Ep. 422: “Let’s Keep On Moving” – AI, Curiosity, and the Future of FM and Workplace Operations with Drew DePriest, MCR.w of Salesforce & IFMA Global Board of Directors

By Mike Petrusky | October 6, 2026

Drew DePriest, MCR.w is Director of Workplace Services at Salesforce and part of the IFMA Global Board of Directors where he is passionate about operating at the intersection of facilities management, corporate real estate, enterprise IT/OT, and building automation. Mike Petrusky asks Drew to share and update on his career journey, and they discuss the future of facility management and corporate real estate. They explore how AI is rapidly changing the field by helping workplace teams analyze work-order data, find patterns, and turn scattered information into more useful operational context. Drew encourages leaders to start small by applying approved AI tools to repeatable tasks, such as preparing updates, gathering data, or summarizing work, rather than waiting for fully autonomous buildings and he stresses that strong data governance, security, human oversight, and careful verification are essential. Mike and Drew are optimistic about the future of work and believe FM professionals must keep learning, ask better questions, and use technology to deliver better outcomes, so they offer real world stories and the practical advice you will need to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization!

Connect with Drew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewdepriest/

Learn more about Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/

Explore the IFMA Community: https://www.ifma.org/

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSkmmkVFvM4H3pwnlU2AuqynuRDpvnh4J

Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: https://eptura.com/discover-more/podcasts/workplace-innovator/

Learn more about Eptura™: https://eptura.com/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepetrusky/

Posted in the facility management innovator