This episode explores the profound impact of IFMA Foundation scholarships on the career trajectories of three successful facility management professionals. The guests share how financial support, combined with a powerful professional network, transitioned them from students to influential industry leaders.
What does it take to turn a scholarship into a lifelong career? In this episode of Connected FM, host Angela Johnson Culver sits down with Alana Dunoff, Dipin Kasana, and Mahnaz Ensafi — three former scholarship recipients who have risen to leadership roles within the facility management (FM) world.
In this conversation, you’ll hear about:
Whether you are a student looking to apply for a scholarship or a seasoned professional interested in the future of the industry, this episode highlights the lasting ripple effect of a single opportunity.
This episode is sponsored by TMA Systems! Discover more at https://www.tmasystems.com/ifmapodcast
Alana Dunoff: [00:00:00] The thing that I love about FMs and the people I've known in my now 35 plus year career is that fms love to share their stories. And their stories and their experiences are so rich, and we learn from them along the way.
So, you know, go talk, be curious. They will listen, they will engage. And now I have had the opportunity to be a mentor to others. And I say the same thing, right? Network and talk. 'cause this, this industry wants to continue to give back.
Host: Welcome to Connected fm, a podcast connecting you to the latest insights, tools, and resources to help you succeed in facility management. This podcast is brought to you by ifma, a leading professional association for facility managers. If you are ready to grow your network and advance in your career, go to ifma.org to get started.
What does it take to [00:01:00] turn a scholarship into a lifelong career? In today's episode, host Angela Johnson culver sits down with Alana Dunoff, Dipin Kasana, and Mahnaz Ensafi three former IFMA Foundation scholarship recipients who have risen to leadership roles within the facility management industry.
In today's conversation, you'll hear about how winning a scholarship opened doors to ifma community and provided the confidence to pursue this career. They also go over why attending events like World's Workplace was impactful and essential for the beginning of their careers and personal stories of how industry veterans provide the wisdom and guidance needed to navigate a rapidly evolving field.
Now let's get into it.
Angela Johnson Culver: I'm your host, Angela Johnson Culver, and today we're talking about the real world impact of scholarships on facility management, career journeys.
Joining me are three incredible guests who've gone from scholarship [00:02:00] recipients to leaders in their fields. Let's meet them. Alana Dunoff, FMP, ifma, fellow Consultant and adjunct professor at Temple University and 1991 Scholarship, awardee Dipin Kasana, PhD Director, data Insight. And performance at JLL, who was a 2020 scholarship awardee.
And last but not least, Mahnaz Ensafi, PhD, FMP, lead Application Manager at Planon who is a 2022 scholarship. Awardee. So let's get started. Let's look at the beginning before you reached your scholarship. What did your career goals look like and what did that scholarship mean to you at the time?
let's start with Alana.
Alana Dunoff: Well I had no career goals. I came right out of, of [00:03:00] college to graduate school. I was a psychology major, but I liked buildings and I liked architecture and design. I didn't know what that meant, but I knew I had to go to school to continue something. I found this program called Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University.
I didn't know what I was gonna be, but it was this, this amalgamation of everything that seemed interesting to me. So I got into the program, they said there's this practice called Facilities Management. I had no idea what that was gonna be, but like, okay, maybe that'll work for me. And then I got the scholarship and I was the first scholarship winner.
And I went out to what was then if FMAs annual work conference and it, that scholarship was my golden ticket to a career and a profession I didn't know anything about. And really back then, it wasn't as even known as it is today. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And there's where I, I got mentors and connections and I could see what this field really was and I could find my place.[00:04:00]
Angela Johnson Culver: I love it. That is beautiful. Before I do any follow ups, I would love to hear Dipin because I'm sure there's some commonalities between the three.
Dipin Kasana: Absolutely, absolutely. So ifma Foundation Scholarship was definitely was a big step for me. I think in school we study a lot about what facilities management really mean.
