Yesterday's Women in Facilities Management panel session at NFMT in Baltimore was in huge success in that it served as an open, non-biased platform for women - in a male dominated field - to discuss issues surrounding the "gender gap." The attendees heard from three very accomplished women about finding a balance between career and life, the challenges of being a woman in FM and personal successes that have gotten them where they are today. There was also a lot of prudent advice for the young women in the audience just starting out in FM on how to network, make connections and earn the respect they deserve.
With all this focus on women, sometimes we can lose sight of the fact that men can have similar challenges in FM and their careers in general. Issues, especially ones such as finding an appropriate work/life balance are just as topical for men as they are for women. Especially now in this down economy, many families need two bread winners, so the days of housewives (or househusbands) may be over for a lot of facility managers. Who is going to take the kids to the dentist? Who is going to pick them up from school? When are you both going to find time to finish up those projects and spend quality time with each other and the kids? We've heard from the woman's perspective, but how do you, as male FMs, strike a balance between your career and what your family needs from you? Do you perceive there to be a gender gap in FM?