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Baachu Talk FM Podcast
A Podcast For Facilities & Workplace Service Professionals
Episode 9: Nicola Lathbury, MD, Hexagon FM
Baachu Talk FM is a new show produced by Baachu Rain and hosted by Baskar Sundaram where top FM leaders discuss their work journeys to success. My podcast brings fascinating conversations with some of the most experienced insightful facilities services people in the world straight to listeners all over the world!
Join me, Baskar Sundaram on Baachu Talk FM as I explore the world of Facilities and Workplace services thru human stories.
You have the potential for even greater impact and a more satisfying legacy. Listen Now
Today's Guest is Nicola Lathbury
Nicola Lathbury is the MD of Hexagon FM, Recruitment specialists to the Facilities Management sector. Speaker & Chair of Women in FM and Midlands Region for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). She is passionate about helping people carve careers to achieve their life goals and equipping companies with the most engaged and talented professional to deliver their business strategies.
With over 15 years recruitment experience and three years operational as an FM, Nicola knows what good looks like, which is why customers in the public and private sector choose to work with her and the Hexagon brand. Delivering on promises and daring to be different.
Nikki used to have lots of hobbies before she adopted her daughter such as sewing, baking, cooking for friends and walking with her cockapoo Ruby. She also spend a lot of time volunteering for the industry, so that takes up her free time. Nikki is also involved with meditation and women’s circles and retreats to recharge. Currently, her time is spent doing things with her daughter who loves to be out exploring in the fresh air and loves animals. So, she has lots of trips to farms and zoos.
With over 15 years recruitment experience and three years operational as an FM, Nicola knows what good looks like, which is why customers in the public and private sector choose to work with her and the Hexagon brand. Delivering on promises and daring to be different.
Nikki used to have lots of hobbies before she adopted her daughter such as sewing, baking, cooking for friends and walking with her cockapoo Ruby. She also spend a lot of time volunteering for the industry, so that takes up her free time. Nikki is also involved with meditation and women’s circles and retreats to recharge. Currently, her time is spent doing things with her daughter who loves to be out exploring in the fresh air and loves animals. So, she has lots of trips to farms and zoos.
In this episode, we’ll discuss Nicola’s
- Life in Hertfordshire in, a quiet home with great friends and amazing parents.
- Beginning of a passion for FM from her father.
- Beginning of a sales carrier and inspiration from MacDonald’s.
- Entry into the Construction sector and Recruitment.
- Unbelievable discovery of the FM sector and finding her dream career.
- Exit as an employee and beginning as an employer.
- Story behind the name ‘hexagon’ FM.
- Inpiration behind joining WIFM.
- Perspectives on Covid and its impacts on FM.
- Recruitment activities and culture of Hexagon.
- Hobbies and passions before and after bringing her daughter home.
- Aid in saving the life of a friend.
- Funny and amazing answers in the Random Rapid Questions Round.
- Influences in her professional and personal life.
Few random questions
- What do you wish people would stop asking you?
- Which superhero would you want to be and why?
- If you could eat only three foods for the rest of your life, what would you choose and why?
- Would you the rather lose the ability to speak or the ability to write?
- What’s the best compliment you have ever received?
- Do you have a memorable kitchen fail?
- What’s your favourite pop group?
- If you choose a theme song every time you enter, what would it be?
- Who haven’t you talked to or seen in a long period of time?
- Would you rather time travel to the past or to the future?
- What do you get every time you go grocery shopping?
- Do you have a nickname that your friends call you?
Key Nuggets
- I ended up getting bullied in the last two years of my school.
- I didn’t just want it to be about recruiting. For people to succeed into their career they need more than recruiting. There’s networking, knowledge, training etc.
- When I first came to FM, it’s sad to say that women really were minority in the sector.
- The way they operated did not allow women to come in. There were many invisible barriers. That’s why I got involved in WIFM.
- People now are so much more welcoming and open. As an industry we have grown and we have a lot to offer.
- I think Covid with all of the challenges that we had very much started to level the playing field for people.
- I’m a domestic violence survivor. There are so many people than you may realize, men and women, that have been in the situation and it’s not talked about enough.
- One of the things about recruitment is that the people who recruit does not know the power they have. If they do a really good job, they can enhance somebody’s life and help achieve their life goal and help their family.
- Build you network. You network is your net worth.
- There’s always space for honest recruiters.
- Together we are all stronger. So, always reach out to people and share experiences.
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