To give you a little context, I did my undergrad in civil engineering and then I moved to states to pursue my masters in. Construction management, but it turns out the name of the program was Construction and Facilities Management. So that was the first time I heard about IES Management. We had a couple of courses in our program, so that gave us a nice overview of what facilities management really look like, at least theoretically.
But when I attended the IFMA Foundation, or rather the World Workplace, even back in 2019, Phoenix, that's where I really got to meet with people who are facility managers. And started talking to them like, what do you do? Like, what is your day-to-day job? And until, you know, it was very different from what I read in the books.
So that's what [00:05:00] really started let me thinking, okay, this is something I can see myself doing, if not actively at least supporting.
Angela Johnson Culver: Mm-hmm.
Dipin Kasana: And that helped me put the theoretical pieces into context. I was like, alright, I think I can pursue this industry. And that was, I think, a pivotal moment in my life when.
I don't think without the scholarship, without the whole world workplace experience, I would've ever made that decision to follow that path.
Angela Johnson Culver: Fantastic. I love to hear it. What about you, Manaz?
Mahnaz Ensafi: So same as Dipin. My background was in architecture, so not facility management. The first time I heard about facility management one was when I started my PhD.
At Virginia Tech, and that's because my PhD advisor had experience in the area. So I decided to do research, but it was more focused on one area because obviously I didn't have the background. But getting the scholarship was more than financial support for me. It introduced me to a great network of professionals who showed me different career path.
I wasn't planning to go for academia after getting my PhD [00:06:00] because I wanted to get out there and make an impact. And so being, having the opportunity to network with these people, they all showed me a different path that I can make that impact.
Angela Johnson Culver: So collectively, I hear that the experience at World Workplace was the thing that made the career change for all three of you, and then winning the scholarship opens you up to different things.
But learning about facility management came from the undergraduate class level where you were exposed to a class. Correct. So. If you could look back right now at that moment where you heard about facility management, how did that change your ability to focus on school or even get more involved in opportunities?
Alana Dunoff: So I think that. For me, it was, it was the door that opened. Right. And, and seeing the depth and breadth of this field and that I could find my way and my place the scholarship and [00:07:00] being at, again, it wasn't World Workplace at the time, it was just the IFMA Conference.
But being here at that moment and networking and, and meeting the mentors. Gave me this confidence to sort of like understand what's happening. And I think my then connection, once I got my first job, yes, it was like the door that continued to open and I stepped through because for me that was ifma.
Mm-hmm. I went to my first Philadelphia chapter of ifma program. And then from there I was a volunteer and I just continued on my path through, through ifma to eventually becoming a fellow.
Angela Johnson Culver: I love it. Congratulations on becoming an IFMA fellow too. Thank
Alana Dunoff: you.
Dipin Kasana: Yeah.
Angela Johnson Culver: So Dipin, you mentioned that when you attended World Workplace you were able to be exposed to facility management and you chose the career path that you have today.
So with that, what, are there specific skills that you gained from that experience that you use today still?
Dipin Kasana: Oh, I think. There's [00:08:00] some core skills that always get to have, and I think your technical skills, along with non-technical skills, we call them soft skills. Mm-hmm. Then to combine makes your, or drives your personality.
But what I really learned being part of this, this I now call it myself, a fam family member of this organization, is you will never have all the skills that you need. There will always be things that you can learn, you can develop yourself. So from from that experience, what I learned is I have to keep working on myself.
I have to keep seeking advice and mentorship from the leaders who hire, who have been doing this for 40, 50 years, to call out Dean Stanberry, who is my mentor, who I speak to him every three months and he guides me in the right direction, even till this day. So to have leaders like this and have their attention, to have their wisdom shared with us really helps you to look at yourself from a different perspective and keep growing.
So for me, it's not one set of particular skills that, that help me get there. [00:09:00] It's just that mindset that you need to keep learning, you need to keep improving, and overall you need to make an impact in this industry. It's a beautiful industry. It's, it's growing very fast. It's, it's it technology. Not to mention ai, it's, it's, it's growing at an exponential rate.
