We recently interviewed Fadi Khawand, the Managing Director of Assets & Facilities Management at OCS Arabia. In different management roles, he has been associated with the real estate industry for over two decades. Fadi Khawand has a strong management background and fantastic facilities, property, and hospitality management knowledge. With strong entrepreneurial skills, he delivers outstanding results even amidst the toughest challenges. Besides that, Fadi Khawand is a member of several reputable organizations. Let’s learn more about him and his journey through this interview below.
Overview Of The Journey
We started the interview by asking, “Could you share a brief overview of your career journey, including key milestones and transitions?”
He shared, “I started my career as a young hotelier in San Francisco, California. Through hard work, commitment, and persistence, my responsibilities increased, and I transitioned into regional roles working on real estate developments and operational deliverables. In 2011, I was retained by an International Facilities Management group to develop and deliver international best practices FM services for a mega mixed-use project In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia.
From then on, my luck took off, and I have seen my career progress in the region as I continued occupying leadership roles in the GCC & Middle East area.”
Role Of Education In Career Choices
We were interested to learn about the role of education in Fadi Khawand’s career choices. We asked, “How has your education influenced your career choices and success in this industry?
He shared, “It goes without saying that education and on-the-job training and lessons learned contribute to one’s development. But reflecting on the people who shaped my career, leadership, and business sense for many years is also imperative. I believe they are true life and business educators. I learned to strive continuously and do not see myself stopping anytime soon.”
Overcoming Challenges
Obstacles are an inevitable part of any career journey. So we asked, “How do you tackle challenges in your field amidst changing market dynamics and technological advancements?”
Fadi Khawand shared, “Today, technological advancement and IOT in facilities management are moving progressively and transitioning much faster than our industry can physically deploy.
We must start embracing technology that can streamline our processes, making them more efficient. Furthermore, AI and machine learning principles began to develop predictive maintenance and integration with BIM delivering a detailed 3d building management with live characteristics.
Sustainability Focus Artificial Intelligence robotics & sensors have also been deployed, delivering about 18% additional savings on energy consumption. We live in a fascinating era, and it is exciting to see the progress. In summary, it is a matter of adaptation to the change and a sense of its actual value towards the longevity of the asset’s life cycle.”
Adapting To the Latest Technologies
To ensure enhanced productivity and quality, adapting to the latest technology is a crucial part to consider. We asked, “How do you ensure your company remains adaptable to emerging trends and technologies?”
He shared, “We embrace technology and always stay informed as we deploy industry trends based on market dynamics and best practices. We remain current with innovations and initiatives that are part of our digital transformation strategy tailored to best suit our diverse client base.
We conduct comprehensive assessments and identify areas that could benefit our teams and partners. We believe in delivering performance management and ongoing improvements through consistent training and lessons learned, and we adhere to our principles in delivering our promises and scope of work.”
Visions For The Company’s Growth
To learn about Fadi Khawand’s plans for advancing his career and business, we asked, “What are your plans or goals for your career and company?”
He replied, “My passion for the service industry and Facilities Management, in particular, will always remain my priority; I hope to continue my mission for many years to come.”
Lessons Learnt Throughout The Journey
Over the years in the industry, Fadi Khawand has undoubtedly learned valuable experiences worth sharing. So we asked, “What valuable lessons have you learned throughout your career?”
He shared, “Looking at my 25+ years career, there is so much learning done, and every opportunity I have with my team, I tend to stress business integrity, ethics, adaptability to change, collaboration, prioritization, resilience, and perseverance. The ultimate joy is to see the team grow and continuously progress as they move forward with their succession planning.”
Unique Services
We were interested in learning how his unique services distinguish him from his competitors. We asked, “How do you differentiate your services from competitors in the current market?”
Fadi Khawand shared, “I have been fortunate to work for organizations who truly value and believe in employees being the core asset and the purpose for success. It is humbling to see the difference this makes in delivering performance.”
Tips For Beginners
Beginners who are planning or enthusiastic about starting in a similar field as Fadi Khawand should focus on building specific skills and qualities. We asked, “What are the most important qualities or skills you believe beginners should cultivate to thrive in this industry?”
He shared, “For beginners in Facilities Management, there are several essential qualities and skills to cultivate to be successful, to name a few:
Assertive communication is a must. Beginners should develop the ability to clearly convey information, actively listen to others, and collaborate with stakeholders.
Problem-solving and analytical thinking is equally important. They need to find practical solutions to problem-solving and make informed decisions.
Conduct research, always continue learning, and pay attention to details. As you build your professional base, it is essential for beginners to consistently work on minimizing human errors deemed corrective.
Time management is crucial to accomplish tasks timely and successfully; it plays a significant role in getting noticed with career progression.
Most importantly, be ethical, honest, and have a great sense of ownership over your deliverables.”
Connect with Fadi Khawand on LinkedIn.
Find OCS Group on LinkedIn.
