Why inclusive leadership matters, encouraging more women into FM’s senior roles

By Kat Nunes, Impact Director, Kanso FM

Facilities management touches every workplace, every sector and every community. Yet despite its reach, FM leadership still doesn’t fully reflect the diversity of the people it serves. Women make up around 25–30 per cent of the FM workforce, but less than 15 per cent of senior leadership roles. That imbalance matters, not only for women, but for the industry as a whole.

Encouraging more women into senior FM roles isn’t about creating separation between genders. It’s about building leadership teams that are inclusive, balanced, and capable of representing all perspectives. The reality is simple: when leadership is diverse, organisations perform better. Studies show that companies with more than 30 per cent women executives are more likely to outperform their peers, and that gender-diverse teams are 25 per cent more likely to achieve above-average profitability. Diversity strengthens decision-making, sparks innovation, and creates a culture where people of all backgrounds feel they belong.

But representation doesn’t just happen on its own, it requires intention. FM has traditionally been seen as a male-driven sector, rooted in technical services and operations. As the industry evolves to focus on workplace experience, ESG, and wellbeing, the opportunity for women to lead is greater than ever. The challenge is ensuring pathways into those senior roles are visible and accessible.

This is where inclusivity comes in. Women need to see role models who prove progression is possible. They also need allies, and that includes men. Male leaders have a crucial role to play in mentoring female colleagues, sponsoring their progression, and challenging outdated stereotypes. Inclusivity is a shared responsibility: when men and women work together to widen opportunities, the entire industry moves forward.

At Kanso FM, we’ve seen what this looks like in practice. We are proud to be female-owned and female-led, with Managing Director Norma Bresciani at the helm. But what really makes a difference is the mix of leaders across our teams. Women who started in frontline roles, such as housekeeping, have stepped into area management and operational leadership. Their journeys inspire others, showing that ambition and progression are achievable in FM. At the same time, our male colleagues play a vital part in creating an environment where those pathways are supported. For us, inclusivity is not about one gender leading over another; it’s about leadership that reflects society and clients alike.

This balance is increasingly important for the organisations we serve. Clients are looking for FM partners who understand sustainability, ESG, and wellbeing. They want providers whose values align with their own, and inclusive leadership is a powerful signal of that. A team that reflects diversity across gender, culture, and background is better placed to design solutions that support people, not just services.

Of course, there is more the industry can do. If we want to see more women in FM’s senior roles, we must:

• Showcase career pathways, from frontline to boardroom, highlighting real stories of progression.
• Champion role models, making female leaders visible and accessible to the next generation.
• Involve men as allies, ensuring inclusivity is something we build together, not something placed on women’s shoulders alone.
• Position FM as strategic, promoting the sector as a career of choice where leadership influences culture, sustainability, and business outcomes.

The future of FM will not be defined by one perspective or one gender. It will be shaped by leaders who are collaborative, innovative, and inclusive. Encouraging more women into senior roles is a vital part of that journey but so is ensuring that men and women lead side by side, championing each other along the way.

At Kanso FM, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we also know there’s more to do. Representation matters. Inclusivity matters. And when we bring everyone on the journey, the whole industry benefits.