"Wear Many Hats" Podcast · 2026-06-02 · 47 min
Another great episode of the Wear Many Hats podcast. This time, we sit down with Christopher Ali, Facilities Manager at The Estate Office Shoreditch, to explore a career journey shaped by persistence, curiosity, and learning through experience. Christopher shares how he spent years working different jobs without a clear career path, struggling with confidence and direction before unexpectedly finding his way into facilities management through a role at Greenpeace UK. What started as a facilities assistant position soon became something much bigger. During the pandemic, Christopher stepped up to manage a building on his own, eventually progressing into facilities management and building a career in an industry he never originally planned to enter. We also discuss the realities of modern FM stakeholder management, compliance, contractor relationships, communication, and the growing recognition of facilities management as a strategic profession. Christopher also shares his honest thoughts on AI, operational pressures in today’s market, and why asking the right questions is one of the most valuable skills in the workplace.
E161 - Iain McDonald: Head of Property & Facilities - Alexandra Palace54 / 100E160 - Jan Jaap Boogaard: Head of EMEA Workplace Advisory - ColliersE159 - Caroline Pontifex: Head of Workplace & Design Director - SavillsE158 - Alistair Fenn: Chief of Staff & Global Interim Head of Workspace Experience - TideE156 - Lee Bennett: Head of Estate Services - Bidcorp UK