Lauren Craft

I attribute my success to the fact that I am someone who likes to take things apart to figure out how they work. That has made me successful because in all aspects, whether it's a physical thing or an SOP that we have at work, I want to take it down to the bare bones and see why we added certain things to it. This helps things make more sense to me, and it makes it easier for me to point out an issue or a deficiency before it becomes an even bigger issue. My curiosity and analytical approach to understanding systems - both mechanical and procedural - allows me to be proactive rather than reactive in my work.

The best career advice I ever received was: if you're gonna do it, put your whole foot in it - don't hold back. This advice has stuck with me throughout my career because it reminds me to fully commit to whatever I'm doing. Whether it's a new role, a challenging project, or learning a new skill, I don't do things halfway. I give it everything I have, and that level of commitment has been crucial to my growth and success in every field I've worked in, from the military to healthcare to facilities management.

The best career advice I could give to a young woman entering this field would be to hold your head high and be confident in your movement and in your speech. If you're sitting at the table, that means you have earned and worked your way to be there. So don't hesitate to speak in meetings. This area is very male-dominated, but that doesn't mean it's not a space that we can inhabit. You belong there, and your voice and perspective matter. Own your expertise and don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve your seat at that table.

The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field go hand in hand, and they have to do with always looking at future-forward thinking when it comes to preventative maintenance and asset management. There's always going to be new technology that comes out - always. It doesn't mean you jump on every new thing immediately, but it's always good to know what the industry is starting to move toward. Staying informed about emerging technologies and trends allows you to make strategic decisions about when and how to adopt new tools and approaches. The challenge is keeping up with rapid technological change, but the opportunity is in being proactive and positioning yourself and your organization to benefit from innovations that truly add value.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are self-discipline, integrity, emotional intelligence, and empathy. I also deeply value the ability to step back and review a situation objectively, and to realize and apologize when you're wrong. These values guide how I approach challenges, how I interact with others, and how I hold myself accountable. Self-discipline keeps me focused and committed, while integrity ensures I do the right thing even when no one is watching. Emotional intelligence and empathy help me understand and connect with the people I work with, and being able to admit when I'm wrong shows strength, not weakness. These principles shape both my professional decisions and my personal relationships.