So how do you keep up with that? How do you make sure. As an educator, right? Like when you go, you do a PhD, I think you have that responsibility that now you process the knowledge. How are you going to share that knowledge with others? So I think through this, ifma as an organization altogether, it gives you that platform to be like, okay, if I know more about data, if I know more about ai, then I can educate peers.
I can educate FMS on like, how are you going to use this technology? How does data help you day to day? So my job I feel like is like, how can I make FM's life better? And that's what I do do kind of day in, day out.
Angela Johnson Culver: I love it. And we all know that data is needed so we can get our technicians off of clipboards papers, three ring [00:10:00] binders, and little sticky notes and charts.
So we definitely need to focus on data. So thank you, Manaz, since you are the newest scholarship award winner. You know, thinking about what has happened in the last several years since you've won, what doors has that opened for you?
Host: Facilities don't run themselves. People run them. TMA Systems delivers intelligent maintenance management solutions designed around the humans, behind the work, the supervisors, technicians, and operators, keeping everything moving with TMAI embedded directly into the work. Flows teams already use AI becomes a practical assistant, helping streamline scheduling, simplifying requests, and surface the right insights at the right time.
TMAs products work in the background. Organizing the noise so your team can stay focused on keeping facilities running smoothly. No new systems to learn, no disruption to trusted processes. Discover more at TMA [00:11:00] systems.com/ifma podcast. That's TMA systems.com/ifma podcast.
Mahnaz Ensafi: A lot of door as Alana was mentioning, I also get got involved with the DC chapter.
I had the opportunity to have the most amazing mentors, including Dean Stanberry, John McKay, and even Denise Dr. Denise, who is with the foundation. They have been always mentoring me. That's, I think having a great mentor really impacts your career path. And also being part of panels research that have happened.
They give me experience, but I also get exposure to more information how this industry is moving forward. So I think that also added to my experience, which is very valuable. I don't think I can just, you know, walk in and be part of that research or part of that panel.
Angela Johnson Culver: Fantastic. And
you are one of the first scholarship award recipients for [00:12:00] the IFMA Foundation. So when you look at your career path and the mentors that you had or the people you've mented over the last several years, what is the advice you can give to our if a scholarship foundation?
Winners and others who are looking for and seeking out mentorship to evolve their careers.
Alana Dunoff: I think it's about being curious and asking questions. The thing that I love about FMS and the people I've known in my now 35 plus year career is that fms love to share their stories. And they have great stories.
And the more students are curious and just talk, talk to people because they will, they will talk and listen because everyone found their way into FM very differently. The three of us came through academia, but most don't. And their [00:13:00] stories and their experiences are so rich. And we learn from them along the way.
So, you know, go talk, be curious. They will listen, they will engage. And, and now I have had the opportunity to be a mentor to others. And I say the same thing, right? Network and talk. 'cause this, this industry wants to continue to give back.
Angela Johnson Culver: Absolutely. I could not agree more. So we're gonna wrap this up as far as looking back on your career.
What's one piece of advice that you would give to today's if a foundation scholarship recipient that you may have thought was been useful for you to know at that time, or that you've just discovered, that would definitely be impactful to them in their career and as they grow? So I'll start here and we'll just go in order, if that's okay.
Yeah.
Mahnaz Ensafi: So I can't emphasize more on the networking. I think [00:14:00] that's the biggest opportunity here. Some of the people they meet here is this is the only place that they can meet those people, and you can never imagine how far you can go with the people you meet and the knowledge you gain from this conference, and I can speak for myself, I'm working with Plan On and Plan On is a lead leader in IWMS software.
And I'm, I got that opportunity from IFMA.
Angela Johnson Culver: Fantastic. Thank you. Manas.
Alana Dunoff: I would add to find the council or community or chapter and get involved that being involved in the organization will also provide network and richness along the way and give you those contexts. I think that, and I'm a professor, so I, I deal with the students all the time and I know that associations.
