“Yyyeeeeeeesss!”
It’s a long, happy reply given with a smile by Vale Leulu when asked if she’s busy today. And, crikey, is she busy.
Vale works full-time at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited as a facilities coordinator. She’s also studying full-time at Massey University for a diploma in facilties management, and planning on taking this further by studying for a Masters.
This would be enough for most of us. Not for Vale, who also supports and tutors local high school children, through the church she attends. Some of the ākonga have already expressed an interest in facilities management after Vale has told them about working in the sector. And in her spare time, she enjoys training and playing with her netball team.
This dedication to facilities management and to her community has seen Vale win a scholarship from the FMANZ Foundation. The Foundation aims to be the leading incubator of diverse, excellent talent in Aotearoa by identifying outstanding New Zealanders – like Vale – and offering grants to help them pursue a career in facilities management. Vale’s scholarship will help her finish her studies, pursue the Masters she has her eyes on, and realise the opportunities for her in the world of facilities management.
Today Vale has another busy morning. She’s sitting down to talk to FMANZ about the Foundation, and then dashing off to a radio interview to talk about facilities management alongside FMANZ chief exec Jo Duggan. She admits to having butterflies ahead of the radio interview, but is very keen to use the opportunity to “get FM out there”.
Before talking to us, and talking to the radio presenter, Vale has been talking to contractors, and suppliers, and talking to the events team at Tātaki. “Lots of talking to lots of people,” she says.
Luckily Vale likes talking. “It’s the quickest way to get something done,” she says. Plus talking is such an important part of facilities management because it creates relationships, and understanding, she adds.
Building those relationships, and helping to solve problems, is something Vale loves. People in the industry look out for each other, she says. It’s rewarding, and fast-paced, which is great because she likes being – here’s that word again – busy.
Sometimes Vale has had work late at night to balance her work and studies, and she now has a tight schedule she keeps. The FMANZ Foundation scholarship has helped financially – but in another way too. The award has, Vale says, “given me confidence. It’s given me that boost to go for it. It’s driven me to want to study more, and learn more about FM.”
Keep an eye out for the second part of this interview with Vale Leulu, and read about her favourite venues, managerial and family support, and more.
