Shakel Kalam

Shakel joined IFM in September 2021, initially joining the London office on a 12‑month contract with the IT Service Desk. At that time, Shakel’s career had been shaped by a series of contract roles across highly demanding global organisations, including Goldman Sachs, Marsh & McLennan, and Canada Life.  

“Those early experiences exposed me to complex, high-pressure environments and helped me build strong technical capability and adaptability across different operating models.” 

While contracting had always suited his career path, Shakel notes that he knew the right organisation could change that - IFM proved to be that place. Within six months, Shakel was offered a permanent role, which he says was an easy decision accepting it. As he reflects, Shakel states, “I’d quickly gained a strong understanding of the business and its values, and the team culture stood out as genuinely close-knit. That sense of collaboration and trust has become a defining feature of my experience to date.” 

Since then, Shakel’s career at IFM has continued to evolve. He progressed within the Service Desk function and, after two years, was promoted to Team Lead for the London and broader European Service Desk. Along the way, Shakel played a key role in several initiatives that had a tangible impact on how teams work day-to-day, including supporting the Amsterdam office move and contributing significantly to the London office expansion and refurbishment. These projects showcased cross team collaboration, careful operational planning, and service delivery. 

Shakel has seen firsthand the pace of IFM’s growth, particularly across Europe. When he initially joined, there were around 80 colleagues across the region; today, that number has grown to more than 200.  

“Strategic milestones like integrating Real Estate and Nest becoming a shareholder reinforced the scale of IFM’s ambition and the long-term thinking behind it. From an IT perspective, my team and I are often the first point of contact for new joiners, and you take that responsibility seriously, focused on delivering specialised support as part of the onboarding experience, that helps people feel welcome and set up for success from day one.” 

Beyond his core role, Shakel chose to get involved in the Inclusive Workplace Forum. 

“My interest in learning from different cultures and lived experiences found a practical outlet through this forum, and one standout moment was helping deliver London’s first Eid inclusion event, which honoured Eid al-Fitr; ‘breaking the fast’ at the end of Ramadan. Being able to share my own culture and create space for others to learn and engage thoughtfully is something I’m proud of.” 

IFM’s values resonate deeply with Shakel, not just in principle, but in practice.  

“As a Muslim, observing daily prayers and Ramadan is supported through genuine flexibility and understanding from senior leaders. Seeing that support translate into action - such as the creation of a dedicated multifaith room following office feedback - has reinforced why IFM feels different. This organisation truly seems to listen, adapt, and follow through.” 

Outside of work, Shakel stays active through football - which he follows closely as a proud Manchester United supporter – “Still the best team in the world, in my opinion!” and padel.  

“Faith, family, and community are central to my life, alongside fundraising challenges that allow me to give back. I try and do this through runs and mountain climbs whenever the opportunity arises. It’s a great way to challenge myself while supporting causes that matter. Together, these elements keep me balanced and connected. I always try to find the time for the people and things that keep me grounded whilst simultaneously seeking to grow my career at IFM.” 

At the beginning of July, Shakel is planning to go on parental leave as he gets ready to welcome his first child – a very exciting milestone for him.