It don't feel quite the same. And yet being here and feeling this and seeing that, I think those students who are here realize how valuable this is. And I'm gonna say, get involved and know that this profession will, will give you [00:15:00] back in spades what you put into it as a volunteer.
Dipin Kasana: Yeah.
Angela Johnson Culver: Perfect. Perfect.
And what about you Dipin? That's a hard act to follow. You got two great answers.
Dipin Kasana: I, I, I think they both like pretty much covered all of the things that. If my foundation scholarship winner should look like, this is a great opportunity for folks to showcase their talent and, and, and find that, that sweet place as their next potential journey.
What I would just emphasize, have fun, right? Mm-hmm. You have achieved a great success. Like this is a, this is a moment to cherish, have fun, but most importantly, make friends. I'll give a quick example. Manaz and I, we met through ifma Foundation Scholarship. Mm-hmm. Dr. Denise Bpe and I, we met through a scholarship.
So we made these connection as scholarship winners. So I would say when you look to your left, look to your right, look at your friends, 10, 20 years later, they'll be director, they'll be VPs, they'll be senior executive. So I know you need to network with the leaders, current leaders, but you are a future leader.
So you need to believe in yourself and you need to make, make friends like [00:16:00] just hang out folks, have fun.
Alana Dunoff: Amen.
Angela Johnson Culver: Definitely, definitely. And you forgot to say you met me also through scholarship with your PhD's data collection.
Dipin Kasana: Yes. Yes.
Angela Johnson Culver: So just really quick before we wrap up, how are you all paying it forward today?
What are you doing? I'd love to hear that really quickly and, and we will wrap up after that.
Mahnaz Ensafi: Sure. Volunteer as you mentioned. And I think that's the point. Don't just think how ifma, what ifma can give you, how you can. Give back and that will come back to you again. So I volunteer with the chapter. I volunteer with ifma community.
I volunteer with any initiative such as BLMI, and I'm, I'm so proud to be part of any of them.
Angela Johnson Culver: Fantastic.
Alana Dunoff: I would continue the echoing the volunteering and I will throw out a challenge that every IFMA FAM scholarship winner FM Foundation scholarship winner should. Have a goal. We're talking for [00:17:00] earlier, setting goals of becoming an IFMA fellow, and that means putting in the time to continue to grow and strengthen the profession and and make this be your next big BHAG of a goal to achieve.
Dipin Kasana: Yeah,
Angela Johnson Culver: love it.
Dipin Kasana: Yeah. I would say not that long ago, even I was a student, right? So I understand some of the challenges students face, especially international students, and we have a lot of international students that win the scholarship. So I try to talk to them like, especially at UNC Charlotte, my alma mater, I, we have four scholarship winners over there.
So as simple as just going to them, talking to them, how did I get to this point, what I did in last four or five years? Mm-hmm. How can you go out there and present yourself, right? Like just, just being there for them. Listen to them, talk to them, have that regular communication. But most importantly, I think making them feel that they can openly share their thoughts.
That way you can have a dialogue, you can have a conversation, and you need to be able to take some criticism and feedback. Right. That's how I have [00:18:00] grown and that's how I suggest like everyone start talking. Let's talk.
Angela Johnson Culver: Fantastic. Well, I would love to thank you all for participating and sharing your journeys with us today.
Everything that you've said could be powerful knowledge and usage for our IFMA Foundation scholarship winners, but also those who are here attending the conference and listening. To us. So it's inspiring to see how one opportunity can have such a lasting ripple effect on your careers and your lives. So for our listeners, if you want to learn more about scholarships, apply for one or support future recipients, you can visit the foundation.ifma.org.
I'm Angela Johnson Culver, thank you for listening, and we'll see you next time.
Host: Thanks for tuning into the Connected FM podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show because it really helps us reach more listeners just like you.
And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode. See you next [00:19:00] time.