriella's transition from teacher to principal to COO
[00:09:00] The pressures and dynamics of being a female COO
[00:13:00] The largest problems Albuquerque Public Schools is facing post-pandemic
[00:16:48] Balancing compensation at Albuquerque Public Schools to attract and retain talent
[00:22:27] How Gabriella became a Bengals fan
[00:25:45] Advice from Gabriella for the next generation of facility leaders

Previous Episode

Diversity in Facilities Management

In this episode, our host, Brian Gregory, sits down with La Shawn Harrison, Space Planning Program Manager at Tesla. Together, they discuss the importance of diversity in facilities management and the value of gaining certifications in facilities management. They cover:

[00:00:35] La Shawn's background and her journey from interior design and property management to facilities management
[00:02:40] La Shawn's experience working as a female in a predominantly male industry
[00:03:33] How unique backgrounds can be applied to a facilities management role
[00:06:21] Common challenges La Shawn faces in her day-to-day
[00:09:00] Diversity and inclusivity in facilities management
[00:11:11] La Shawn's role in Women in Facilities Management (WIFM)
[00:14:05] The importance of gaining facilities management certifications
[00:17:06] Advice for those entering the facilities management industry

Next Episode

Ahead of the Curve: Strategic Capital Planning in Schools

In this episode, our host, Brian Gregory, sits down with Tim Ivey, Chief Technology and Facilities Officer at Iredell Statesville Schools. Together, they discuss how to stay ahead of the curve by strategically planning your capital projects. They cover:

[00:00:47] Tim's background and how he came to be in his current positon at Iredell Statesville Schools
[00:04:22] Why Tim spearheaded a capital improvement project for his district
[00:06:00] How Tim leverages the data from the district's Facility Condition Assessment to make decisions
[00:09:13] How capital planning affects Tim's day-to-day
[00:13:28] Exciting technology Tim sees on the horizon
[00:17:13] The opportunities Tim sees with AI for his district
[00:19:17] How Tim built such an incredible culture on his team
[00:25:46] Advice on starting a capital forecasting plan and advice for the next generation of facility leaders