From Supervisor to Director,
A Journey of Growth with
Dovile Alijosiute
When Dovile Alijosiute moved from Lithuania to the UK in 2007, she carried with her a civil engineering degree, determination, and the belief that hard work opens doors. Within just three months, she was already working as a supervisor in a London hotel. Fast forward to today, and Dovile is Operations Director at Kanso FM, responsible for leading teams, managing high-profile contracts, and shaping how the business delivers five-star service across the UK.
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Her journey is proof that you don’t need to start at the top to make an impact. With resilience, ambition, and a people-first mindset, Dovile has built her career step by step, showing others what’s possible in facilities management when you combine grit with genuine care for people.
We sat down with Dovile to hear about her career journey, her leadership style, and her vision for the future of operations at Kanso FM.
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Q&A with Dovile Alijosiute, Operations Director at Kanso FM
Q, Your career journey is incredible, from site supervisor to Operations Director. What key milestones shaped that path?
Dovile:
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“When I moved to the UK from Lithuania in 2007, I had a civil engineering degree but no experience in FM. Within three months, I was a supervisor in a London hotel. That role gave me my first real taste of leading people and managing high standards. From there, I worked across different sectors and contracts, steadily progressing into area management and eventually senior leadership.
The milestone for me wasn’t a single promotion, it was each step that proved I could take on more responsibility and still deliver. Every stage prepared me for the next.”
Q, Looking back to your very first supervisor role, what lessons did you learn then that still influence how you lead today?
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Dovile:
“That role taught me the importance of consistency and communication. As a supervisor, you’re the bridge between frontline staff and management. If you don’t listen, support, and show respect, you lose trust quickly.
Even now, as Operations Director, I carry that same mindset. Leadership isn’t about hierarchy, it’s about being reliable, setting clear expectations, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with your team.”
Q, You originally studied civil engineering. How has that technical background helped you in the FM world?
Dovile:
“Engineering gave me discipline, problem-solving skills, and an eye for detail. In FM, those qualities are vital. Whether it’s understanding the logistics of a site, analysing data, or managing compliance, I use that structured way of thinking every day.
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It also helped me work in a male-dominated environment from the very beginning. That experience made me resilient and prepared me for FM, which has its own challenges in terms of representation and diversity.”
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Q, Moving to the UK and building a career in a new industry must have had challenges. What barriers did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Dovile:
“At first, it was tough. New culture, new language, and a very fast-paced environment. I had to prove myself every single day. FM is also very male-dominated, so being a young woman from another country meant I had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously.
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I overcame it by focusing on what I could control: hard work, reliability, and adaptability. And I never lost my sense of humour, like the first time I tried a proper London curry and realised I wasn’t ready for the spice! That moment reminded me to embrace the differences and keep moving forward with positivity.”
Q, You speak multiple languages and have worked across different cultures. How has that shaped the way you connect with teams and clients?
Dovile:
“Speaking different languages has given me a real appreciation for how people communicate. Sometimes it’s not about words, it’s about empathy, tone, or body language.
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In FM, we work with incredibly diverse teams, and being able to connect across cultures has helped me build trust quickly. It also makes me a better leader because I understand that everyone brings a different perspective, and that diversity is a strength.”
Q, No two days are the same in operations. What does a ‘typical’ day look like for you now?
Dovile:
“I always start the day by messaging my Area Managers, it’s important to me that they know I’m present, even if I’m travelling. From there, my days are a mix of client meetings, site visits, problem-solving, and planning for the future.
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One of the things I love about operations is that there really isn’t a ‘typical’ day. Every challenge is different, and that keeps me sharp. But one constant is my focus on people, making sure our teams feel supported, and our clients feel valued.”
Q, Kanso also operates in specialist sectors like independent schools. How do you adapt service delivery to environments that need such a personal touch?
Dovile:
“Schools require a completely different approach because you’re not just managing spaces, you’re safeguarding environments for children. That means attention to detail, safeguarding protocols, and a softer service approach that respects the culture of education.
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At Kanso, we adapt by training our staff specifically for these environments and making sure our supervisors understand the sensitivities. Whether it’s an independent school, a corporate HQ, or a heritage site, we design our approach to fit the client, not the other way around.”
Q, What achievement at Kanso FM are you most proud of so far?
Dovile
“I’m proud of the way we’ve grown without losing who we are. At Kanso, we’ve promoted supervisors into area management roles, and I’m living proof of what that career path looks like.
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Seeing people progress, knowing I’ve helped them build confidence and skills, is more rewarding than any single contract win. Of course, I’m proud of the accounts we’ve mobilised and the standards we deliver, but for me, people always come first.”
Q, Looking ahead, what legacy do you want to leave at Kanso and in the wider FM industry?
Dovile:
“My legacy, I hope, will be one of people-first leadership. I want to show that you can build a career from the ground up without losing your humility.
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At Kanso, I want us to keep pushing standards higher, embracing innovation, but never forgetting the personal touch. In the wider FM industry, I’d like to inspire more women, and people from diverse backgrounds, to see FM as a career where they can lead, grow, and make a real difference.”
Dovile’s journey is a reminder that resilience, ambition, and empathy can transform careers, and entire industries. From supervisor to Operations Director, her story reflects what makes Kanso FM different, a company where people grow, standards rise, and leadership is built on trust.