We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management.

Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role.

Next up, it’s our new construction manager Leon …

1. Tell us what attracted you to Agilité? 

   I was initially approached by Agilité with the prospect of coming to work for them. At the time, I was looking for a career change, and the opportunity to get back to my roots of retail construction for a growing organisation was too good to turn down.

2. Can you share a little bit about your background? 

   As I previously alluded to, my experience is largely in the retail construction world — having held positions as both project and construction manager, in Germany as well as South Africa.
    

3. Describe a defining moment in your career. 

   I oversaw the rollout of around 45 supermarkets on behalf of the biggest retailer in Southern Africa over the course of just two years. Amid this huge project, we also completed around 30 small shop fit-outs in three months — quite a significant, yet memorable, challenge!

4. What does your new role involve? 

   As construction manager in Germany, I am charged with overseeing the on-site activities throughout an entire project lifecycle. Liaising with the sub-contractors, project manager, and client, I ensure that the developments are progressing within the agreed timeframe, and to an excellent standard.
   

5. What are you most looking forward to doing? 

   There are a number of very exciting projects coming up, which I am looking forward to getting started on. The variety of Agilité’s portfolio means that the team is always kept on its toes, and we always have new obstacles to overcome.  

6. The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it? 

   A client that presents an interesting and challenging brief which allows us to think outside the box.

7. When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you? 

   I like to stay active, so in my spare time I will either be wakeboarding on a lake in Berlin, or running in a nearby forest.
   

8. Which country or city is at the top of your ‘must-visit’ list? 

   For an off-the-beaten-track trip, South America. Or, for natural beauty and a completely different cultural experience, I’d opt for Japan.
   

9. What’s your favourite productivity trick? 

   Break tasks down into small, manageable chunks.
   

10. How would you describe Agilité Solutions to a relative? 

    A bespoke, general contractor that offers personalised solutions for each and every client.

11. As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité Solutions is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it? 

    I’d say the biggest challenge we are facing in the industry is waste. I think first steps towards rectifying this issue would be to change people’s mindsets around what should and shouldn’t be classed as ‘waste’.

Connect with Leon on LinkedIn to find out more about him.

We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management.

Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role. Next up, it’s project manager, Federica Pisacane, who is based out of our Luxembourg office…

Describe your job in one paragraph

My role as project manager is to foster strong customer relationships while planning and implementing the design element of our developments.

I love taking the lead on projects and site meetings, as well as delivering top quality results — not only to meet the client expectations, but to bolster Agilité’s reputation as a trusted, professional partner.

Which one word would colleagues use to describe you?

I think ‘proactive’. I love to find solutions to meet the challenges of a project and really understanding the needs of the client in order to produce the best results — both in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness.

Why do you think Agilité stands out from competitors?

We always put the customer first and are human in our approach.

You have worked in some amazing places around the world. Which has been your favourite?

As an architect of interiors, Milan has been the key inspiration for my early career. The fairs, events, and fashion have motivated my studies and ignited my passion for the industry.

What’s your biggest career highlight to date?

I have been designing retail stores throughout the pandemic which has been a real challenge and encouraged me to think outside of the box when reimagining spaces.

The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it?

My dream client would be one that allows me to think to 360 degrees while experimenting with new methods of design. I thrive off unconventional projects — researching new ways of managing the space is what thrills me the most.

What key piece of advice would you give to a client planning a fit-out project on a budget?

A clear brief is the best starting point to get to the result in the most efficient way. Keeping the objective and priorities in mind throughout is key to ensuring you deliver the highest quality result within the budget.

When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you?

On my terrace taking care of my plants — and trying not to kill them! Gardening is something that really relaxes me and I’m happiest when I’m outside on a sunny day tending to the various leafy species.

What’s next for Agilité?

To become the number one trusted partner across Europe. We continue to build a strong team — leveraging our collective expertise to strengthen our reputation as competitive players in the construction industry.

As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it?

Waste is definitely one of the major topics in our sector, as it can turn into a serious issue for every construction project. I would say the biggest challenge is trying to incorporate reusable elements while minimising waste. This can only be achieved if everyone involved in the construction process plays their part. Ultimately, it’s about each person — from designers to tradespeople — having a more sustainable attitude, while working together to reduce our environmental impact.

We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management. Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role. Next up, it’s assistant project manager, Kiran Kondrapu...

