Meet Alexandra Faugeras, Managing Principal, Medical Equipment Planning

We are pleased to introduce Alexandra Faugeras, Managing Principal of our Medical Equipment Planning (MEQ) service in the healthcare sector across the Americas. 

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Alexandra brings years of expertise and a passion for delivering impactful solutions to healthcare clients across the United States and the Caribbean. Below, learn more about her journey, the memorable projects that have shaped her career, and the insights she's gained as a leader in the MEQ field.

When did you join Introba?  

Prior to joining Introba in January 2017 as a Project Manager, I was a former client serving as the Senior Business Manager for the University of Miami (UM) Pathology and Laboratory Medicine department for close to six years. That is where I gained much of the knowledge I use today to help guide our healthcare clientele as their trusted advisor. As an academic medical center, UM had every type of specialty clinical laboratory plus many involved in research and even a comparative pathology veterinary medicine service. These all gave me broad exposure to healthcare and medical equipment.

Since joining Introba, I have consistently taken on many of our most challenging projects across the country. I have also advanced from a senior project manager to Director of Process Innovation, then Director of Project Management, to my current role as Managing Principal since this past January. 

What are two of your most memorable MEQ projects?  

The Intensive Care Unit of Horacio Oduber Hospital in Aruba, while certainly not the largest or most complex project I have ever done, is one that I will not easily forget. In March 2020, as the world was coming to a standstill due to COVID-19, I was on the island finishing the installation and sign-off of their new intensive care unit (ICU). My flight home was canceled, and then global air travel came to a complete halt in the days following my return to Florida. This ICU floor could and would eventually be a lifesaving center for this isolated locale during an unprecedented global pandemic.  

The completion of my first major project, the Skolnick Surgical Tower at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, will always be one of the most memorable projects of my career. I learned so much from this project, which consisted of a 7-story, 344,000-square-foot add-on to the main hospital that opened in January 2019.  

My initial meeting with the client was during my first weeks with the firm. We were having some challenges with the project, which was quite uncomfortable, to say the least. However, by the time we finished this project, my dedication, resourcefulness, and attention to detail won them over so completely that they went on to award us 15 more projects. Overcoming the challenge made this one of my most satisfying achievements, and I am happy to say the team still works with them actively today.  

What inspired you to become an expert in the MEQ planning field?  

Truthfully, I was looking for a change after planning and managing laboratory operations for several years, and it was exciting to broaden my horizons to the entire healthcare continuum. During my interview, when my soon-to-be boss asked, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I jokingly responded, "Considering that I once didn't know medical equipment planning was an option, who knows what I'll discover by then!" 

I'll tell you what I found: fulfillment. I enjoy what we do, and I am immensely proud of all the tremendous centers for health, healing, and well-being that we create. Getting to walk through the completed vision come to life, knowing all the many lives we will impact, is the greatest joy.  

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in your field?  
 

My success is driven by my tenacity and unwavering determination to never fail. I am a passionate achiever, relentlessly pursuing goals and overcoming challenges. I embrace every opportunity to strive for excellence and always want to give my absolute best in all I undertake.  

This motivation has fueled my growth and resilience to persevere through the journey, no matter what may come. Why be mediocre when you can be exceptional? In life, you "choose your hard," and, for me, it has been proven that I get what I work for. 

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?  

Top skills include being able to clearly define and execute strategic plans, effectively navigate cycles of transformation, and not lose sight of optimizing operational efficiency. My strong communication skills with stakeholders and team members also ensure alignment and, most importantly, progress. I focus on delivering results while adapting to change. This has been a key success driver for me, along with my in-depth industry knowledge.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?  

Dr. Phil Chen and Maryann O'Toole (formerly with UM) were mentors for me when I was learning the laboratory field. If it weren't for their willingness to answer my endless questions and curiosities, coupled with their willingness to trust me and expose me to all aspects of the laboratory business, I would scarcely be the expert I am considered today.  

There are many other great advisors I hold in high regard, even if they don't take center stage in the story of my career. It is amazing how you can remember even a brief word of advice over time that leads you down different paths along the way. 

What advice would you give to young people interested in a position such as yours?  

Be inquisitive; if you don't ask, you will never know.  

Volunteer. Often, the best way to see if you like something is to try it out for yourself. People often wait for a promotion or to volunteer for an experience because, in their minds, it is not their job, or they feel they aren't compensated for it. However, many times in my career, I've put myself out there and offered to do and try more. It is a way to get great exposure. It is also how you and others know if you will be any good at a task or if this is something you will really enjoy doing.  

Be humble, too, as respect and experience are earned, not freely given. People will invest their time in you if they see you investing in the collective goals that will advance the team and the vision.

What is one thing your industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

 
Considering that over 65% of our Introba MEQ team is female and that women are the dominant players in this industry at large, not much more is required. We are doing a great job attracting the right talent to our industry regardless of gender. Today, healthcare expertise, hard work, natural talent, and job performance are the paramount considerations that determine your success and equal opportunity to thrive.  

What do you like most about working with your Introba team and its partners?  

I really enjoy my team; we have a great group, and I am honored to lead them. My favorite part is getting to brag about all the amazing work they do.  

It is also wonderful that we are now getting to work more closely on projects with our Introba colleagues in Technology Systems and mechanical, engineering, and plumbing (MEP) services. We are also partnering on projects with our sister firm Perkins&Will, collaborating with our Sidara network on some truly remarkable healthcare facilities.