FM SPOTLIGHT

Maria O’Callaghan-Cassidy

Maria O’Callaghan-Cassidy, CFM, SFP is the Executive Director of Design and Construction, Facilities Planning and Operations at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. With 20+ years of experience she is currently responsible for day to day operations; external leases both local and in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA and Beijing, China; project and facilities management; sustainability initiatives and long- term strategic space planning. Maria currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Building Owners and Management Association of Philadelphia (BOMA) and is the Vice President of Woman in Facilities Management (WIFM).  Maria has been a member of IFMA since 2002 and served on the international committee to update the CFM certification exam.

How did you get into Facility Management?
I was willing to take on challenges, evaluate, learn and own outcomes.  Therefore, like many others in this field – the role found me.

Tell us about a favorite project.
I have had the pleasure of working on hundreds of successful projects in my career but my role with Penn Wharton China Center in Beijing stands out for both its challenges and rewards.  For almost 30 months, I worked on a team that developed a design that was flexible enough to support programs from across the University with oversight through construction.  This process included recurrent travel to Beijing, identifying vendor partners, hiring staff and creating and implementing policies and procedures. The outcome was a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced and highly productive space. From learning  to understand and communicate basic mandarin, to connecting with new people and resources; to sharing best practices and stories about family that made the world seem a whole lot smaller –  it was, quite simply, a once in a lifetime experience!

What is your greatest success story?
Over the years, I am most proud of the dynamic teams I have assembled and for the partnerships that I have developed with my colleagues across multiple industries.  Success is all about people and relationships!

Tell us about a challenge or obstacle that you faced in the Facilities field, and how you overcame it.
A lack of female mentorship in the FM industry is a significant challenge.  Early in my career, without a clear path to mentorship, I sought mentors and was lucky to find many.

Several studies released this past year including Zippia showed that only 23.3% of all FM’s in the United States are women. These women received, on average, 93% of what men earned.  Currently, the percentage of women in executive level roles is under 8%.  With a record number of women dropping out of the workforce and not planning to return post-pandemic there is an immediate need for accessible, structured female mentorship and networking in the FM field.

What is something that most people do not know about you?
I took up boxing over the pandemic and train at an MMA gym.  I love it!

What learning experience would you pass onto future FM’s?
Practice active listening! Never become complacent and continuously strive for excellence.    Welcome feedback – the good, the bad and the ugly and always be willing to learn.

FM SPOTLIGHT

Maria O’Callaghan-Cassidy

Maria O’Callaghan-Cassidy, CFM, SFP is the Executive Director of Design and Construction, Facilities Planning and Operations at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. With 20+ years of experience she is currently responsible for day to day operations; external leases both local and in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA and Beijing, China; project and facilities management; sustainability initiatives and long- term strategic space planning. Maria currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Building Owners and Management Association of Philadelphia (BOMA) and is the Vice President of Woman in Facilities Management (WIFM).  Maria has been a member of IFMA since 2002 and served on the international committee to update the CFM certification exam.

How did you get into Facility Management?
I was willing to take on challenges, evaluate, learn and own outcomes.  Therefore, like many others in this field – the role found me.

Tell us about a favorite project.
I have had the pleasure of working on hundreds of successful projects in my career but my role with Penn Wharton China Center in Beijing stands out for both its challenges and rewards.  For almost 30 months, I worked on a team that developed a design that was flexible enough to support programs from across the University with oversight through construction.  This process included recurrent travel to Beijing, identifying vendor partners, hiring staff and creating and implementing policies and procedures. The outcome was a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced and highly productive space. From learning  to understand and communicate basic mandarin, to connecting with new people and resources; to sharing best practices and stories about family that made the world seem a whole lot smaller –  it was, quite simply, a once in a lifetime experience!

What is your greatest success story?
Over the years, I am most proud of the dynamic teams I have assembled and for the partnerships that I have developed with my colleagues across multiple industries.  Success is all about people and relationships!

Tell us about a challenge or obstacle that you faced in the Facilities field, and how you overcame it.
A lack of female mentorship in the FM industry is a significant challenge.  Early in my career, without a clear path to mentorship, I sought mentors and was lucky to find many.

Several studies released this past year including Zippia showed that only 23.3% of all FM’s in the United States are women. These women received, on average, 93% of what men earned.  Currently, the percentage of women in executive level roles is under 8%.  With a record number of women dropping out of the workforce and not planning to return post-pandemic there is an immediate need for accessible, structured female mentorship and networking in the FM field.

What is something that most people do not know about you?
I took up boxing over the pandemic and train at an MMA gym.  I love it!

What learning experience would you pass onto future FM’s?
Practice active listening! Never become complacent and continuously strive for excellence.    Welcome feedback – the good, the bad and the ugly and always be willing to learn.

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