1. Tell us what attracted you to Agilité?

When reading the job specification, I noticed how many of the candidate’s ideal qualities — punctuality, accountability, willingness to learn — I possessed myself. I was further motivated to apply because of the high calibre of clients that Agilité works with. The likes of Fred Perry, Indeed.com, Lids have a reputation for superior standards — something I am keen to deliver on behalf of my new organisation.

2. Can you share a little bit about your background?

I grew up, completed my bachelor’s degree, and began my career in India before commencing the next phase of my education in Northumbria, England. My background in civil engineering and project management means I have an eye for detail and thrive when overseeing a construction project from start to finish.

3. Describe a defining moment in your career.

Beginning my journey with Agilité. I have always had an interest in the construction industry — as a young boy I loved assembling sandcastles and playing with building blocks. In my undergraduate degree, I achieved a distinction and the highest mark in my course — a record I still hold to this day! When I moved to UK, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow my passion — now here I am in my perfect role.

4. What does your new role involve?

My job is mostly about planning and supervision — coordinating with stakeholders, clients, colleagues, and subcontractors to ensure targets, standards, and expectations are met throughout a project.

5. What are you most looking forward to doing?

I am looking forward to getting to know my new colleagues and clients, building strong professional relationships, and doing my best.

6. The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it?

This is a very hard question — someone with a high standards who presents challenge. But, if you’re asking me to choose just one, I would say Five Guys, because I’m extremely familiar with the organisation, which probably gives me a unique perspective in delivering the work.

7. When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you?

In the evenings after work, I tend to have my head in a novel — a recent favourite was ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by John Green. But I also love travelling, so when I have a little more time off, you’re unlikely to find me as I’m always on the move!

8. Which country or city is at the top of your ‘must-visit’ list?

Paris, to see the Eiffel Tower. Working with Agilité, this may happen sooner than I’d anticipated!

9. What’s your favourite productivity trick?

I find that if you are accountable for something, it’s the biggest motivator of all.

10. How would you describe Agilité to a relative?

My dream job.

11. As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it?

I personally believe, the biggest challenge is the industry mindset. If we drilled down into the root causes, the thirst for profits at corporate levels can sometimes come at a cost, and one which ignores the wider environmental impact. The solution is simple, yet difficult to implement — focus more on purpose than bottom lines.

For this reason, I am proud to be a part of Agilité, as we are already making excellent headway in the sector — implementing changes to reducing carbon emissions and protect our planet for future generations.

When we launched Agilité, the strategy was always to have a seamless pan-European business that could be operational in multiple locations for multiple customers. Growth has been exponential, so after only four years in business, our brand needed a refresh, to reflect the journey we’ve been on, and the reputation we’ve carved in the industry as the European commercial interiors specialist.
That’s why you might have noticed something a little bit different in the way we ‘look and feel recently – and here’s how (and why) we did it.

Formed by a senior management team with extensive experience in the European construction sector, when Agilité was launched in January 2018, we wanted to tackle construction and fit-out projects in the way we truly believed they should be done. Fast-forward four years, and much has changed for the business – but our values and reason for being remain very much the same.

Over the past nine months, we’ve revisited the Agilité brand – alongside our communications partners, Scriba PR, and specialist branding experts, The Engine Room – to ensure the way we present ourselves is consistent across the countries and nationalities we work in.

What began as a Parisian construction and fit-out company, has evolved into a truly Pan-European commercial interiors specialist, with offices in France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the UK – with Germany and the US to follow soon. Therefore, our brief was simple: “Help us to underpin what our brand purpose and principles are and understand how to manifest these throughout various international fractions.”

To start the ‘coming of age’ project, every single one of our colleagues joined a brand workshop to share their interpretation around what Agilité does, our personality, and what sets us apart. The Engine Room also spoke with our clients and consultants, to understand their perspective, too.
All of these elements were brought together to define our purpose and principles – the very foundations of every project and client/colleague interaction.

While a brand update is about so much more than tweaking the logo, we did update our avatar, as well as our colour palette – but the main element of the project involved communicating our USP in a concise fashion. You’ll now often hear us talk about Agilité PACE.

PACE is the secret to our success, and is the reason why office, retail, hospitality, and leisure clients turn to us time and again. Find out more, here.

While we could ruminate around the origins, process, and outcomes of this project for the entire day, the best way to experience the changes, is by taking a look at our website, as well as LinkedIn, and Instagram feeds – please do let us know what you think.